Description
Thirteen players. Thirteen hours. One extraordinary prize.
When 12-year-old Sebastian Walker is invited to legendary game-maker Elisabetta Nardi's mansion in Sardinia, he thinks he can finally leave his troubles behind. Instead, he's thrust into a real-world escape game with the other twelve guests, and the prize could change his life.
If Sebastian wants to solve the clues hidden around the mysterious East Wing and find the secret exit, he must team up with the bubbly Lali and brilliant Vita. Even as a team, though, it won't be easy...and elimination is always just around the corner.
Review
Sebastian is an ordinary Australian 12-year-old boy. He is the third of four boys in his family, and his two older brothers constantly tease and torment him. What is not so ordinary is that he is being followed by a strange woman, who appears at his house to invite him to travel with her to Italy in a couple of weeks, to take part in a new game designed by the world famous and mega-rich Elisabetta Nardi.
His Mum tells him to just forget about it but his Dad, who works in the mines, secretly signed the release forms, and on the day of departure Sebastian is whisked away on an amazing adventure.
He finds himself in the amazing world of Elisabetta Nardi, competing with twelve other kids in a real-world escape game. The contestants have thirteen hours to get out, either by themselves or in a team of no more than three. He quickly teams up with a brilliant Indian girl named Lali, and then together they team up with a quiet Italian girl, Vita - who seemed to be doing very well on her own. Can these three overcome the obnoxious Iris, and the other talented kids, and decipher the code that would see them escape and claim the incredible prize?
This is a fast-paced problem-solving adventure, perfect for those who love puzzles and gaming. With themes of bullying, teamwork and problem solving, and set in an incredible building with an international cast of characters, this is a terrific novel for middle grade readers, particularly reluctant lower secondary readers.
Teacher notes prepared by the publisher are available on our website for this title.
