Parents' Guide to

Ready Player One

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Exciting, funny, futuristic thriller about online games.

Book Ernest Cline Science Fiction 2011
Ready Player One Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 14+

Based on 33 parent reviews

LadyVet
LadyVet Parent of 9, 12 and 13-year-old
March 20, 2018
age 15+

One of my all-time favorites, but for kids, save it for high school

As an adult, I loved this book. It has a lot of nostalgic references that were fun but also dives into the concepts of leaving real life behind in favor of the virtual world, loyalty to friends, and sacrificing for something you believe in. For kids though, I think 15 would be a good age. There is some content that could have been left out with no change to the story (sex/masturbation with VR characters, virtual prostitution, comparing avatars to porn stars, etc.). I do let my tweens/teen read some pretty language-heavy books (they read The Martian, for example), but with this one, I think if you wait until they can really "get" the concepts in the book, they will enjoy it more.
theshapetalks
theshapetalks Adult
April 14, 2020
age 13+

this is the best book ever made!

if your a horror, Sci-Fi, Action, Romance like me. then read this! I don't even care if your a kid. this book is for nerds, geeks and any body. the f word is said a lot, but I hate to break it to you, but your kids probably say the f word a lot to while playing video games. And the sex talk is kind of bad, but it's more ACTION then SEX. this book also has a lot of consumerism.
See all 33 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Like nearly everyone on the depleted, depressed Planet Earth, high school student Wade Watts dreams of winning the untold billions at stake in a contest devised by James Halliday, late inventor of OASIS, the immersive virtual utopia that allows anyone to plug in and leave the real world behind. Obsessed with Reagan-era pop culture and technology, Halliday creates a series of puzzles that can only be solved by someone with an encyclopedic knowledge of science fiction, player-vs.-player fighting strategies, and the software mogul's own personal history. As the stakes grow higher and players begin to die in the real world, Wade must decide whether he can trust anyone else in his quest for the ultimate prize.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (33 ):
Kids say (106 ):

Layered with inside jokes and sly references that will appeal to a wide range of readers, READY PLAYER ONE is a smart, funny thriller that both celebrates and critiques online culture. The author is accomplished at developing suspense even though much of the narrative is set in virtual reality. The puzzles are intriguing, the action is intense, and the payoff at the end is worth all the buildup.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about making predictions of the future based on current trends. Does the setting of the book seem plausible? What assumptions is the author making about changes in politics and economics between now and 2044?

  • What are the advantages and the disadvantages of having so much information available 24/7? How might near-ubiquitous social media affect our culture?

  • The protagonist, Wade Watts, spends a lot of time hiding his location and true identity. How do his precautions compare to the strategies you use to work online safely?

  • Do you think the contest in the novel could really be solved by one person working entirely alone? What are the advantages or disadvantages of working as a team?

Book Details

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