A Hardcore Gamer Must Survive a Real-World Crisis in New YA Novel
In Phillip Telfer's new book, Why Save Alexander, seventeen-year-old Alex Brooks is obsessed with going pro until he suddenly goes missing. He must face a life or death struggle in a foreign culture that doesn't have a power grid. His digital world didn't prepare him for these challenges. Alex also hides a deep secret, the cavernous void in his life that nothing seems to fill. He gains a new perspective on what it means to become a man and what it takes to be a hero.
SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In light of the meteoric rise of e-sports, a small percentage of teen gamers are achieving fame and fortune as e-athletes. This is now inspiring a generation of kids who are learning to rack up kills and points online but often neglect developing real-world relationships and other important skills. Most will never become e-sports professionals.
Phillip Telfer is the founder and president of the nonprofit ministry Media Talk 101 and has nearly two decades of experience speaking to teens and parents about making wise media and entertainment choices with the help of a biblical worldview.
Years ago, a twelve-year-old approached Phillip to share how helpful the presentation in his youth group was to him. He also confessed to being addicted to gaming, but what he said next left an indelible impression on Phillip. The boy described his broken home and his greatest challenge, "I am lonely, I don't know what to do with myself." That insightful and heartfelt statement became the seed for Why Save Alexander as Phillip pondered a creative way to reach out to this generation through a compelling story instead of a didactic seminar.
The result is this coming-of-age story that follows Alex as he is forced to grow up the hard way through extraordinary circumstances, which cause him to reevaluate what's important in life, his need for God, and the positive influence of older mentors. Adventure, danger, romance, and providence are some of the ingredients that help remake his life.
Dr. Kathy Koch, author of Screens and Teens: Connecting with Our Kids in a Wireless World, writes, "Teens and young adult men and women will enjoy and benefit from this book. It's full of action vividly described. It moves quickly and will engage the reader. This gripping story is full of much truth. In clever and creative ways, Phillip causes readers to think about and evaluate their lives, relationships, goals, purposes, and passions. They may not even realize they're thinking about these things while enjoying the book, but it will be good for them. I expect some readers will make changes in their lives because of Phillip's important story. I don't read much fiction because it doesn't move me, but I could not put this book down."
Phillip is also author of the book Media Choices: Convictions or Compromise? and wrote, produced, and codirected the award-winning documentary Captivated: Finding Freedom in a Media Captive Culture. He is the founder of the annual Christian Worldview Film Festival and Filmmakers Guild.
SOURCE Elm Hill
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