Audience: 12 years and Up
Review by Kristen Higgason (she/her)
MLIS Student, Kent State University iSchool
M.Ed Student, Kent State University EHHS
17-year-old Kiera has a secret – she is the developer of a highly-popular online role-playing card game, SLAY. When a teen in Kansas City is murdered over a SLAY dispute, and the story reaches the mainstream media, the game is called exclusionary, racist, and violent. Not to mention there is a troll trying to sue Kiera. Kiera just wants to save the one place she truly feels like her, can she?
This unapologetically Black teen is such a fantastic main character. Even if gaming is not something you love, the characters, story, and Kiera will make you cheer for her. If you are looking for a book that celebrates and embraces Blackness, this is the book to pick up. If you are looking for a book that highlights social issues, this is the book for you. Cheer on Kiera and her fight to save SLAY while also trying to solve the mystery of who the anonymous troll is.