(Expandindo meu comentário)
Acho que isso pode ser uma mistura de alguns livros da série Pendragon de D.J. Machale. Livros saíram entre 2002 e 2009. Eles são sobre um garoto chamado Bobby Pendragon que viaja para vários territórios (realidades). O principal que você está mencionando seria O erro da realidade .
Do resumo da Wikipedia:
Aja explains that Lifelight is a virtual reality world—a computer that gives people's desires the appearance of being real. Almost everyone on Veelox is in it, living out their own perfect virtual lives. ... Aja then explains that, because Lifelight is so perfect, hardly anyone leaves. No food is being made. The territory is dying.
O livro do concurso seria The Quillan Games :
The story takes place on a territory called Quillan, in the city of Rune, whose population live dreary lives under the rule of the megacorporation 'Blok'. Many people gamble on the eponymous games in hope of a better life; but may lose their lives, their families, or their professions if the bet fails. The games' celebrity players are called 'challengers', and often kill each other during the competition. ... Upon arrival on Quillan, Bobby witnesses a fellow Traveler die in the games; but is soon captured by the android 'dados' of Quillan's police force, and recruited as a 'challenger' by the siblings LaBerge and Veego. ... Ultimately, Bobby wins the game and the support of the people, who revolt against Blok.
O livro de cura da casa tribal pode ser Os rios de Zadaa , embora também possa ser uma cena de um livro diferente que eu esqueci.
This story takes place mainly on a territory called Zadaa. There will be two main tribes here: The Rokador and the Batu. The Rokador live in tunnels underground and are fair-skinned, while the Batu are dark-skinned and live in a sunbathed city called Xhaxhu in the desert. ... Soon afterwards, Saint Dane, who is disguised as a Batu warrior, beats Bobby up with a wooden staff. Bobby is almost killed but is rescued by Pelle a Zinj, the kind prince, and recovers quickly in a Batu hospital.
Eu não consigo encontrar uma menção ao planeta em The Reality Bug tendo mais de um sol, mas um território diferente da série faz. Snippet abaixo do primeiro livro, O Mercador da Morte:
But it wasn't going to happen today. The suns were going down and it was getting dark. Yeah, that's right. Suns. Plural. Remember when I told you there were three suns? Well, they all set at the same time, but in opposite parts of the sky.