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Author Vivian Vande Velde booklist (click here)

Book Review By Liba
Heir Apparent by Vivian Vande Velde

For Giannine Bellisario's fourteenth birthday, her father buys her a gift certificate to Rasmussem Gaming Center, where people can play games and actually feel as if they are part of the story. After a certain amount of time, the game will disconnect automatically. If the person dies before his time is up, he just starts from the beginning. Giannine chooses a game called Heir Apparent, where she will have to try her hand for the throne. In the middle of the game, however, the machinery is damaged and the only way for Giannine to get out of the game is for her to win the game. Also, there is a time limit; if she is on the game for more than an hour, her brain will be damaged from the computer software. Gianine must get past an axewielding warrier who likes poetry, four family members who hate her, a pack of ghosts, an army of Barbarians, a fire breathing dragon and much more before her brain overloads and she is injured beyond repair.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - very upbeat
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Explore:
Robots, Computers, VR Yes
Robot, PC, VR Plotlets:
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 30 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 %

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - a teen

Main Adversary
Identity: - none

Setting
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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