My Review: Fast-paced, short and punchy book that will have a wide appeal. Kids are obsessed with tamigochi/pokemon type toys/games but all is not what it seems. There’s a sub-plot that runs along the lines of ‘how we treat others (even virtual others) reflects on ourselves’ and radiates outwards which is timely.

Suggested For: gamers, Pokemon fans, readers who want something short and punchy. Dyslexic readers of all ages as it’s published by the brilliant Barrington Stoke so it’s ‘super-readable’.

If You Like This You Might Enjoy: The Minecraft Woodsword Chronicles by Nick Eliopulus, The Dungeon Runners series by Kieran Larwood & Joe Todd-Stanton, The Gamer: Virtual Kombat series by Chris Bradford (also published by Barrington Stoke but suggested 9+), Escape Room by Christopher Edge, Wonderscape by Jennifer Bell

Blurb: When Danny reveals the dark underside of a company making a new fighting toy gadget, he has no idea of the danger he’s in. A gripping sci-fi mystery from bestselling author Alastair Chisholm.

Everyone is desperate to have a Blitzer, the new fighting-game craze. But Danny’s Blitzer is broken – it won’t fight!

His classmates laugh at him. His brother tells him to wipe the code and start again. But Danny does something different … and everything changes.

For the people behind Blitzers are hiding a deadly secret, and now everyone is in danger. Can Danny uncover the truth? Can he figure out what Blitzers are? And above all, can he save his best friend?

Thanks to Barrington Stoke for the review copy via NetGalley.