Z. Rex (Hunting) [Hardcover]

Steve Cole (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 2009 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Hunting (Book 1)

Jurassic Park meets virtual gaming in a blockbuster new thriller!

You’re 14 and find yourself on your own. Your father, who has developed the world’s cutting edge research on virtual electronic game-playing, has been missing for weeks. And suddenly you’re being hunted by men with guns, your picture is on the news, and, worst of all, something seemingly impossible is chasing you—a savage, man-eating dinosaur. How can that be? Why is everyone trying to capture you? And what is your strange connection with this 21st-century prehistoric monster?

Steve Cole has created an absurdly gripping and kid-friendly thriller that will capture imaginations. If Jurassic Park were to meet Alex Rider, the result might well be this irresistible new novel.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6–9—Adam's dad, a single father, is always on the verge of success. He's a computer programmer who has been working on the creation of an ultra-reality video game where the actions are created by sensors that detect the players' thoughts and commands. He leaves his 13-year-old son for what he promises will only be a couple of days to meet with a company interested in backing his project. When he doesn't return after nine days, Adam begins to worry. But nothing in his imagination could prepare him for what comes knocking at his door. It's like a scenario from a movie or a video game: men with guns, dark sedans, mysterious messages, and a man-eating dinosaur that destroys everything in its path and, oh, by the way, can make itself invisible. Cole has created a likable character who manages to come out on top in an extraordinary situation. The science aspects offer an interesting perspective and dilemma for a discussion on genetic engineering. In addition, the adventure, video gaming, and the perilous, sometimes bloody scenes will capture reluctant readers who may not normally devour their reading materials.—Genevieve Gallagher, Buford Middle School, Charlottesville, VA END

Review

"Cole has created a likable character who manages to come out on top in an extraordinary situation." --School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Philomel (September 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399252533
• ISBN-13: 978-0399252532
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,194,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, November 14, 2009

By 

GamerDeluxe "GamerDeluxe" (Jersey City, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Z. Rex (Hunting) (Hardcover)

Cool cover, but that doesn't always mean the story is good. This story steams, though. Like an Alex Rider novel, only with virtual gaming. It's about a boy named Adam who finds himself being hunted by a virtual reality T.Rex come to life, while at the same time the government scientists who kidnapped his father are after him AND the dinosaur. Because this is technology that has gone haywire and now everyone wants to use it for their own purposes. But this T.Rex -- branded Z. Rex because he is hyper-evolved -- can only be controlled by one person, and that's Adam. Because it was Adam's thought-processing that his father used to program the dinosaur. This is a very cool concept and the action is nonstop. If you're into fast-paced stories like Alex Rider and into gaming, this novel is for you.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book for boys to read, March 24, 2010

By 

L. Ward "Reading Mom" (Panama City, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hunting, Book One: Z. Rex (Hardcover)

My son brought this book home to read. I picked it up and read it. It was a really good read. My son read it also and we have had great talks and discussions about it ever since. We are both looking forward to the next book. It is the perfect book for boys who usually don't like to read. It has a lot of action and thrills for boys. I work in a school and work with the kids who don't like to read and everyone of the boys I've recommended it to has read it in less than 3 days. These are boys who usually take 3 weeks to read a book because they hate it so much.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the perfect story for adrenaline junkies., February 16, 2010

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Z. Rex (Hunting) (Kindle Edition)

for anyone who's a fan of the jurrasic park movie frachises, or just the common young adult reader looking for a good book, you can find even doses of action and intruige in this novel. chock- full of vivid action sequences packed full of gore and prehistoric mayhem, a plot that would draw even the most reluctant reader in, it's one of those rare books that starts with a supersonic bang and doesn't stop till you clear the last chapter.