The Roar by Emma Clayton


Don't be fooled by the corny 80's style video game book trailer - The Roar is a fast-paced dystopian fantasy that you won't be able to put down. Twelve-year old Mika's twin Ellie has been missing for over a year; everyone, including her parents, thinks she is dead. Mika believes otherwise, and he's right. Turns out Ellie has been kidnapped by evil scientist Mal Gorman, who has plans to turn mutant children into five-star podfighter killing machines. In order to recruit mutants, Gorman runs a gaming competition at the local arcade, and Mika enters to win fame, fortune, a better life for his parents, and the key to his sister's disappearance. Clayton deftly weaves the themes of opression, poverty, and the class system into the story - and somehow manages to make 481 pages feel abridged.Click here for an interview with Emma Clayton. Grade 6+

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