Glitch Girl!

A nonbinary girl numbs peer and parental rejection by obsessively playing a video game in this melancholy verse novel from Oet (Robin’s Worlds). Despite classmates and teachers being aware of J—’s ADHD diagnosis, which is managed via prescription medications, they all assume J—’s lack of impulse control and overexuberance are intentional choices. To cope, J— plays simulator game Coaster Boss, discovering glitches, modifying theme park rides, and creating avatars resembling classmates as well as self-portraits that serve as park guests. The only person who seems to accept J— is classmate Junie, on whom J— has a crush. Set in 2004–2007, the novel follows J— from fifth to seventh grade as the youth delves further into gaming and fantasizes about dating Junie, despite noticing zero signs that Junie is interested. As J— continues to struggle socially and endures parental abuse from Jewish Russian immigrant parents, J—’s assigned gender becomes increasingly restrictive to the middle schooler’s growing sense of self. Then J— joins a fencing club, and a new friendship presents unexpected possibilities. Simple language injects immediacy into J—’s narration throughout this raw novel about navigating abuse, gender identity, and experiences of neurodivergence. Main characters read as white. Ages 10–up. (Mar.)