THE ENDLESS GAME, by J.D. Amato and Sophie Morse, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, April 28, 2026, Paperback, $14.99 (ages 9-12)
A boy gets drawn into his new town’s intense summer game of Capture the Flag in The Endless Game, a graphic novel by J.D. Amato and Sophie Morse.
When Fred Townsend and his family move to Lakeside, Illinois, Fred is inducted into a game of capture the flag that has split the entire town in two. But this isn’t a normal game. It’s been going on for decades and has been passed down from generation to generation. It has its own history, laws, and institutions, with elaborate castle-like bases, dreary prisons, kid-run saloons, and even a council of home-schooled kids that preside over the rules of the game.
But for Fred, and all of Lakeside’s kids, this unending war is not just about winning—it’s also about learning how you want to fit into the world, the power of friendship, and making sure this summer is one they will never forget. —Synopsis provided by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
The Endless Game takes the classic game of Capture the Flag to new extremes. First played in the 1800s, each version of Capture the Flag has different rules. But the goal remains the same. Capture the opposing team’s flag and return to home base with it. Many young readers will recognize the game from the Percy Jackson books or American Girl’s Molly Saves the Day.
The Endless Game isn’t quite so wholesome as Molly Saves the Day, but the “grittier” story fits with changing times. Kids will appreciate J.D. Amato’s story that’s full of action, suspense, strategy and friendship.
And parents will appreciate how the kids get outside, run, bike — PLAY — with little technology in sight. It’s, frankly, a breath of fresh air.
The Endless Game moves quickly, thanks in part, to Sophie Morse’s energetic illustrations. Amato and Morse work seamlessly together, crafting a book with a lot of heart. It’s a great choice for summer reading.
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