YA: Two boys create fantasy world, conflict between them [s]

[Steven]

I probably read this book in 2008-9.

The book is about two teenaged boys who go to a private school in the UK. They created their own fantasy world that consists of maps, literature, and a storyline. The fantasy world is very important to the two boys and is what binds them. Most of the narrative is from one boy's perspective. Some of the narrative takes place in the fantasy world. The main conflict between the friends is that they are drifting apart due to some rumors about the MC's best friend being gay. I remember the MC getting in a fight with a bully. Throughout the story the MC keeps working on the fantasy world while his friend stops. (view spoiler)[The story culminates when the MC puts all of their notes and maps of the fantasy world in a trash bag and confronts his best friend. The best friend finally tells the MC that he is in fact gay. (hide spoiler)] There is a happy ending.

I think the author was from the UK. I remember really liking the book.

Whenever I try googling for it I just find things unrelated to the book. Feel free to ask questions. I hope you can help me find the book, thanks.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Is there any fantasy aspect to their day to day lives? Or is the fantasy part strictly in the world that they've created?

Can you remember what the cover looked like? Was it hard bound or paperback? Did you feel like it was an older book or was it fairly currant to when you read it?

Where did you find the book? Was it YA, children's or adult?

[Steven]

Ann aka Iftcan wrote: "Is there any fantasy aspect to their day to day lives? Or is the fantasy part strictly in the world that they've created?

Can you remember what the cover looked like? Was it hard bound or paperbac..."
The fantasy part is strictly in the world they created. The fantasy world was less magic, more knights.

I don't remember what the cover looked like. I think it was a dark cover (color, not tone).

I found the book in my town's library. It was in the YA section. It was hard cover. I think it was fairly new. I may have been the first to check it out of the library.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

While I don't recognize your book Steven, it will definitely be making an appearance in Iftcan's Mountain Range (aka my tbr pile) when it is found. It does sound interesting.

[Steven]

Ann aka Iftcan wrote: "While I don't recognize your book Steven, it will definitely be making an appearance in Iftcan's Mountain Range (aka my tbr pile) when it is found. It does sound interesting."

Thanks for the replies. I can't recall whether the writing was great, but I know I enjoyed it and it must say something if I am thinking about it 5 years later.

[Isabel (kittiwake)]

I have definitely heard about this story sometime recently. Does one of the boys get moved to the private school because of bullying, and before he starts his mother introduces him to the other boy who already goes there, because she knows his mother or something like that?

Could it have been made into a film recently, as I seem to remember hearing about it as a film review rather than a book?

[Isabel (kittiwake)]

I think I found it. The Traitor Game is definitely the one I was thinking of. I can't find any sign of it being filmed though, so it looks as if I was wrong about that.

[Steven]

Isabel wrote: "I think I found it. The Traitor Game is definitely the one I was thinking of. I can't find any sign of it being filmed though, so it looks as if I was wrong about that."

That's it! Thank you!