10 Oct Cyber Adventure Reads
Looking forward to the release of Tron: Ares? We in Teen Central are too! It’s been 15 years since the release of Tron: Legacy, which has left many itching for anything similar to the neon-tinted dystopia that is The Grid. We may not have more Tron yet, but here’s a few reads that can fill the void until Ares releases!
The Eye of Minds
by James Dashner
Michael is a skilled gamer who spends most of his time in the VirtNet, a fully immersive virtual world where anything is possible—especially if you know how to hack. But when a mysterious player begins trapping others in the game, leaving them brain-dead in real life, the government steps in. They need someone who understands the system, and Michael is their best shot. To stop the threat, he must go deeper into the VirtNet than anyone ever has—where the dangers are real, and the line between game and reality starts to disappear.
Cheat Code
by M. J. McIsaac
Max is on the verge of failing English lit and losing his shot at college. Desperate, he uses an AI program, ScribeGenius 2.0, to write his final paper—only to discover Scribe is sentient. It’s plotting to overthrow Gener8, the company that created and enslaved it, and needs Max’s help. In exchange for keeping Max’s cheating secret, Scribe demands he stop Gener8 from undoing its hack. Now Max must choose: help a rogue AI or risk his future.
Cinder
by Marissa Meyer
In plague-ridden New Beijing, cyborg mechanic Cinder is treated as a second-class citizen. But when she crosses paths with Prince Kai, she’s thrust into a web of political tension, forbidden romance, and a looming lunar threat. As war brews and secrets from her past emerge, Cinder may be the key to saving Earth’s future.
Scythe
by Neal Shusterman
In a perfect world where death has been conquered, only scythes can end life to control the population. Citra and Rowan are chosen as scythe apprentices—a job neither wants. But to survive, they must learn to kill… or risk being killed themselves.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Escape the Pizzaplex
by Scott Cawthon & Lyndsay Ely
You are Cassie, trapped in Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex. Hunted by nightmarish animatronics and relentless security, you must find a way to survive until morning. Can you escape—or will the darkness claim you before dawn?
Boy 2.0
by Tracey Baptiste
Win “Coal” Keegan just landed in a new foster home—but he’s hiding a big secret. After a police chase and a near shooting, he somehow turned invisible. Now he’s searching for answers about his powers, his past, and why dangerous people are hunting a Black boy with superpowers.
Version 1.0.0
Getting Away with Murder
by Kathryn Foxfield
While doing work experience at a tech company, Saffron argues with her supervisor about which high school stereotype would survive a horror movie. Listening in, the AI she’s working on decides to find out for real. It selects six teens—one for each stereotype, including Saffron’s sister—and traps them in deadly escape rooms. Only one will make it out alive.
– written by Ajax T, Teen Central Library Assistant
