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Glitch: A Graphic Novel
From comics rising star Sarah Graley, a fresh and funny middle-grade graphic novel featuring a girl who must save a virtual world... and her own! Izzy has an incredible secret -- she can enter the world of her new video game! She meets Rae, a robot who says Izzy is destined to save Dungeon City from the Big Boss. How is this possible?! And how can she fight for this virtual world when she's got a whole real life to keep up her family (though she could do without her mom's annoying cat), and her best friend, Eric. Things get even weirder when Izzy loses a life while inside the game, and she starts to worry about what might happen if she gets a Game Over for good. Meanwhile, Eric has been super upset with Izzy since she's been keeping secrets and bailing on their plans. Can Izzy survive Dungeon City and save their friendship?
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2019
80 people are currently reading
852 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
June 9, 2019
Nothing earth-shattering or super original, but at least it's one more tool in the "I read all of Raina Telgemeier so find me something similar now or I'll burn this library down" kit.
April 2, 2019
Super cute! Might be a fun companion to Warcross. :)
June 11, 2019
A very cute graphic novel where, for once, someone isn’t trapped in a RPG! All the tropes would be quite familiar to anyone who’s played (MMO)RPGs or watched/read series on a similar subject, but this was light hearted and silly. The resolution came about a bit too quickly and it was hard to believe that your best friend would take that long to confront you...but otherwise it was a fun read.
Not the biggest fan of this drawing style, although it seems to be becoming quite popular lately.
Not the biggest fan of this drawing style, although it seems to be becoming quite popular lately.
November 1, 2019
Mixed feelings about this one
March 20, 2024
Glitch
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5) or 7.28/10 overall
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 8
Writing - 7
Plot - 7
Intrigue - 8
Logic - 7
Enjoyment - 7
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ .5 (3.5/5) or 7.28/10 overall
Characters - 7
Atmosphere - 8
Writing - 7
Plot - 7
Intrigue - 8
Logic - 7
Enjoyment - 7
April 18, 2019
-Read for 2019 YA Reading Challenge-
I received an ARC from Graphix at c2e2 this year thanks to the ALA Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table.
This was a silly book about friendships, video games, making choices that have consequences and growing up just a little. The art here works really well for the story being told and I appreciated that poor life choices were reflected as hurting friendships and relationships around us. There was some nice subtle work being done for parents here.
I received an ARC from Graphix at c2e2 this year thanks to the ALA Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table.
This was a silly book about friendships, video games, making choices that have consequences and growing up just a little. The art here works really well for the story being told and I appreciated that poor life choices were reflected as hurting friendships and relationships around us. There was some nice subtle work being done for parents here.
March 9, 2019
{My thoughts} – Brilliantly written and illustrated. All of my older kids love video games and this book is right up their alley. I’ve read a few books that have a similar premise, but not a graphic novel like this. I really enjoyed being drawn into the author and the writers created world.
There is so much that I can say about this book. The main thing is that it is spot on about how my children like to act when they get overly involved in playing a video game. However, in their case it doesn’t matter if it is new or not.
Izzy and her friend Eric have been waiting for the release of a new game called Dungeon City. Izzy promises her friend Eric that she isn’t going to play the game until the weekend. She isn’t able to keep the promise. She ends with more issues then she bargained for once she starts playing the video game.
This book is great for any child that loves video games. It is also a great book that I think even the most reluctant of readers will be able to enjoy. I have come to love graphic novels almost as much as my older children and I cannot wait to start introducing them to the babies when they are old enough!
There is so much that I can say about this book. The main thing is that it is spot on about how my children like to act when they get overly involved in playing a video game. However, in their case it doesn’t matter if it is new or not.
Izzy and her friend Eric have been waiting for the release of a new game called Dungeon City. Izzy promises her friend Eric that she isn’t going to play the game until the weekend. She isn’t able to keep the promise. She ends with more issues then she bargained for once she starts playing the video game.
This book is great for any child that loves video games. It is also a great book that I think even the most reluctant of readers will be able to enjoy. I have come to love graphic novels almost as much as my older children and I cannot wait to start introducing them to the babies when they are old enough!
October 27, 2019
2.5 stars.
Meh. I wasn't a big fan of this one. The behavior of the characters didn't make sense to me. A teacher who lets a student sleep literally the entire school day? Parents who realize their daughter lies to them, but don't remove the door from her room to check on her AND still go away for a vacation? Not to mention Izzy who goes from having a BFF who seems to mean everything to her, to having no problem flat out ignoring her? She doesn't even make up excuses for why they can't hang out. She just says nothing to her.
The timeline of the story also didn't make sense. Sometimes it seemed like time Izzy spent in Dungeon City was passing in real time. Another time she tells her parents she's going to the bathroom, but goes into the game. They don't seem bothered by the fact she lied to them about why she left their conversation about her behavior at school or for how long she locked herself in her room/disappeared into Dungeon City. They also make it seem like she was gone only a short period of time.
An interesting premise, but the characters weren't likable or believe for me. Not a fan of this one.
Meh. I wasn't a big fan of this one. The behavior of the characters didn't make sense to me. A teacher who lets a student sleep literally the entire school day? Parents who realize their daughter lies to them, but don't remove the door from her room to check on her AND still go away for a vacation? Not to mention Izzy who goes from having a BFF who seems to mean everything to her, to having no problem flat out ignoring her? She doesn't even make up excuses for why they can't hang out. She just says nothing to her.
The timeline of the story also didn't make sense. Sometimes it seemed like time Izzy spent in Dungeon City was passing in real time. Another time she tells her parents she's going to the bathroom, but goes into the game. They don't seem bothered by the fact she lied to them about why she left their conversation about her behavior at school or for how long she locked herself in her room/disappeared into Dungeon City. They also make it seem like she was gone only a short period of time.
An interesting premise, but the characters weren't likable or believe for me. Not a fan of this one.
May 26, 2019
This graphic novel has absolutely terrible characterization. Even though I was willing to give an enter-a-video-game adventure a chance, I could not suspend disbelief, because the character's real life and video game life were both full of inconsistencies, strange behavior, and random, plot-serving choices that made no sense. The weirdest and most unbelievable part is the climax, where the character and her friend stand around bantering while the villain stands by, waiting for them to be done. This happens multiple times. The pacing and characterization in this book are terrible, and it was so unrealistic and unbelievable that I wish I hadn't spent twenty minutes on it, even though I skimmed really quickly.
March 30, 2019
Cute gamer fun for kids, teens and adults of all ages. Glitch tells a simple and silly story of friendship in the geekiest way possible. Bad decisions have consequences, lies never stay hidden, friendship pwns all. Graphic novels, Sarah Graley and video games? A winning combination, indeed!
Plus, it is a really quick read. Easy to devour in 1 or 2 sittings. 3.5 stars.
Plus, it is a really quick read. Easy to devour in 1 or 2 sittings. 3.5 stars.
January 16, 2025
Picked up at my used bookstore back home to be given to my school’s library for additional English materials and learning. To be frank, it may be a tad too difficult for most of my students as the content is quite reliant on gaming terminology. That being said, I mostly picked it up for the cute art style, introducing books with LGBTQ+ characters, and it being a complete story in under 200 (graphic novel) pages. I am painfully aware that I am much too old for the target demographic, but I just wanted to read it before donating to my library. Also, I ramble way too much and seem way more negative about something I didn’t actually dislike as much as I conveyed here.
What I found after reading it was a pretty contrived plot and main conflict that felt uneven in tone. If my lens were that of an adolescent, then I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more. Similar to how in my formative years, I viewed the “Guinness Book of World Records: Gamer’s Edition as some sacred authority to further find validation in my hobby in print. A shield to raise in protecting my fragile defence of the medium from condescending peers, snooty friends, and disdainful family. In those days, I would seek solitude in any and all video game-related articles to show others.
That being said, for the book, I found it too difficult to hop over its various pitfalls. The logic of the main villain, the multiple conveniences for the main character, and the time disparity makes it difficult to recommend for those wanting a well-thought out story. Even more so when the unexplored parts of the setting are somewhat nonsensical and require thorough suspension of disbelief. Specifically, some aspects are quite darker than may be intended or hilariously dumb if true. Not to say unexplored parts of a story necessitate an expositional dump by the author, sometimes resulting in a less favourable conclusion than what one has imagined. Often, these type of “trapped in a parallel world” stories need a certain degree of internal continuity. To which the book repeatedly attempts to deconstruct with twists and turns that make us loathe the MC rather than root for them.
Still, the art and jokes remind me of a random Saturday morning cartoon. The one where you turn on to watch our characters find ways to escape from school and their parents. Except, the protagonist is unlikable and unreceptive to genuinely nice and supportive parents. Ones that are comically really good parents that are there to help you through thick and thin. All that’s there to rationalize the MC’s attitude is a paper-thin, emotionally-manipulative detail to connect her to you, the reader. Understandably, with 187 full-coloured pages, it’s not totally reasonable to expect a strong story and characterization of the same depth that I read from other serialized pieces. But, it could help to have a little less tongue-in cheekiness and embrace its novelty. Thankfully, the “video game-ness” felt genuine and founded in a love for the medium rather than other portrayals.
Regardless, why do I still give it 3 stars? To be honest, ratings are, more often than not, pointless conclusions that can betray the complicated thoughts that are much more interesting to read about than some arbitrary scale. I give it at least 3 stars simply because I know I would have loved and needed this as a kid. It showcases much needed diversity in characters, especially to combat the ever-present toxicity and misogyny in certain areas of the video games landscape. Lastly, for me, it’s fun to see how the author plays with the graphic novel format and it had some jokes that landed for me. Sarah Graley is clearly talented and I can’t help but want the best for them and to see some of their other work. Overall, I found it a decent read that’s casual and easy enough to get through in one session.
What I found after reading it was a pretty contrived plot and main conflict that felt uneven in tone. If my lens were that of an adolescent, then I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more. Similar to how in my formative years, I viewed the “Guinness Book of World Records: Gamer’s Edition as some sacred authority to further find validation in my hobby in print. A shield to raise in protecting my fragile defence of the medium from condescending peers, snooty friends, and disdainful family. In those days, I would seek solitude in any and all video game-related articles to show others.
That being said, for the book, I found it too difficult to hop over its various pitfalls. The logic of the main villain, the multiple conveniences for the main character, and the time disparity makes it difficult to recommend for those wanting a well-thought out story. Even more so when the unexplored parts of the setting are somewhat nonsensical and require thorough suspension of disbelief. Specifically, some aspects are quite darker than may be intended or hilariously dumb if true. Not to say unexplored parts of a story necessitate an expositional dump by the author, sometimes resulting in a less favourable conclusion than what one has imagined. Often, these type of “trapped in a parallel world” stories need a certain degree of internal continuity. To which the book repeatedly attempts to deconstruct with twists and turns that make us loathe the MC rather than root for them.
Still, the art and jokes remind me of a random Saturday morning cartoon. The one where you turn on to watch our characters find ways to escape from school and their parents. Except, the protagonist is unlikable and unreceptive to genuinely nice and supportive parents. Ones that are comically really good parents that are there to help you through thick and thin. All that’s there to rationalize the MC’s attitude is a paper-thin, emotionally-manipulative detail to connect her to you, the reader. Understandably, with 187 full-coloured pages, it’s not totally reasonable to expect a strong story and characterization of the same depth that I read from other serialized pieces. But, it could help to have a little less tongue-in cheekiness and embrace its novelty. Thankfully, the “video game-ness” felt genuine and founded in a love for the medium rather than other portrayals.
Regardless, why do I still give it 3 stars? To be honest, ratings are, more often than not, pointless conclusions that can betray the complicated thoughts that are much more interesting to read about than some arbitrary scale. I give it at least 3 stars simply because I know I would have loved and needed this as a kid. It showcases much needed diversity in characters, especially to combat the ever-present toxicity and misogyny in certain areas of the video games landscape. Lastly, for me, it’s fun to see how the author plays with the graphic novel format and it had some jokes that landed for me. Sarah Graley is clearly talented and I can’t help but want the best for them and to see some of their other work. Overall, I found it a decent read that’s casual and easy enough to get through in one session.
May 14, 2021
2.5⭐️
cute art style and a very light hearted middle grade, but nothing ground breaking. it’s pretty much what you’d expect from it and there was nothing really surprising. the characters were only semi-likable, which is probably the biggest reason i didn’t enjoy it as much as i could’ve since i did like the premise of it.
however, i can see how this could be something for younger people, especially if you are into video games.
cute art style and a very light hearted middle grade, but nothing ground breaking. it’s pretty much what you’d expect from it and there was nothing really surprising. the characters were only semi-likable, which is probably the biggest reason i didn’t enjoy it as much as i could’ve since i did like the premise of it.
however, i can see how this could be something for younger people, especially if you are into video games.
December 7, 2019
Not a fan. The internal logic was so screwy, I couldn't get into the story. There was just no mechanism for Izzy to be pulled into the game. Magic is never mentioned; it's the "code" that makes everything that happens in the book possible. At the end of the book, Eric asks, "Are we the only people that have entered the game, though? How did this happen? How does any of this make sense?" I would have enjoyed this a LOT more if I could have had answers to those questions as well.
May 5, 2020
A good story of what happens when video games take over your life (in this case, it's literal). I'm not the intended audience, but I definitely recommend it to kids and teens who love playing online. The art style is reminiscent of Steven Universe, which is to say, awesome.
February 23, 2019
Super fun nod to video gaming and friendship!
July 13, 2019
4/5. Fun and cute! Didn't quite understand Izzy's actions sometimes, but it's a cute story ^^
August 7, 2019
Cute and bold, and full of excitement... worth reading this middle grade graphic novel!
March 6, 2022
friendship and getting stuck in video games is one of my favorite kind of storyline
September 22, 2021
3.5
liked the art- plot was a little childish tho
liked the art- plot was a little childish tho
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May 21, 2019Adorable art, fun colors, but the story wrapped up too quickly. Still super cute, and I think parents will appreciate the parallels to video game addiction.
September 29, 2019
I had no idea what to think at the beginning but really loved this story of video game obsession, girl power and BFFs.
November 4, 2021
this graphic novel is the most interesting and it's so entertaining
June 5, 2019
Super fun, energetic and definitely reminded me why I like being a gamer. Bonus - my niece (currently 8) recommended this to me with the highest praise. She assured me, with page specific details, why I would really enjoy it.
Including the fact that the villain was -- whoops! Don't want to ruin that!
The friendship between Eric and Izzy was the backbone here, giving us a good glimpse of their dynamic and why it works so well.
Rae, the robo-nerd Izzy meets in the game, is a bit lecture-y at first (they're definitely exposition-y), but is committed to the Questing.
Several well known adventure game or fantasy tropes are played with, sometimes really well (the whole "chosen one" aspect for instance) and sometimes less (the Big Bad reveal felt a bit too convenient).
Overall a very good rec from my niece and an excellent graphic novel to give to kids intrigued by the concept.
Including the fact that the villain was -- whoops! Don't want to ruin that!
The friendship between Eric and Izzy was the backbone here, giving us a good glimpse of their dynamic and why it works so well.
Rae, the robo-nerd Izzy meets in the game, is a bit lecture-y at first (they're definitely exposition-y), but is committed to the Questing.
Several well known adventure game or fantasy tropes are played with, sometimes really well (the whole "chosen one" aspect for instance) and sometimes less (the Big Bad reveal felt a bit too convenient).
Overall a very good rec from my niece and an excellent graphic novel to give to kids intrigued by the concept.
June 27, 2025
Cute and funny as always but I didn’t enjoy it as much as Kim Reaper.
December 16, 2019
My 12 year old boys read this and loved it...and then were surprised when I told them that I totally thought it was about video game addiction. It is a good fluffy book for kids - and we can just leave it there...but...
This is a great way for teachers and parents to talk to kids about how addicting video games can be and how easy it is to let addiction ruin friendships, families and a persons health. The main character doesn't realize she has played all night, so then she sleeps through school, then lies to her best friend, and her parents...eventually she sees that she needs help, but is too afraid to ask for it because she would have to admit she lied and broke the rules. She forgets to do things she is supposed to do. She thinks the game world is more important than her own. Totally an addiction story! I loved it!
I also love it because there are a bunch of things in it that are not 'discussion points'...and yet so important. A mixed race family has nothing to do with the story. A friend named Eric who might be trans...which has absolutely nothing to to with the story. Using 'they/them/their' for a gender neutral character without any discussion of pronouns. So simple and so effective. Well done!
This is a great way for teachers and parents to talk to kids about how addicting video games can be and how easy it is to let addiction ruin friendships, families and a persons health. The main character doesn't realize she has played all night, so then she sleeps through school, then lies to her best friend, and her parents...eventually she sees that she needs help, but is too afraid to ask for it because she would have to admit she lied and broke the rules. She forgets to do things she is supposed to do. She thinks the game world is more important than her own. Totally an addiction story! I loved it!
I also love it because there are a bunch of things in it that are not 'discussion points'...and yet so important. A mixed race family has nothing to do with the story. A friend named Eric who might be trans...which has absolutely nothing to to with the story. Using 'they/them/their' for a gender neutral character without any discussion of pronouns. So simple and so effective. Well done!
February 22, 2021
This book was ADORABLE. The perfect light and fun read. Plus Jasper the cat is EVERYTHING.
March 31, 2019
A plucky video game obsessed girl, Izzy, is captured (literally) by a new game that she promised her friend Eric (pronouns she/her) she’d wait to play with her. In the game, Izzy is befriended by the robot Rae (pronouns they/their) and together, they begin the quest to defeat the bad guys. Actual time passes when Izzy is in the game, so she is continually late to school, sleeps in class, and alienates Eric and her parents (who just shrug off the fact that she locks herself in her room every night and doesn’t eat). Eventually Izzy confesses to Eric, and they join forces to beat the unexpected (sort of) big boss. The genderfluidity is subtle, possibly so subtle that some readers will be confused. But brown-skinned, eyeliner-wearing masculine Eric is also a welcome unique character for MG GNs. Likely to be a 2019 Scholastic book fair favorite. Readers who also game will enjoy the realistic quest game action.
May 30, 2019
Glitch is brought to you by the same artist/author as the Kim Reaper series. It both reads and looks like that series, the only difference is the story line. This is part of the Scholastic Graphix imprint. Izzy is obsessed with video games. And her best friend Eric (pronouns she/her) is a gaming master. They have both been eagerly await a big game drop. Izzy promises Eric that she will not play the game until the two have their super video gaming sleepover. Izzy lied. It was like candy, to tempting not to partake. This video game is special. It pulls the player into the game. Bad guys await around every corner. The adult in me sees the “evil/power of video games on young users” message, but I think for many kids that will go right over their heads. Younger audience will get involved in the friendship story, the colorful artwork, and the is they, is they not the good guy story twists.
July 12, 2019
I was a bit confused at first when I started reading this (is Eric a guy or a girl? couldn't tell and he/she said, "slay ghouls, flirt with babes..." so then I was really confused, but the MC referred to Eric as a she so, um? this continued with how the characters are drawn in an androgynous style, which is kind of popular now, throughout the whole book...if a character is not referred to in a certain way, then you may not necessarily know who or what their character is. Interesting in the face of the whole girls and gamers dialogue going on right now.)
Things to discuss: TON of lying (to others and to self); video game addiction; bullying; slacking off on school; being really mean to friends; disrespecting parents; not treating body in a healthy fashion; violence
Positives: friends not giving up on friends; overcoming video game addiction; realizing things are problematic; teamwork; making things right again; apologizing
Things to discuss: TON of lying (to others and to self); video game addiction; bullying; slacking off on school; being really mean to friends; disrespecting parents; not treating body in a healthy fashion; violence
Positives: friends not giving up on friends; overcoming video game addiction; realizing things are problematic; teamwork; making things right again; apologizing
Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews