Charlie Lewis goes on a roller coaster ride of risk, math, and gaming in this middle grade novel that parallels the New York Times bestselling Bringing Down the House, which inspired the movie 21.

Charlie Lewis is a nerd. All he’s ever been good at is math—and he’s really good at math. So good that he’s recruited by a group of kids determined to game the system at the biggest theme park in the world—and win the grand prize. Soon Charlie is caught up in the excitement and thrill of using his math skills for awesomeness…but what’s at stake may be more than he’s willing to risk. How far will Charlie go for a chance at the ultimate reward?

About The Author

Photograph by Eric Levin

Ben Mezrich

Ben Mezrich graduated magna cum laude from Harvard. He has sold over ten million copies of his twenty-four published books, including the New York Times Bestsellers The Accidental Billionaires, which was adapted into the Academy Award–winning film The Social Network, and Bringing Down the House, which was the basis for the hit movie 21. His current bestseller The Antisocial Network is being adapted into the feature film Dumb Money. Ben has written and produced for the hit TV show Billions on Showtime, and he travels the world speaking to audiences of all ages about writing books and the adventures he has experienced from each of his stories. He lives in Boston with his wife, two kids, and two pugs.

Product Details

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (June 24, 2014)
Length: 336 pages
ISBN13: 9781442496323
Ages: 8 - 12
Lexile ® 1100L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

Raves and Reviews

"The pacing is well developed, building tension to almost a fever pitch...The plot has several unexpected and well-placed twists, and keeps readers guessing until the very end. A good fit for fans of Gordon Korman’s “Swindle” series."

– School Library Journal

“Fast-paced and full of behind-the-scenes detail.”

– Kirkus Reviews

"Mezrich addresses themes of loyalty and honesty while keeping the action tight and the dialogue snappy. Unexpectedly engrossing."

– Booklist