YA Sci-fi. Group of teen friends in a big mall? with different virtual reality games. Virtual currency.

[Coral]

Don't remember any specific names or plot points. I read it back in 2014-ish for a grade 9 book assignment. I know that there was a group of friends (young teens) as the main characters and they spent a lot of time in this big mall(?) that just has a bunch of different virtual reality games. I think I also remember something about a virtual currency, too.

[Rainbowheart]

Heir Apparent?

[Pam]

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner? it came out in 2013

[Bargle]

Link for Pam's suggestion.

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner.

[Kris]

Here's the Google Books preview of The Eye of Minds by James Dashner - Pam's suggestion:

https://books.google.com/books?id=fSJ... There are different cover images.

Old Towne was the most visited place in the VirtNet, the New York City of the simulated world. And the shopping district within it was always packed with people. ... Two malls, each with thousands of stores, arcades, restaurants, upload huts, entertainment bars, and anything else you could think of, bordered a huge plaza that stretched for miles.