Crusader by Edward Bloor

I wanted to read this book because I loved Tangerine so much, but even after I got it I didn't read it for many months because the picture on the cover made me think it was some medieval fantasy. Way to judge a book by its cover! The cover does have a crusading knight with a holy cross on his chest, but the book actually takes place in modern Florida. The protagonist works in her family's video game store in the local run-down mall, where all the games are virtual reality "experiences", and are generally along the lines of one group of people, like the crusaders, trying to wipe out another group of people, like Muslims. The mindless killing prevalent in the games' plots mirrors ignorant local attitudes. Roberta watches as racial tensions heat up among local residents and businesses, and at the same time she begins to emerge from the protective shell she built around herself after her mother's murder years ago. Like Tangerine, Crusader is full of secrets and surprises, and it's almost as good.