Glitch is a suspenseful sci-fi adventure with two likable characters and a side of time travel.

Glitch by Laura Martin

Genre/Categories/Setting: Middle-Grade Contemporary Fiction, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Fantasy, Time Travel, Adventure, Teamwork, Futuristic

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My Summary:

Regan and Elliot are training to become “Glitchers,” people who travel through time to preserve important historical events. Their enemies are known as “Butterflies” (Butterfly Effect), people who travel through time to change historical events. Regan and Elliot are competitive, have different gifts, and are not friends, but they receive a message from the future that forces them to work together.

My Thoughts:

Not My Usual Genre

It’s not the science fiction that concerns me; it’s “time-travel” I see in a blurb that causes me to pause. One of my book clubs whose focus is Middle-Grade Lit chose Glitch, and suddenly I’m committed! I planned to read just enough to gain an idea of the content and then skim or skip to the end. I.E. CHEAT my way through this title. A funny thing happened along the way: I became engaged in the premise and couldn’t put it down! LOL

The histfic helped to hook me. The “glitchers’ travel back in time to important historical events to arrest the “butterflies” who are trying to change those events. These excursions will be entertaining for histfic fans (Boston Tea Party, Lincoln’s assassination, etc.).

Plot-driven With Good Character Development

Glitch is a page-turning adventure. I enjoyed the world-building and the character development. The action and suspense ramps up in the latter half of the story.

There was a point toward the end of the story when the characters were glitching between the future and the past at a rapid pace, and I felt slightly lost. Someone who is more interested in time travel might not have felt the same way. It did provide a great deal of suspense!

Likable and Realistic Characters

Regan and Elliot do not start out as best friends; in fact, they don’t like each other at all. Regan is the commander’s daughter and has natural gifts of observation and intuition that make her a good “gitcher.” She works hard for her grades and academic achievements. Elliot is a better student. While Regan flies by the seat of her pants, Elliot is a planner and values preparation. Regan thinks he’s a “know it all.” He thinks she acts like a princess. When they are paired up for special training, they dislike the idea immensely, and when lives are at risk, they have to find ways to work together, trust each other, and lean into one another’s expertise. I appreciate the author’s careful characterizations that explore their individual weaknesses and challenges. Regan struggles with dyslexia and impulsivity, and Elliot exhibits anxiety when he doesn’t have time to develop a detailed plan. I admire the author for putting them in situations where they have to work together to solve problems and save lives. They grow to understand and encourage each other. In the end, they respect each other and work as a team.

I enjoyed the dual points of view which helped me understand and appreciate the characters. Both girls and boys will have someone to cheer for in this story.

If I were still teaching, I think there is a lot to dissect and discuss about teamwork and individual differences here! Parents who read this alongside their middle-grade readers will also find a treasure trove of discussion possibilities.

Themes

Thoughtful themes include teamwork, trust, respect for different styles and approaches, working well with others, taking initiative, hard work, performance, achievement, and friendship.

Content Consideration: danger, war injuries

Recommending Glitch:

Glitch is an entertaining read for tweens and young teen readers who enjoy a side of history, time travel, and suspense. The premise is interesting for readers of all ages. I’ve heard the audio format is great, and this would make a great summer road trip book for the family!

My Rating: 4 Stars

More Information Here

Meet the Author of Glitch, Laura Martin

Laura Martin is a mom by day and a middle-grade author by night, although in her heart she will always be a seventh-grade language arts teacher. She lives in the Indianapolis area with her four kids and an opinionated bulldog.

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QOTD:

Do you enjoy Middle-Grade Lit?

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All books I review are purchased or borrowed from the library unless explicitly stated that the book is free (arc).

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