Level 13

Level 13 is a sequel to Slacker, which introduced the Positive Action Group (P.A.G.) and its impact on Sycamore Middle School students. In the first section of Level 13, Korman shows how the P.A.G. has helped almost every character grow while Cam remains the same.

Middle school is challenging as teenagers work on their Evolving Identities, Relationships, and Responsibilities. From the start, P.A.G. members demonstrate how the group has helped them handle these changes. Student council co-president, Jordan, says, “I want to go into politics when I grow up. That’s why I joined the P.A.G. in the first place—I thought it would help me get elected student body president. But elections are all about beating the other candidate. And in the P.A.G. we learned that cooperation is what gets things done and makes the world a better place” (6). Jordan learned The Importance of Community, Collaboration, and Friendship through the P.A.G. and now works collaboratively to strengthen his community through active participation and collaboration in P.A.G. While Jordan appreciates the P.A.G.'s impact, Cam tunes him out. Here, Korman shows how little Cam’s character has changed since the first book.

Xavier Meggett, another P.A.G. member (or pagger), also grows because of the group. Assigned to the group for community service after several run-ins with the law, the club, according to Xavier, “straightened out his whole life” (4). Xavier finds new outlets through the P.A.G., engaging in art and cooking to express himself and help his community, further cementing Korman’s exploration of The Importance of Community, Collaboration, and Friendship. He makes cookies for the library fundraiser, showing his commitment. However, Cam misplaces them, and others eat them, highlighting how everyone around Cam has grown emotionally while Cam remains stagnant. Moreover, this interaction illustrates how little Cam values the P.A.G., despite recognizing the group's impact on others.

Additionally, Chuck starts a new relationship with Daphne, frustrating Pavel and Cam and creating tension between the Awesome Threesome. Chuck's new romantic relationship is part of growing up as relationships evolve, including the Awesome Threesome's relationship. Chuck matures and changes his relationship with Daphne, while Pavel and Cam struggle to accept these changes, even insisting Daphne not eat their traditional group treat of gummy worms. Korman uses Chuck and Daphne to show how everyone grows and matures at different rates, which can strain relationships. Tensions between the Awesome Threesome demonstrate Korman’s continued exploration of the theme of Evolving Identities, Relationships, and Responsibilities.

One of the novel's youngest characters, Melody, also experiences growth from the original novel. She learns that she has no desire to become a professional gamer despite having innate talent. After attending Rule the World, a gaming competition, with her brother, Melody lost interest in gaming. She was concerned over being “trapped inside a convention center for three days with 10,000 clones of my brother—some of them in their forties!” (51). Melody even recognizes that Cam learned nothing from the experience, pointing out that their communication has completely disintegrated because Cam cannot understand her decision not to pursue professional gaming. While Melody changes her desires, reflecting how her identity continues to evolve and grow as she does, Cam struggles to accept this change.

Throughout this section, Cam is the only character who has remained the same since the first book. He still tries to monetize gaming and avoid involvement with others. He lies about his grades to get more gaming time and avoids opening the door, a behavior that previously led to the fire department breaking it down. Cam’s lying to find more time to play video games spurred most of the action in the first book. This book starts with the same essential plot device, which indicates that Cam has learned little to nothing from his previous experiences. Even Cam's interactions with his friends—mainly asking them to pay for things for him and take responsibility for his mistakes—indicate a lack of growth on Cam's part. Cam's stagnation starts to cause rifts in his relationship with Chuck and Melody, foreshadowing future issues with other characters. Surrounded by characters who have grown under the P.A.G.'s influence, Cam remains the same.

Level 13 highlights the P.A.G.'s transformative power on its members, except for Cam, who resists change. Korman effectively contrasts Cam's stagnation with the growth of his peers, setting up juxtapositions that highlight personal development and the challenges of adolescence. This contrast emphasizes the importance of personal growth and adapting to change, crucial lessons for middle school students navigating their formative years. Through the evolving characters, Korman illustrates that growth is a continuous journey that requires effort and openness to change—a concept he explores through the theme of Evolving Identities, Relationships, and Responsibilities.