The Nerdy Dozen

When Neil Andertol and a motley crew of video-gaming whizzes accidentally download top-secret training software and are recruited by the military to restore a botched aircraft mission, they're no longer playing for points—they're playing to save the world! Part action movie, part slapstick comedy, debut author Jeff Miller's The Nerdy Dozen is a madcap adventure for the middle grade set.

When their gaming skills are the world’s only hope, can this team of unlikely heroes level up in time?

• From Gamer to Pilot: Neil Andertol is a master at the online flight simulator Chameleon. But when the game turns out to be real, he has to fly an actual top-secret jet to save the day.
• A Team of Unlikely Heroes: Neil isn't alone. He's joined by eleven other video game whizzes—a nerdy dozen recruited by the Air Force to complete a mission the pros couldn't handle.
• Top Secret Military Tech: Get ready for the Chameleon, a fighter jet that can turn completely invisible. It's the military's biggest secret, and now it's in the hands of a bunch of kids.
• Hilarious Action & Adventure: Packed with slapstick comedy, thrilling action, and a wisecracking team, this book is perfect for middle grade readers who love to laugh.

Neil Andertol is a hero.
. . . Just not in real life.

In video games, Neil—or as his online friends know him, ManofNeil—is a superstar. He's just one spot away from the top score on Chameleon, the cool new jet-flying game where the plane supposedly goes invisible at the highest level. But while ManofNeil can take out a whole squadron of enemy planes, regular Neil still gets picked on by the class bully. Until now.

When Neil mysteriously wakes up at an undisclosed military base along with eleven other kids, he learns that Chameleon isn't just a game—it's the training simulator for a real fighter jet! Now the Air Force needs their help piloting the jets on a top-secret rescue mission. Can Neil put his gaming skills to the ultimate real-life test? Because this time Neil isn't just playing for points—he's playing to save the world.

Video game-like action sequences give the fast-moving plot unexpected (and often funny) twists. Neil is a wry, relatable narrator whose gaming obsession will resonate with like-minded readers. - Publishers Weekly