Review Detail

A novel in verse geared towards ages 10 and up, GLITCH GIRL follows J- as she goes through life from fifth to seventh grade. During this time J- is dealing with a lot. Her ADHD diagnosis, a tense relationship with her parents, a first crush. She is also questioning her gender though she doesn’t quite have the language for it at the time. This book discusses many sensitive topics from abuse to misgendering to bullying. I highly recommend checking the content warnings to ensure that this book is for you.

What I Loved:
One of the highlights of the in-verse format that this book uses is how well it works with J-‘s ADHD. The formatting, the short sentences, the broken up thoughts. It lends itself very well to the novel, truly allowing readers to see and feel the way J-‘s mind is working. When J- is stressed, her thoughts become more disjointed and irregular.

Rainie Oet’s does an excellent job of capturing J-‘s emotions throughout the book. From the joy she feels when she’s around Junie to the way she flinches away from her parents. The author’s writing leads readers to feel J-‘s emotions.

This book discusses some heavy topics. They aren’t pleasant to read about, but the author did not sugarcoat them. You are seeing the world through J-‘s eyes so you have to face the same things that she also has to face. The flinching from her dad, the isolation, the feelings towards Junie, all of it. And the writing allows readers to feel the way that J- does in these moments. The shame and sadness, the anger, the desperation. It’s all there on the page. Even the emotions that don’t make sense because J- is still just a kid trying to understand what is going on around her.

There are interviews at the back of the book that I found interesting. In the author’s note the author says that this book is a made up story that is based on the author’s past experiences. And at the end of the book she talks with the people who inspired the characters of June and Garrison. It was interesting to get to read their points of view on some of the situations as well. Especially since some moments that meant so much to her didn’t mean the same to them.

What Left Me Wanting More:
Some of the plot points in the book felt resolved too easily. Hard issues that seem to be wrapped up with just a simple wave of the wand. But then I remember that J- is the person telling this story so we are only getting her point of view. There is a chance that more time or discussions occurred, but that they weren’t relevant to the story or J- just didn’t notice them.

Enjoyment of the writing and sections can be a bit varied. Certain sections may flow well and readers will be engaged, but other sections may feel out of place. The plot did feel a bit repetitive at times, but with J- that did make some sense. It just may not appeal to all readers.

Final Verdict:
A novel in verse that is at times light but at other times heavy, GLITCH GIRL follows J- through three years of school. Some of the plot points were wrapped up too neatly, but the story itself is engaging and interesting. The author’s skill at capturing J-‘s emotions and putting them on page will keep readers attached to the character even if the story isn’t their cup of tea.

Beautifully written with heavy emotions and difficult topics, GLITCH GIRL, is a fascinating look into a trans girl’s experience with ADHD, gender, first crushes, and more.