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Take These Books on Your Next Pokémon Go Adventure!

by  | August 30

Flash back to the glorious summer of 2016. A simpler time, when Pokémon Go fever was in high pitch. Facebook groups formed, friendships were tested, and families banded together to pick a team, or else face infighting during weekend barbecues. We’re three years past that point, but Pokémon Go is still going strong.

We all know the pain of waiting for a Pokestop to refresh as we hope to stock up on Poké  Balls or potions. The best way to pass the time (and save your precious battery power for when it really matters) is by reading a good book. Here are seven action and adventure stories to keep you company as you continue to explore the world of Pokémon Go.

Into the Jungle

Into the Jungle

by Erica Ferencik

This new thriller is perfect for headstrong adventurers. A young girl must test herself against the beasts of the Amazonian jungle—both human and animal. With lush descriptions, terrifying creatures, and evil men bent on exploiting the resources of the world, Into the Jungle depicts how it feels to play a Pokémon game. The high morality of the ending is combined elegantly with the reality of the situation, and the conclusion is sad, but satisfying.

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This Is How You Lose the Time War

This Is How You Lose the Time War

by Amal El-Mohtar

If you have a friend, partner, or rival on a different team (honestly, if you’re not Valor, go home), this is the perfect book for you. The main characters are actually named Red and Blue, and they communicate through letters left behind as they time travel. The story is a fascinating unraveling, and shows that the smallest of actions can change the world...or every world. It’s short too! Literally the perfect size for your pocket.

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The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass

by Philip Pullman

In an effort to save the missing children and protect the magic of the world, young Lyra journeys with her shape-shifting animal companion to faraway lands, where she befriends larger monsters and attacks the bad guys with the fury of a thousand polar bears. First of all, teaming up with a mythical beast and breaking into a scientific facility has Pokémon written all over it, to say nothing of Lyra’s daemon, Pan, who travels with her and protects her at all times. I mean, come on. His Dark Materials is basically a Pokémon franchise.

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Do You Dream of Terra-Two?

Do You Dream of Terra-Two?

by Temi Oh

Six teenagers are tasked with a mission: Leave the Earth to save humanity. No big deal. This book tackles the spirit of adventure, and asks if we’re ever really ready to leave home. It’s nostalgic for a new past, and there are a lot of parallels with climate change, rivalries, and trust issues built into the narrative. Do You Dream of Terra-Two? is an utterly engrossing character study (in space!), and perfect for you and your friends to share on your long and perilous journey to the next gym.

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Deep Past

Deep Past

by Eugene Linden

Imagine, for a second, you’re in a cave. If you’ve played Pokémon on the handhelds, you know that this usually means darkness, Pokémon everywhere, bad guys, and, of course, fossils. Deep Past is an action/thriller that takes you into the depths of an archaeological dig, where an artifact is unearthed, and a plucky scientist (Prof. Claire Knowland, not Prof. Oak) has to fight to keep the treasures safe. She might as well give you a starter Pokémon while she’s at it.

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Coda Vol. 1

Coda Vol. 1

by Simon Spurrier

In line with the anime origins of Pokémon, there was a need to include a graphic novel in this list. Coda is a broken fantasy story that takes place after a disaster wipes out almost all the magic from the world. It’s in this glorious wasteland that we find Hum, a former bard, and his ornery pet unicorn. They must travel the lands to search for the soul of Hum’s wife—all the while battling the mutated monsters of the blighted landscape and trying to avoid the sweeping political factions—ultimately to tell the stories that matter most to the world. It’s basically Pokémon, but set in a George Miller–like version of Middle Earth.

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Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

by J. K. Rowling, Newt Scamander

No lit list about Pokémon would be complete without this how-to guide. Consider it a Pokédex to the magical creatures that haunt the Harry Potter world. We’re not talking about the movie here, no—we’re going with the original text, complete with handwritten notes from Ron and Hermione. Friendship, supernaturally powerful creatures, disguises, and best training techniques for Kneazles? I’m pretty sure a Kneazle is a Pokémon at this point. Honestly, someone look it up.

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