Glitch

Sarah Graley

Let me just be the first to say that graphic novels are real books. GRAPHIC. NOVELS. ARE. REAL. BOOKS. (A little louder for those in the back). If a kid is reading a graphic novel...then they are reading! And that is great! And hopefully, that graphic novel is helping them to develop a love of reading and to want to read even more. End rant.

"I was playing video games, and everything was FINE and NORMAL, until...FWOOM!! My TV exploded? Or I got electrocuted?! Something WEIRD happened! And now I'm here?! So PLEASE tell me what is going on!!!"

So, what did I think?

3 out of 5 Stars

Izzy and her friend Eric are totally stoked to play the new video game, Dungeon City. They have made a pact to play the game together...but Izzy just can't wait. And when she plays the game, something super freaky happens and she gets sucked into the game. A game character is trying to get Izzy to help save the world, but the game starts taking over her life. She still leaves the game to go to school, eat, and sleep, among other things. But when she's out of the game, she's exhausted, and her friends and family know that something. Izzy must figure out how to save her friendship with Eric after lying and playing the game without her, and she must also figure out how to defeat the game.

So many kids these days are spending massive amounts of time playing video games. They will make a connection right off the bat with Izzy and how she feels the pull of game, and the need to play it. If you've got a kiddo who loves to play video games, or even watch other people play video games on YouTube, then this book justmight capture their attention. Woven through the story is a message about being a good friend, and how to admit when you've made a mistake. Most importantly, the story will show that we are stronger when we are united. A modern take on the classic theme of good vs. evil. Heads up: there is some mild language, such as "screw this" and "cyber-babe", if that is something that you find to be offensive. Personally, I would recommend for ages 10+, but to each their own.