Families who loved Virtual War by Gloria Skurzynski often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your middle schooler is starting to blur the lines between their digital and physical lives, or when they are questioning the ethics of the technology they use every day. It is an ideal pick for the child who feels more comfortable behind a screen than in the real world, providing a safe space to explore the weight of responsibility and the value of human connection. The story follows Corgan, a boy genetically engineered for lightning-fast reflexes, as he trains for a bloodless war fought entirely in a virtual simulation. While the premise is high-stakes science fiction, the heart of the book is about a young person discovering that their identity is more than just the tasks they were built to perform. It raises important questions about who controls our future and whether a virtual victory can ever truly solve real-world problems. Parents will appreciate the focus on integrity and the way it encourages teens to look up from their devices and engage with the world around them.