Crusader

Roberta Ritter has been waiting for a knight in shining armor for most of her humdrum life. She's a doormat, a nobody whose mother died a few years back, a smart girl who wastes her afternoons working in a failing arcade in a failing shopping mall. And then a Crusader arrives....Only this Crusader is a virtual reality war game, one that does a booming business at the arcade, despite—or perhaps because of—the controversy over its racism and violence. Roberta's boring life explodes. Onetime friends become bitter enemies, strangers reveal themselves as allies, and Roberta discovers the truth about her mother's death. In uncovering what's real and not just virtually real, Roberta learns to stand up for herself—and, maybe, to become her own crusader.

PLEASE NOTE: Young Adult titles may contain controversial themes, mature content, and/or profanity.  Some teachers specifically request these titles because they know their students are wrestling with these topics, while others choose not to incorporate these materials.  Please review each title carefully before selecting it.