Game Changer

By: Neal Shusterman

Narrated by: Andrew Eiden, Jennifer Jill Araya

""A timely, speculative thought experiment in perspective, privilege, and identity."" —Kirkus

""The conceit behind Shusterman’s latest is truly unique. While it exhibits the author’s usual storytelling aplomb, it also manages to delve into more serious and timely subject matter, such as racism, sexism, and homophobia. Despite these heavy topics, the story still moves at a lively pace and, thanks to a zany sci-fi twist, manages to pack in a few laughs as well."" —Booklist

All it takes is one hit on the football field, and suddenly Ash’s life doesn’t look quite the way he remembers it.

Impossible though it seems, he’s been hit into another dimension—and keeps on bouncing through worlds that are almost-but-not-really his own.

The changes start small, but they quickly spiral out of control as Ash slides into universes where he has everything he’s ever wanted, universes where society is stuck in the past…universes where he finds himself looking at life through entirely different eyes.

And if he isn’t careful, the world he’s learning to see more clearly could blink out of existence…

This high-concept novel from the National Book Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling author of the Arc of a Scythe series tackles the most urgent themes of our time, making this a must-buy for readers who are starting to ask big questions about their own role in the universe.

Typical Shusterman *mild spoiler?*

If you like Neal Shusterman, you will like this. If you’ve never read Shusterman, go read Scythe or Dry instead of this one.

I’ve read about half of his novels and novellas - this one falls somewhere near the middle for plot and more heavy handed than most as far as social commentary. It was definitely worth my time even though its not my favorite :)

Here’s the mild spoiler:

The back cover synopsis of this book is so vague it’s useless. It is a multiverse/dimension shifting story. I’m not sure why that couldn’t just be in the synopsis since it’s a very minor, early reveal but there you go. If I didnt like everything I’d already read by Shusterman there’s no way I would have picked this up. Even as it was, it stayed on my TBR list a long time because without more context I couldn’t decide what mood it would be right for.

The “sports” tag also put me off. Its a factor, but definitely not enough for me to call this a “sports” novel at all. It is much more focused on relationships and interpreting the nuances that informs lens through which we each see the world.

😍😍😍

Neal Shusterman does it again. His writing 😍 I don't even know what to say. Important moral issues are easily weaved into the story, forcing the reader to think. Forcing me to look at these issues in a new light while being insanely entertaining.

Social commentary

Human and social commentary. Not what I consider political like other reviewers have said, but a recognition of how blind we can be even when we think we’re woke. Creative way of having a protagonist really walk in someone else’s shoes.

A thought provoking rollercoaster

Great story and very thought provoking. I went in blind just knowing I liked the authors other works and was pleasantly surprised by the ride. Having read the scythe series before coming into this one I was surprised that it deviated away from expectation but I was not disappointed. Strongly recommend and can’t wait till my kids are old enough to read it.

Exactly the story i needed.

Hope, here for 70yo me in the guise of YA.
Hey. A good story is a good story, even if I’m not the intended audience.