By Cube Kid and Karl Saboten Olsberg
A twelve-year-old villager attempts to trade his carrot-farming future for a sword and some serious glory.
Cube Kid introduces us to Runt, a twelve-year-old villager who is tired of his limited career choices. While his peers are happy to become farmers or crafters in their small town, Runt wants to be a warrior like the hero Steve. He decides to compete for one of the few spots in the local warrior training program at his school. This first book launches an adventure that spans eight main volumes. Having such a vast collection of sequels means that once a student connects with the story, they have an abundance of adventures waiting to keep their interest alive.
These books are a win for English language learners and students who typically avoid reading. Because so many kids already know the Minecraft universe, they already understand the setting and the creatures Runt faces. Saboten’s illustrations serve a vital purpose by helping visual learners follow the plot when the vocabulary gets tricky. The diary format uses short chunks of text and playful font changes to engage the reader, mixed with longer passages that encourage them to stretch their abilities. This balance keeps the energy high and prevents the pages from feeling like a chore. Since the art and characters remain the same throughout the series, students gain confidence as they move from one book to the next. You can easily use these in a classroom library to help hesitant readers step up to more traditional novels.
**Total Books in Series:** 8
**Best Starting Point:** Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior
