Leon Levels Up
- Publisher
- Orca Book Publishers
- Initial publish date
- Feb 2024
- Category
- NON-CLASSIFIABLE, Science Fiction, Mythical, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
- Recommended Age
- 9 to 12
- Recommended Grade
- 4 to 7
- Recommended Reading age
- 9 to 12
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781459837355
- Publish Date
- Feb 2024
- List Price
- $10.95
-
eBook
- ISBN
- 9781459837379
- Publish Date
- Feb 2024
- List Price
- $8.99
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
Key Selling Points
- Twelve-year-old Leon must beat a virtual-reality video game when a glitch puts him and his friend in real-life danger.
- This story looks at themes of loneliness, self-esteem and self-acceptance.
- Virtual-reality gaming is popular and the technology continues to advance. Although the specific technology in the book doesn’t exist (yet), it explores what could be possible in the future.
- This story will appeal to gamers, aspiring programmers, tech enthusiasts and fantasy lovers alike.
- This is Paul Coccia’s third hi-lo book with Orca, following Cub in the Orca Soundings line and I Got You Babe in the Orca Currents line.
- Enhanced features (dyslexia-friendly font, cream paper, larger trim size) to increase reading accessibility for dyslexic and other striving readers.
About the author
Glitterature writer Paul Coccia is the author of Cub, The Player, I Got You Babe, Leon Levels Up, and On the Line (co-authored with Eric Walters). Paul has a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia. You can often find him baking in his Toronto kitchen with his three dogs, nephew, and a parrot who loves spaghetti and French fries. Follow him @pauljcoccia on Instagram and Twitter.
Awards
- Commended, Junior Library Guild (JLG) Gold Standard Selection
Editorial Reviews
“Gives voice to young people who question who they are and whether they are good enough, [with] all the excitement of a video game adventure… Paul Coccia takes us for a wild ride in Leon Levels Up, all at a lower reading level than typical for the middle grade reader, but never forgets to remind us that Leon never needed to advance to a higher level of self. For a twelve-year-old, he was already there.”
CanLit for Little Canadians
“An excellent fit for the hi-lo (reluctant reader) program...Any gamer would enjoy the twists and turns in the narrative.”
YAdudebooks
“Themes of belonging, finding your people, and social acceptance, combined with a gaming-focused plot, will resonate with tweens… Since Leon negatively compares himself to others, this book could be used (…) in a unit about body shaming, as well as in discussions about the social-emotional effects of poverty, isolation of technology, anxiety, and the value of real friendship.”
School Library Journal (SLJ)
“Leon Levels Up is a must read. There are many important lessons to learn about friendship, self-worth, what it means to be a hero, as well as a few cautionary notes about tech and the crossover between reality and the virtual world. Highly Recommended.”
CM: Canadian Review of Materials
