Glitch: A Graphic Novel

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY MAR 18, 2019

Izzy, 14, promises her friend Eric that she will wait to play Dungeon City until the weekend, when they can enjoy it together. But when the video game arrives, she opens it up and gets sucked in literally. Inside, robot guide Rae befriends Izzy and leads her through the different levels, but spending time in the game's world takes a toll on Izzy when she returns to real life. Zapped of energy, she worries her parents and teacher and fights with Eric. Even worse, she discovers that a component of the game may have a terrifying agenda, and both girls need to work together to make it to the next level of their friendship. Art by Graley (Kim Reaper) reflects the gaming world with blocky characters, eight-bit-style lettering, and iconic visuals, including character profiles, health meters, and mission screens. Graley's comic includes a thinly veiled criticism of the addictive nature of video games and electronic entertainment, but readers will likely focus less on the message and more on the absorbing art and the story of incidentally diverse friends navigating worlds and growing closer along the way. Ages 8 12.