• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12
• Reading age: 12 to 18

Josh deals with his problems by escaping into his favorite video game, but his virtual refuge is starting to get a little too real.

Josh is a gamer. After his parents' divorce and his move from Chicago to a small town where he doesn't know anybody, he copes by staying up way too late playing Killswitch online. Then he discovers a "mod" version of the game that is an exact reproduction of his new town. Strange things start to happen in the game, and they are somehow connected with events in the real world.

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Sean Rodman's profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens

"Firewall zips along without sacrificing character development or writing quality…A gripping read that doesn't underestimate the intelligence of its reader."

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"Readers, reluctant and avid alike, will be quickly drawn into Josh's lonely world…It reads almost too quickly."

School Library Journal

"Rodman is a capable storyteller, and the portrayals of high school kids is quite good—there is no whiff of 'hello, fellow kids'-type failed attempts to capture the youth of today in this book. With good pacing and an interesting plot, Firewall will appeal to reluctant teen readers."

CM Magazine