DreamRealm Unleashed by Sahasra Nistala

Twelve-year-old Tara is good at one thing and one thing slaying her enemies. You know, in a video game. DreamRealm is a kids-only haven for young gamers, and it’s the reason Tara simply hasn’t had time to mourn her sister. But she can’t ignore everything else, like the fact that her childhood friend is now an unbearable enemy, or that her GPA is sinking lower than her self-esteem. Just when it seems life can’t get any worse, DreamRealm is released from virtual containment, trapping all the adults in an alternate dimension. To get the world back to normal, Tara and her friends must embark on a monster-filled quest across San Francisco and rack up enough points to get to the top of a global leaderboard. Enter the Minors Establishing A New Order of Society, a teen-run organization that doesn’t want the adults to return. When Tara learns that the MEANOS’ leader caused the car accident that killed her sister, it’s game on. Hungry for revenge, Tara vows to beat the MEANOS to the finish line. She fights giant dragons, finds treasure, and heroically fends off teens (they’re smellier than the dragons, that’s for sure). With the help of her neighbors, a kid who runs a magic arcade, and her actually-not-so-bad frenemy, she gets closer and closer to finishing the mission. But as her inner boss battle looms, she must come to terms with her past before she’s captured—or else, it’s game over.

Middle Grade • Children’s Fiction/Science Fiction and Fantasy • Diversity Representation/BIPOC/Own Voices • Fantasy • Fantasy/Portal • Children’s Fiction

Content Warning: Loss of a sibling, mild fantasy violence