Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry, based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 14+
Football player hits alternate dimension in exciting sci-fi.
-
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Neal Shusterman's Game Changer chronicles a high school football player's quest to find his way home after he is concussed into another reality. The novel raises questions about gender, race, and identity. Characters talk about their lovelives, but there are no graphic descriptions of sex. There are violent scenes -- a boy assaults his girlfriend, Ash's friend is beaten with a bat, Ash fights some criminals. Ash's family deals drugs in more than one reality.
-
Violence & Scariness
some
A few violent scenes, most not bloody. A football player pushes his girlfriend around. A character is beaten with a baseball bat. Ash fights with some drug dealers.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Sex, Romance & Nudity
some
It is clear from dialogue that the high school characters have active lovelives, but few acts of physical intimacy are described in any detail. Ash passionately kisses his boyfriend and causes a public scene.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Language
some
Swearing is fairly frequent -- "hell," "damn," "a--hole," "s--t" up to a dozen times each -- with one or two "f--k" or its variants.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
Various members of Ash's family deal drugs out of the back of their store.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
Get started
-
Positive Messages
a lot
People are capable of changing for the better. Family members need to communicate clearly with each other. Friendships can endure even across dimensions. People should be able to express their love for their partners.
-
Positive Role Models
a lot
Ash Bowman is a popular high school football player who benefits from White privilege. Some of his friends are people or color, but it isn't until he's bumped into the past that he sees how race has affected his life. He has the sensitivity to recalibrate his perspective when he enters a universe where segregation is still commonplace.
-
Educational Value
some
Game Changer offers the opportunity to discuss quantum physics, domestic abuse, gender, and issues of identity.
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
See all
- Parents Say (1)
- Kids Say (2)
age 14+
Based on 1 parent review
Thankfulmom Parent of 13-year-old
February 26, 2021
age 14+
More mature Neal Shusterman book
Game Changer is a sci-fi story about a character getting knocked into alternate dimensions. Even a slight change in time or choice alters the universe and in turn, our reality. Many major issues are explored such as racism, possessiveness in relationships, sexual orientation, selling drugs and the imperfections of humanity. There is some violence but not nearly as much as his other books. He does use f*** a handful of times and sexual innuendos which is unusual for him. Overall, another excellent book from Neal Shusterman.
See all 1 parent review
What's the Story?
As GAME CHANGER begins, high school football player Ash Bowman takes a hard hit to the head and wakes up in an alternate universe, one where the stop signs are blue and Ash's family is wealthy. Unsure what's happening to him, Ash looks for clues from a set of mysterious, identical skateboarders. They tell him that the universe literally revolves around him, and that if he wants to get back to his normal life, he needs to make corrections. As he moves through universes, Ash sees how the actions he takes have consequences. Can he follow-through without destroying reality itself?
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (2):
Finding a fresh twist on parallel universes is difficult, but this thoughtful, suspenseful tale brings heart and originality to the endeavor. In Game Changer, Ash Bowman is a likable main character -- sensitive, driven, intelligent -- and he is surrounded by a diverse cast of supporting characters. It's fun to see author Neal Shusterman put Ashby through a series of mind-bending changes that question the nature of reality. There are no easy answers for why the world works as it does. Readers who want a challenging science fiction tale with philosophical underpinnings will be surprised and excited by Game Changer.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Game Changer addresses the possibility of alternate dimensions. What kinds of changes would you make to your life if you could change overnight?
Why is it difficult for some teens to come out to their friends and families?
Do women and men view the world differently? What assumptions are made about people of color?
Book Details
- Author : Neal Shusterman
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Activism, Sports and Martial Arts, Great Boy Role Models, High School
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Quill Tree Books
- Publication date : February 9, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 18
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated : April 2, 2021
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Game Changer
Suggest an Update
Your privacy is important to us. We won't share this comment without your permission. If you chose to provide an email address, it will only be used to contact you about your comment. See our privacy policy.
