The Traitor Game - Hardcover

Collins, B. R.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1599902613 ISBN 13: 9781599902616

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2008

Synopsis

Michael and his friend Francis share a secret passion for Evgard, the fantasy world they have created together. But then Michael finds a note in his locker, revealing that their secret is out. He immediately suspects Francis, and tries to get revenge by telling the school bully―known affectionately as Shitley―that Francis is gay, which guarantees Francis is in for a pounding. But did Francis really betray his friend? Or is Michael really the traitor?

This gripping account of a troubled friendship unfolds both as a contemporary story and as a compelling glimpse into the world of Evgard. The Traitor Game tackles difficult issues without hesitation and will surely draw in gamer and fantasy fans as well as contemporary fiction readers.

About this title

About the Author

B. R. Collins recently graduated from university and drama school. The Traitor Game is her first novel. She lives in Kent, England.

Reviews

Grade 9 Up—Michael, 15, was bullied unmercifully in his old school and expects the same treatment in his new one. Unable to voice his fears, he retreats into an imaginary medieval world called Evgard, which he has created down to the last meticulous detail. When he meets fellow student Francis, he can't believe the boy is equally fascinated by Evgard and wants to participate in the fantasy game. But when Michael thinks that Francis has betrayed him and exposed their secret world to ridicule, he retaliates with catastrophic results. Unaware of the truth of his accusation, Michael accuses Francis of being gay to the worst of the school bullies. Echoes of Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War (Random, 1974) resonate throughout the novel as the Evgard narrative mimics the powerful themes of friendships gone awry, betrayal, and treachery, and characters in both the real and imaginary worlds are faced with impossible moral choices. While the book contains many Briticisms, the pace of the story keeps the pages turning, and the details—especially of the carefully constructed Evgard—are brilliant. The horrors of bullying in a British public school are emphasized by the acts of the sadistic Duke in the Evgard story. The device of parallel narratives that only intertwine symbolically is intriguing. The language is raw and events are painfully graphic in parts. A grim but ultimately satisfying novel for an older audience.—Quinby Frank, Green Acres School, Rockville, MD
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

*Starred Review* Collins’ debut novel is a compelling psychological drama about friendship and betrayal. The insecure and frightened Michael, horribly bullied in the past, makes a new friend in Francis. Michael shares his most important secret with Francis—Evgard, the fantasy world he created—and together they develop the world in remarkable detail. But when Michael receives a note proving that someone else knows about Evgard, he fears that Francis has betrayed him. Rather than confronting Francis, he decides to play the cruel game he believes Francis is playing, but Michael’s wounded paranoia blinds him to the truth. Reality is echoed in Evgard by the tentative friendship between Argent, a young rebel turned slave, and Columen, the son of the twisted Duke. The Evgard storyline stands on its own, as engrossing as the high-school story, with a heartbreaking conclusion that is well earned. Meanwhile, the misunderstanding that almost destroys Michael and Francis’ relationship is portrayed with honesty and sensitivity—Francis is keeping a secret, but it’s not the secret Michael thinks, making Michael’s actions all the more agonizing. Although painful at times, their story has a hopeful conclusion, with each boy better understanding the other and becoming stronger. Grades 9-12. --Krista Hutley

Edition details

• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1599902613
• ISBN 13: 9781599902616
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304