"'Yeah, but that doesn't make sense,' Samir says. 'How can you have NPCs in real life?,'"
If you enjoy middle-grade horror mixed with strange technology, Fatal Glitch by Erin Entrada Kelly and Eliot Schrefer is a wild and unsettling ride.
The story follows eleven-year-old Sofia Mendoza, a dedicated gamer who would much rather spend her time building landscapes and fighting monsters in Sandbox than dealing with real-world problems. After hurting her sister, Sofia’s father sends her to a mysterious camp called Forestjaw as a wake-up call.
But Forestjaw is not a normal camp.
Instead of campfires and crafts, Sofia finds herself surrounded by creepy mechanical vultures, cloaked NPC figures wandering through the forest, and a strange camp supervisor named Monarch who seems almost robotic. Even worse, the campers are forced to participate in an elimination game where survival is the only goal.
When I first saw the phrase “Black Mirror” in the book’s description, I immediately knew I would want to read it. Middle-grade horror mixed with unsettling technology? That combination was impossible to resist.
Thankfully, the story delivers.
The plot moves quickly, which kept me hooked from beginning to end. The dialogue feels natural, and Sofia’s inner monologue is especially strong. Her voice feels authentic throughout the book. She’s only eleven, but she has a sharp personality that makes her stand out.
Sofia is not easy to root for. She is mean and tricky. But that's actually made her more interesting as a character. Watching how she handles the terrifying situation at Forestjaw kept me turning the pages.
Monarch, the camp supervisor, adds another layer of tension to the story. Her cold, almost mechanical behavior makes the elimination game feel even more unsettling. Every interaction with her feels slightly off, which builds the creepy atmosphere of the camp.
I also really enjoyed the many gaming references throughout the story. The constant mention of Sandbox by the characters instantly reminded me of how often my students talked about games like Roblox. Saw a familiar gaming world twisted into something dark and frightening, which felt very much like a classic Black Mirror moment. That said, I think many children will identify with the story.
The opening and ending of the book were especially clever. Both made me feel as if I was somehow part of the story itself, which made the experience even more memorable.
Overall, Fatal Glitch is a fast-paced and creepy middle-grade book that blends gaming, technology, and survival into one psychological horror read. This one is definitely worth checking out.
Thank you to Stonefruit Studio and NetGalley for providing me with an opportunity to read this book.
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