A middle grade novel in verse about a young trans girl who uses a computer game to process an ADHD diagnosis, isolation, and her relationship to gender.J—’s life is consumed by the roller coaster video game
Coaster Boss, and by the power she exerts over the pixelated theme park attendees. Her life outside the game, however, is less controllable.
Me.I’m such a big space. I break the universe, a glitch.She's navigating ADHD, the loneliness of middle school, and an overwhelming crush on a girl named Junie.
J— is convinced that Junie sees her as who she really is, a person who isn’t “bad” just because she doesn't stay quiet and sit still in class. As a person who is realizing that the name she's been given doesn’t really fit her. And that maybe
boy doesn’t either.
Glitch Girl! follows
J— from fifth to seventh grade, from the beginning to the end of her obsession with
Coaster Boss, and to the start of a new friendship. When
J— meets Sam, a nonbinary classmate, she begins to realize that it's okay to not fit into neat, pixelated boxes.
Rainie Oet is a trans woman who writes fiction and poetry for adults and young readers. She is the author of the picture books
Robin’s Worlds and
Monster Seek (Astra). She received her MFA at Syracuse University, where she was awarded the Shirley Jackson Prize in Fiction. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her cat, Skipper.
Glitch Girl! is her debut novel.
REVIEWS FOR GLITCH GIRL!
“Each poem is as
raw as it is
beautiful.”
—Alex Gino, author of ALA Stonewall Award-winning novel
Melissa
"Rainie Oet brings a
fresh and affecting poetic voice to this
tender tale of neuro-spiciness and gender quest. Her depiction of gaming's power for good in today's young lives is keenly observed and quirkily imagined.
This is an original and necessary book." —Lisa Bunker, author of
Felix XY and
Zenobia July.
"Explore[s] the intensity and isolation of adolescence. Rainie’s writing is
a gift to young readers.” —Mary Karr, Whiting Award winning and
New York Times bestselling author of
The Liar's Club
"
Poignant, illuminating. ...
accessible, immersive." —
Booklist
