Two Can Play That Game

SHORT-LISTED: 2024 CBCA Book of the Year, Older Readers

Selected as one of the Best Young Adult Books for 2023 ¿ Readings Books 

Sam Khoo has one goal in life: create cool indie games. She's willing to do anything to make her dream come true ¿ even throw away a scholarship to university. All she needs is a super-rare ticket to a game design workshop and she can kickstart her career.

So when Jay Chua, aka Jerky McJerkface, sneakily grabs the last ticket, it's war. Knowing how their Australian-Malaysian community works, Sam issues him an ultimatum: put the ticket on the line in a 1v1 competition of classic video games, or she'll broadcast his duplicity to everyone. Thank you, Asian Gossip Network.

Meeting in neutral locations, away from the eyes and ears of nosy aunties and uncles, Sam and Jay connect despite themselves. It's a puzzle that Sam's not sure she wants to solve. But when her dream is under threat, will she discover that there is more than one way to win?