Outside the Box by Dan Allosso


Outside the Box
Title : Outside the Box
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 0595442951
ISBN-10 : 9780595442959
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 136
Publication : First published May 25, 2007

Teenager Reid Anderson knows there’s something wrong with society, otherwise he wouldn’t feel so alienated. He has a problem with authority but can’t “am I antisocial or does society suck?” So he goes through life pretending he doesn’t care. A new Wii console and simulation game show up in his rec room, and Reid is just bored enough to try them out. When a demon from inside the game threatens him in reality, Reid is plunged into a world of troubled teens he didn’t know existed. The demon’s challenge takes him on a journey of discovery. Suddenly exposed to other outsiders, Reid learns to question authority and find his own answers. He finds true friends among those labeled defective and cast aside by society—and together, they learn to fight for themselves. Set against a background of video games, teen mental illness, and anticonsumer counterculture; told through the eyes of Reid and his friends, Outside the Box challenges the safe, orthodox picture of the world championed in many popular teen novels.

Outside the Box Reviews

  • Johanna Freivalds

    Okay this one surprised me. I'd bought the book for my middle school library base upon some reviews I'd read. When book arrived, I skimmed the book and read some language and situations in a couple spots that gave me pause. Thought I'd give it a read cover-to-cover (nothing like taking something out of context and basing ones opinion of an entire book on THAT)...[a favorite activity of would-be book censors by the way]. It's true that the first part of the book describes some violent activity but it's in the context of a video game (by the way I'm SO not a gamer --ugh) and then the story is developed from there. I will be recommending this book some of my teen readers (probably 7th & 8th grade boys) for starters. Well written story and even with my non-interest in gaming the interaction among characters and situations carried the book for me and I found that I'd liked it well enough that I'll also be buying its sequel for my library. This is one of those reads that certain kids will like very much.

  • Jessica

    This was not for me. Definitely a teen-read. At times it felt like a Nintendo Wii ad in book form.

  • Jennifer Wardrip<span class=

    Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

    Let's begin this review by stating that the author, Dan Allosso, is working on a sequel to OUTSIDE THE BOX. I just wanted to get that out of the way, because after reading this book, you will definitely want to know more.

    OUTSIDE THE BOX features top-of-the-line gaming equipment and cutting-edge game programs. Main character Reid Anderson takes readers on a trip into that world that they won't forget.

    Reid generally likes to keep a low profile. His parents are hard-working, well-paid executives who keep their son surrounded with the latest and greatest of everything. His mother shops for him in the best clothing stores, making sure he has the coolest designer labels. His father designs game programs for a popular company, so it's no surprise when a brand new Wii machine shows up in the well-equipped basement rec room.

    At first Reid doesn't show much interest. If it's something his parents think he might be interested in, he sure doesn't want it to look like they were right. But after thinking about it for awhile, Reid decides he might as well enjoy the Wii. Playing feels pretty normal at first, but then some strange things begin to happen. The game seems to have features regular off-the-shelf games wouldn't have. Reid considers that perhaps his dad has arranged some custom game to impress his otherwise ignored son.

    But then a voice starts talking to Reid. The voice, and then an actual character, is part of the game. Weird ....

    When Reid starts to investigate and mentions this strange phenomenon, he is warned by the game to keep quiet. The investigating Reid does begins to open some very interesting doors. One that's a bit scary is the fact that the state is watching kids diagnosed with mental health issues by having them play the game. Reid finds that the information gathered when the kids play is being used to prescribe changes in their medications and monitor their progress. Even more weird ....

    An unexpected email message lets Reid know that he is not alone. He eventually joins forces with Louise, Larry, and Dave to question the mysterious JCN character in the game and find out exactly what is going on.

    OUTSIDE THE BOX is sure to be popular among gaming teens, but beyond that, anyone who does indeed think "outside the box" is sure to be glad that the adventure will continue....

  • Jay

    This book was cool