Synopses & Reviews
Fifteen-year-old math prodigy Seth Gordon knows exactly what he wants to do with his life—play video games. Every spare minute is devoted to honing his skills at Starfare, the world's most popular computer game. His goal: South Korea, where the top pros are rich and famous. But the best players train all day, while Seth has school and a job and divorced parents who agree on only one thing: "Get off that damn computer." Plus there's a new distraction named Hannah, an aspiring photographer who actually seems to understand his obsession.
While Seth mopes about his tournament results and mixed signals from Hannah, Team Anaconda, one of the leading Korean pro squads, sees something special. Before he knows it, it's goodbye Kansas, goodbye Hannah, and hello to the strange new world of Korea. But the reality is more complicated than the fantasy, as he faces cultural shock, disgruntled teammates, and giant pots of sour-smelling kimchi.
What happens next surprises Seth. Slowly, he comes to make new friends, and discovers what might be a breakthrough, mathematical solution to the challenges of Starcraft. Delving deeper into the formulas takes him in an unexpected direction, one that might just give him a new focus—and reunite him with Hannah.
Review
"In Real Life is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of high-octane competitive computer gaming. It reminded me of Cory Doctorow's work, which I also love. Highly recommended!" —Mike Mullin, award-winning author of Ashfall
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"This is a great book for teens who love games and who just might love the mathematics behind them."—Lee, Ki-Suk, Korea National University of Education, Department of Mathematics Education
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"Some kids play sports. Some play music. Some play…games. In In Real Life, Seth Gordon's dreams of gaming on the Korean professional circuit are akin to his classmates' hopes of scoring sports or academic scholarships. If you think, as I confess I did, that gaming is a waste of talent and time, think again. The "game" is really the game of life. Master the game, and you master yourself. Cheers for this intelligent, engaging debut!" —Leza Lowitz, award-winning author of Jet Black and the Ninja Wind
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"The divide between reality and the digital landscapes of popular games like Starfare are the balancing act Tabak's In Real Life explores with brilliant humor and youthful zest. The backdrop of Korea and an elite team of gamers provides a culture clash that boldly shakes up the traditional bildungsroman and gives us something intriguing, bold, and entertaining. Tabak reminds us that our teenage years are full of relationships that transcend equations, that the zeitgeist of teenage life isn't easily quantifiable." —Peter Tieryas Liu, author of Bald New World and Watering Heaven
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"IRL is a very engaging story. As a longtime gamer, I wish there were books like this when I was younger. Like Seth, my whole life I've asked, 'Why is being good at a video game so different than being good at sports?'"—Bobby "Scar" Scarnewman, top-ranked Super Smash Brothers Melee player and commentator
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"Fifteen-year-old Seth aims to be the first American player to break into the professional online gaming circuit, and readers will be swept into his struggle to find his niche in whatever "real life" may be. It's murky turf for the math whiz, who has made his mark in the gaming world but questions his ability to measure up to the pros. Seth is even less assured in the offline world, where he feels overshadowed by his popular and athletic brother. His self-esteem gets a boost from Hannah—an artistic, intuitive classmate and coworker—and Tabak subtly and affectingly portrays the romance that develops between them. Seth's decision to join a prestigious Korean gaming team jeopardizes their relationship, as well as Seth's confidence. His candid and self-effacing narrative humorously exposes his seesawing emotions and sense of self: while he becomes an instant celebrity in Korea, he's resented and shunned by his teammates, and Hannah's long-distance aloofness compounds his loneliness. Tabak credibly navigates self-doubt, alienation, and resilience in his debut novel, which ends on a tantalizingly open-ended note."—Publishers Weekly
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"…this book will appeal to gamers (especially those interested in learning about the Korean gaming scene) and teens looking for a light read." —School Library Journal
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"If you're into or curious about eSports, or are already a fan looking for some extra validation in other mediums, check [In Real Life] out." —TechnologyTell.com
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"Readers will find Seth an unusually vivid protagonist. Instead of just announcing Seth is a whiz at gaming and math, Tabak repeatedly puts him in the "zone," implementing strategic and tactical maneuvers in hot game action, and at other times eagerly digging into calculus and inventing algorithms. In contrast to his hostile South Korean teammates, Seth is a good guy: humble in his hard-won successes but not a wimp. Ultimately, loneliness, culture shock, and a scholarship draw him back home, where a final pleasant surprise involving Hannah's college plans awaits. It's always satisfying to see a smart and likable character "level up." —Booklist
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"Part of the reason I loved this book as much as I did was the Korean aspect of it. I am, personally, very interested in Korean culture and it was interesting to look at it from the perspective of someone who is very confused by it. Seth's view of South Korea and "something foreign and sour" (which was kimchi) was very fun to read about because it is so different from the view I have of South Korea. All in all, I enjoyed this book a great deal. It addresses situations all teenagers go through but does so in a completely different environment, making this book something unique. I would recommend this book to most everyone I know because I it will stick with them for years to come." — TeenReads
Review
"Tabak credibly navigates self-doubt, alienation, and resilience in his debut novel, which ends on a tantalizingly open-ended note." —Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Lawrence Tabak started off with Candy Land but before long hit the harder stuff (Pong, Tron, etc.). His first job was playing knock hockey with ten-year-olds as a playground supervisor. He later tried pizza assembly and door-to-door solicitation before settling into a series of jobs in Iowa, California, New Jersey, and Kansas as a tennis professional. His writing has appeared in numerous national magazines and journals, including Fast Company, Salon.com, and The Atlantic Monthly. He and his wife have raised two game-obsessed boys—among their accomplishments are stints on the pro-gaming squads of SK Gaming and Fnatic.