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.

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 only 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 the kids' help piloting its 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