T. L. Costa is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and has a Masters of Teaching from Quinnipiac University. She has worked as a publicist, assistant gallery director, high school teacher, and mother. When she is not busy teaching the next generation, she is most likely to be found in the garden battling woodchucks or writing. She lives in Connecticut with her family.

Tyler MacCandless can’t focus, even when he takes his medication. Tyler’s dad is dead, his mom has mentally checked out and his brother, Brandon, is in rehab for heroin abuse…again. The only person he can really count on is his Civilian Air Patrol Mentor, Rick. The one thing in life it seems he doesn’t suck at is playing video games and, well, that’s probably not going to get him into college. Just when it seems like his future is on a collision course with a life sentence at McDonald’s, Rick asks him to test a video game and Tyler thinks his life might finally be turning around. That is, until Brandon goes MIA from rehab and Tyler and he discovers that the game is more than it seems. Now Tyler will have to figure out what’s really going on in time to save his brother… and prevent his own future from going down in flames.

Praise for Playing Tyler

“Katniss Everdeen, Harry Potter, Ponyboy Curtis…add another name to the list of unforgettable teenage heroes: Tyler MacCandless. Ty will break your heart and make your cheer on this fast and furious thrill-ride. A breathtaking new voice in young adult fiction, TL Costa weaves realistic adventure, heartache and first love in this amazing, fast-paced story. Fresh. Thrilling. Heartfelt. I’m running out of adjectives, but trust me. You will love this book.” – Kristin Higgins, NYT and USA TODAY Bestseller author of The Best Man