Middle-schooler Bryan wakes up to find that his life has become a video game, with bullies to beat, races to run, puzzles to solve, and much more at stake.

A collection of stories of everyday life designed to help teens apply the Bible to their own lives.

Having dreams is .... normal. We also see people having clear goals ... and it's quite interesting... looking like a more organised person which is dreaming. ... on and on and on. And the truth is ... that the human being could be defined as a machine ... that is always coming up with new and new desires. I look into my past ... and i see myself saying in front of the Universe ... i want that and that ... and that. And ... i can't stop myself ... even if i know that same as Budha said ... the desire itself is the source of all the human pain. I smile realising how i've wasted my life chasing for on million contradictory desires. ... but also honestly realising ... this is a non ending story. So ... starting a weird process of self therapy... analysing all those desires ... especially the ones that obsessed myself ... I've finally concluded that in fact ... i want more to "taste" those desires. It was like i loved Rolls Royce... and i wanted to drive such an amazing car ... but i did not really wanting to pay such a huge price for this car .... the maintenance ... the taxes …the insurance etc. In fact ... all i wanted was to ... drive it ... for a while ... and enjoy the sensation of doing it. And the list of similar desires ... was so damn long ... So ... i wanted that ... and that and that ... hoping in fact that ... i'll get some sensations... which will bring me nice vibes into my soul. But .... It was only one problem. I did not really wanted to ... pay the price. Almost ... for any of those desires which were dominating obsessively my existence. Time was passing ... and i was somehow ending all the time ... being sad and disappointed.... cause my desires did not became real. Not all of them ... but many. But ... i've also noticed with some of those weird desires which i had .... that they were not what I've imagined. It was indeed all ... illusory. I could simple try and test all ... simple paying a price ... like renting the Rolls ... and see if i really want such a car. It was not that i could afford it ... but i could try to taste it ... by paying a minimum price for that ... only to understand better if that was a good path to follow or not. I had to insert ... a coin. But i was not really ready to do it. Yes ... not even pay ... a vey little price for it. I was just dreaming ... so nicely pretending i have clear goals with my life ... but all i was doing was to allow being dominated by those illusory desires. And this moment when i've understood i have only 3 choices... my life changed. Firstly ... I could ... stop dreaming. Or i could pay the price of getting that desire ... and stop being so stupid ... believing that a great dream ... costs 2 pennies. Or ... i could simple .... "taste" a little bit that desire .... see if i really want it ... and then decide if i delete that obsession from my mind ... or not. So ... all was about ... insert coin ... paying the price for it ... or .... simply stop myself dreaming with my eyes opened... like an idiot.

With multiple starred reviews, don't miss this humorous, poignant, and original contemporary story about bullying, broken friendships, social media, and the failures of communication between kids. From John David Anderson, author of the acclaimed Ms. Bixby’s Last Day. In middle school, words aren’t just words. They can be weapons. They can be gifts. The right words can win you friends or make you enemies. They can come back to haunt you. Sometimes they can change things forever. When cell phones are banned at Branton Middle School, Frost and his friends Deedee, Wolf, and Bench come up with a new way to communicate: leaving sticky notes for each other all around the school. It catches on, and soon all the kids in school are leaving notes—though for every kind and friendly one, there is a cutting and cruel one as well. In the middle of this, a new girl named Rose arrives at school and sits at Frost’s lunch table. Rose is not like anyone else at Branton Middle School, and it’s clear that the close circle of friends Frost has made for himself won’t easily hold another. As the sticky-note war escalates, and the pressure to choose sides mounts, Frost soon realizes that after this year, nothing will ever be the same.

Video games are a complex, compelling medium in which established art forms intersect with technology to create an interactive text. Visual arts, architectural design, music, narrative and rules of play all find a place within, and are constrained by, computer systems whose purpose is to create an immersive player experience. In the relatively short life of video game studies, many authors have approached the question of how games function, some focusing on technical aspects of game design, others on rules of play. Taking a holistic view, this study explores how ludology, narratology, visual rhetoric, musical theory and player psychology work (or don't work) together to create a cohesive experience and to provide a unified framework for understanding video games.

This resource provides nuts-and-bolts information on international communication in 161 countries. Each country entry gives information on country dialing code, country, city, and area codes, emergency numbers, cellular phone service standards, cellular and Internet service providers, and locations of selected Internet cafes, and provides photos and instructions for pay telephones and illustrations of different types of electric plugs and telephone jacks. There is also general information on international dialing, cellular and satellite phones, the Internet and email, and plugs and connectivity. A troubleshooting guide is illustrated with screenshots and photos of equipment. The 5x8" guide is useful for all travelers, especially those traveling on business. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Revolutionize Learning: Dive Into the Joy of Educational Games Imagine a world where the joy of play infuses every lesson, where students of all ages are eager to learn, spurred by curiosity and engagement. "Playful Minds: Transforming Education with Gamification" extends a thrilling invitation to educators, parents, and innovators: to reimagine the educational landscape through the potent magic of gamification. The journey starts at the intersection where education meets fun, guiding readers through a captivating exploration of what gamification really is and why it has become an imperative in today's teaching toolkit. Discover the core principles of game design and how they can be harnessed to create enriching educational experiences that captivate both the mind and the heart. Sink your teeth into the psychology that intertwines learning with gaming. Unlock compelling insights into motivation, flow state, and the psychological underpinnings that make game-based learning incredibly effective. Design your very first educational game with strategies right from the minds of seasoned experts, employing powerful narrative techniques, reward systems, and game mechanics that translate across different subjects and cater to diverse learning styles. Dive deep into digital versus non-digital gaming applications, and witness how each can beautifully complement the art of teaching. Equip yourself with the knowledge of the latest technologies, such as AR and VR, and understand how they are revolutionizing learning spaces. While addressing the inclusivity in game design, the book ensures that no learner is left behind. Armed with a plethora of case studies and actionable tools for crafting your own gamified classroom environment, "Playful Minds" ensures that your educational practice is equipped to meet the needs of the modern learner. Evolve your teaching, connect with a passionate educator community, and confidently lead the charge towards a future where learning and play are indistinguishable. As the final page turns, it's not game over, but the next level in educational excellence. Embrace the power of "Playful Minds" to craft experiences that linger long after the lesson ends, fostering a lifelong love for learning.