What a wonderful representation of the complexities of love and friendship. This book really caught me off guard in that regard; I was pretty hooked from the beginning due to the readability of it and my own interest in the creative process of video games (I especially enjoyed the many references), but the aspects of human connection are what will stick with me. Not only does Zevin do a great job of showing the ways our childhoods influence our lives (through both trauma and our escapes from those traumas), but the novel is stunning in using its own influences in the gaming world to shape its form in places. I found the 'Pioneers' section, in particular, to be very special and a beautiful culmination of bringing content and form together. I was left misty-eyed by the end of it.

Reviewed on Sunday, November 26th, 2023, 12:15pm.