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katykelly's review
3.0
Fab concept but felt rushed though.
I've loved all the Shusterman's I've read. I chose this seeing his name and casting a brief glance at the synopsis. And it's a wonderfully enticing prospect anyway - parallel dimensions!
High school football player Ash doesn't really think too deeply about the lives and problems of those around him - a younger brother he doesn't have much of a relationship with, a friend with a controlling partner, he even slept with his best friend's sister.
We don't see Ash as a bad guy, he's a regular teenager, but we do feel the confusion as he takes a hit in a game one Friday night and finds that the world around him stops at blue lights now, and not at red. And then it happens again and more and bigger changes begin to seep into reality.
In a plot with elements of David Levithan's Every Day and reminiscent of old favourites Sliders and Quantum Leap, Ash learns that he's moving between parallel universes... that one small change can affect a whole lot of other things... that things really could be worse... and that he'd do anything to get back to his own dimension.
While I enjoyed the book, the character and the concept, looking at it as a whole, I was disappointed that some things felt glossed over. Dimension jumps cover broad and big topics: race, gender, homosexuality, controlling/abusive relationships, drugs, sibling relationships - yet some of these could have been whole novels in themselves and are barely touched upon.
Shusterman does take the time to build a narrative with some scientific-sounding backstory/encompassing structure as to why and how this is all happening to Ash, and I did like the idea of this and the new characters this brought in. The continuity of Ash's life and how new changes fit with old ones worked.
I'd have rated this more highly for spending more time on each iteration, for exploring the issues raised in worlds related to Ash's friends and his own changed body. A lot was fit in but not mined for its possibilities.
Still worth a read and recommending, fascinating idea. Some violence but not graphic. For ages 13 and above.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
I've loved all the Shusterman's I've read. I chose this seeing his name and casting a brief glance at the synopsis. And it's a wonderfully enticing prospect anyway - parallel dimensions!
High school football player Ash doesn't really think too deeply about the lives and problems of those around him - a younger brother he doesn't have much of a relationship with, a friend with a controlling partner, he even slept with his best friend's sister.
We don't see Ash as a bad guy, he's a regular teenager, but we do feel the confusion as he takes a hit in a game one Friday night and finds that the world around him stops at blue lights now, and not at red. And then it happens again and more and bigger changes begin to seep into reality.
In a plot with elements of David Levithan's Every Day and reminiscent of old favourites Sliders and Quantum Leap, Ash learns that he's moving between parallel universes... that one small change can affect a whole lot of other things... that things really could be worse... and that he'd do anything to get back to his own dimension.
While I enjoyed the book, the character and the concept, looking at it as a whole, I was disappointed that some things felt glossed over. Dimension jumps cover broad and big topics: race, gender, homosexuality, controlling/abusive relationships, drugs, sibling relationships - yet some of these could have been whole novels in themselves and are barely touched upon.
Shusterman does take the time to build a narrative with some scientific-sounding backstory/encompassing structure as to why and how this is all happening to Ash, and I did like the idea of this and the new characters this brought in. The continuity of Ash's life and how new changes fit with old ones worked.
I'd have rated this more highly for spending more time on each iteration, for exploring the issues raised in worlds related to Ash's friends and his own changed body. A lot was fit in but not mined for its possibilities.
Still worth a read and recommending, fascinating idea. Some violence but not graphic. For ages 13 and above.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
lucka229's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
katelyn_22's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
purplepandaa's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
luccinda's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
brendalovesbooks's review
4.0
After reading this book, and before reviewing, I read some other reviews, especially negative ones. Things were presented in those reviews that I hadn't really thought about, and that are definitely valid opinions. I'm coming at it from another angle though. I work as a librarian in a predominantly white middle school. I think reading this book could give kids a lot to think about, and would actually make a great choice for a book club, as there are a lot of things to discuss.
It did feel very 2020 to me, touching on every hot button issue the author could think of, but I think in the end it was something I would feel good about having my students read.
It did feel very 2020 to me, touching on every hot button issue the author could think of, but I think in the end it was something I would feel good about having my students read.
rballenger's review against another edition
3.0
Type of read: Commuter/Work Read.
What made me pick it up: One of the prompts for the Tennessee R.E.A.D.S. challenge for October is to read a book with an orange cover. Between the cover and the description, it seemed like a good fit.
Overall rating: I liked 'Game Changer.' There's depth to it and the plot is a bit twisty, turny, not quite sure what will happen next. I think my biggest complaint, and this is completely me because Shusterman was clearly working on this book way before, but it felt very much like 'Loki' with the timeline and the branching and pruning. Again, this is all very much me because 'Game Changer' was published before 'Loki' was available to view; however, it felt done before since I enjoyed these two pieces of media in the opposite order. Football is a main theme of the book, so if that's not your vibe, this might not be the book for you. Honestly though, 'Game Changer' was a good read, with some thought-provoking and hilarious moments, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoyed this style of book.
Reader's Note: 'Game Changer' includes themes of physical, mental, and emotional abuse along with racism, sexism, LGBTQIA+ relationships, homophobia, and hate crimes.
What made me pick it up: One of the prompts for the Tennessee R.E.A.D.S. challenge for October is to read a book with an orange cover. Between the cover and the description, it seemed like a good fit.
Overall rating: I liked 'Game Changer.' There's depth to it and the plot is a bit twisty, turny, not quite sure what will happen next. I think my biggest complaint, and this is completely me because Shusterman was clearly working on this book way before, but it felt very much like 'Loki' with the timeline and the branching and pruning. Again, this is all very much me because 'Game Changer' was published before 'Loki' was available to view; however, it felt done before since I enjoyed these two pieces of media in the opposite order. Football is a main theme of the book, so if that's not your vibe, this might not be the book for you. Honestly though, 'Game Changer' was a good read, with some thought-provoking and hilarious moments, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoyed this style of book.
Reader's Note: 'Game Changer' includes themes of physical, mental, and emotional abuse along with racism, sexism, LGBTQIA+ relationships, homophobia, and hate crimes.
lfitzmaurice's review
2.0
I've been a Shusterman fan for a very long time. I find that he is able to convincingly build worlds that feel realistic and true while incorporating dystopian elements. His books always make me think and wonder, especially about social issues and morality. I have to say this newest offering missed the mark for me. I see the intent behind this story and think it's important, but I do not think the execution was strong. As always, this book is entirely original and creative, but it felt like Shusterman threw in a little too much too fast. I hope the YA audience enjoys it more than I did and is able to learn from the story.
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
DNF
I was so close to finishing this book. When I was reading it I felt like the plot was a mixture of Freaky Friday, Wrinkle in Time, and Back to the Future. I got a good ways into when I predicted something was going to happen and it did happen but I didn’t feel comfortable reading on about it so I stopped reading the book.
I was so close to finishing this book. When I was reading it I felt like the plot was a mixture of Freaky Friday, Wrinkle in Time, and Back to the Future. I got a good ways into when I predicted something was going to happen and it did happen but I didn’t feel comfortable reading on about it so I stopped reading the book.
oliviaskyec's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5