%20(1).png)
Middle Grade Sidekick Super Review: Glimmer of Change (2025) by Elle McNicoll
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
The Basics
Page Length: 208
Audiobook Length: ~4.5 hours
Grade Reading Level: 3+
Target Audience Age: 8-13
Goodreads Score: 4.57 out of 5
Buy it HERE
Setting: Contemporary Juniper, Scotland
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary Fiction
Topics: Middle School, Bullying, Neurodiversity, Autism, Friendship, Courage, Justice, Fairness
Plot: Keedie is a 13-year-old autistic fashion designer, fierce friend, and outspoken activist. She doesn’t fit in—but in many ways, she thrives because of it. She stands out, speaks her mind, and is extraordinarily brave. Her twin sister, Nina, seems to be missing that same spark. Middle school has caused the two of them to drift apart. Nina is popular and generally keeps her relationship with Keedie a secret. Worst of all, at least in Keedie’s eyes, she’s a bystander—friends with the school’s worst offenders and never standing up for the kids who need it most, including her own twin.
When the bullying at school becomes too much, Keedie starts her own anti-bullying agency, offering her services for a low price. Many of her fellow students reach out to her, asking her to take a stand against their bullies. Soon, Keedie has made enough money—and grown braver and bolder. But has that bravery and strength begun to turn her into a bully herself? Keedie must learn how to stand up for others without crossing a line, especially if she wants to repair her relationship with Nina Will Keedie be able to defend her family, her friends, and herself without losing sight of her original purpose?
Themes: Inclusivity/understanding + embracing difference, standing up to bullies, balancing your sense of justice, self-reflection, growing up/coming of age
You might like this book if you like:
Fashion/designing
Entrepreneurship
Advocacy/participating in anti-bullying clubs or campaigns
Books like: Ways to Be Me, Can You See Me?, The Truth About Truman School, Fish in a Tree, Wonder, Stargirl
Shows like: Wonder Quest, Everything's Gonna Be Okay, Atypical, Anne with an E
Movies like: Out of My Mind, Ron's Gone Wrong, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life, Turning Red
Other books written by this author: A Kind of Spark (series #1, actually precedes A Glimmer of Change), Show Us Who You Are, Some Like It Cold, Like a Charm, Keedie (A Kind of Spark #0.5), Role Model
Teaching A Glimmer of Change in Class
Content
Language: none
Sex/Romance: the main character's sister is dating a boy from their middle school. The main character makes allusions about her sexuality (she briefly mentions she might have a crush on her friend), but it's never fully explored.
Violence/Scariness: There are some moments of bullying, but they are more emotionally charged, with no physical confrontation. There are also intense moments dealing with the main character's little sister, who has a few emotional breakdowns.
Drinking/Smoking/Drugs: none
Class Novel-ability:
I think this book would make an excellent class novel. It explores many important themes that are especially meaningful for middle school students to discuss. The anti-bullying theme is highly relevant, as is the way the main character learns how to stand up to it. The book is short and engaging, making it a perfect choice for a book club or literature circle. I think many students would relate to the story—and, just as importantly, many would benefit from gaining a window into a neurodivergent character’s perspective. This was one of my favorite middle-grade reads recently, and I would definitely be tempted to use it in a classroom setting.
The Star Qualities
I fell in love with this protagonist. She’s funny, relatable, brave—everything I wish I had been in middle school. She’s also neurodivergent, and reading the story from her perspective gave me a much deeper understanding of neurodiversity. I learned so many things I wish I had known earlier, especially in a classroom setting.
The theme of courage—and the challenge of balancing justice—is especially compelling. Keedie is brave and outspoken, which felt rare in my own middle school experience. Her anti-bullying agency is successful, but at a certain point her campaign pushes past the goal of stopping bullying, and she begins to cross a line herself. Watching her learn how to balance her strong sense of justice was a powerful lesson, and one I appreciated revisiting as an adult.
This book is actually the second in a series, with two books that come before it. I had no idea when I read it, but it works very well as a standalone. Still, the other two books are now high on my TBR list—I love this little world of characters. If students enjoy this book as much as I did, they’ll have two more great options to read next.
The author also has many other middle-grade books featuring neurodivergent characters, across a variety of genres—including fantasy. I really love her voice and will definitely be adding more of her books to my TBR. She’s also written a young adult romance and even an adult novel, which makes her body of work especially exciting to explore.
Book Talk Read Aloud Section
If you have the physical book, read pages 1-3 (all of chapter 1)
If you don't, read the same pages in the Kindle reading sample here.
"Reading Like a Writer" Mentor Texts
This is the very first passage of the book, and I love the way it sets up the story. The dramatic paragraph breaks, unique pacing, and use of metaphor and simile immediately establish the tone and mood. In just a few lines, the author introduces a small town filled with bullies and a unique girl bravely taking a stand—or, in this case, a perch in a tree—ready to strike at the injustices of her town. There is so much here for students to imitate, especially the tone and mood.
I think this is a passage many students will relate to, especially feelings of fear or discomfort at school. The author uses a range of craft moves to build tension, including sentence fragments, repetition, simile, metaphor, silence, tense body language, and hyperbole. Together, these techniques create a powerful sense of impending doom that feels immediate and familiar.
This passage is effective because of its action. The movement creates urgency, while chaotic yelling and fragmented dialogue heighten the tension. Capitalization is used for dramatic effect, and the varying sentence lengths mirror the panic of the moment. The passage ends with a powerful moral punch, shifting the focus from physical danger to adult responsibility.
I like this passage because of its emotional power. It stayed with me long after I finished reading. While there are clear craft moves and structural choices at work, I mostly think students simply need to read it—to gain a small glimpse into Keedie’s mind. This passage, in particular, made me feel deep empathy for the main character.
Sentences for Combining and Imitation
Sentence sets for combining:
"My plans are to buy a copy of Vogue, the New Yorker, and a salmon bagel with cream cheese and go to the Edinburgh botanical gardens." (A Glimmer of Change, p. 110)
My plans are to buy a copy of Vogue.
My plans are to buy a copy of the New Yorker.
My plans are to buy a salmon bagel with cream cheese.
My plans are to go the Edinburgh botanical gardens.
"I’m at the top of the stairs with my wrapped present for Nina in my palms and I feel like a stranger in my own home." (p. 114)
I'm at the top of the stairs.
I'm holding my wrapped present for Nina in my palms.
I feel like a stranger in my own home.
"She has never been one for hugs–she likes to keep a safe distance from most people–but when I sit right next to her, she does not flinch or lean away." (p. 185)
She has never been one for hugs.
She likes to keep a safe distance from most people.
But, I sit right next to her.
She does not flinch or lean away.
"The festivities, the garlands, the outdoor parties, and the Youth Club dances–they are all hallmarks of a place that honors conformity above all else." (p. 56)
The festivities are hallmarks.
The garlands are hallmarks.
The outdoor parties are hallmarks.
The Youth Club dances are hallmarks.
They are all hallmarks of a place that honors conformity above all else.
Sentences for Imitation:
I like these sentences because they use some interesting structures, and I also included a few that simply stuck with me. These are just a few of the lines that make this book so magical.
"I stare them down and it feels like part of a Western movie. I always like those scenes: when the gunslinger rides into town one last time to seek revenge." (p. 3)
"Sometimes standing up for other people is a hundred times easier than standing up for yourself." (p. 59)
"But revenge,” she goes on gently, “is like throwing your body into the ocean and expecting someone else to drown.” (p. 160)
"She’s not telling me to look the other way. She’s not telling me to ignore it. She’s telling me what I need to hear. She’s telling me that it’s not my job to fix everything. It’s not my role to be understood or heard by every single person."
"Neurotypicals tend to listen more carefully if you make them comfortable. I don’t make people comfortable and I don’t plan to. I plan to be decent. I plan to keep my eyes open. I won’t be the one to change this strange, twisting river. I may be standing in the middle of it, but that’s only to create a path. A safer place to step." (p. 176)
Used this book in your classroom? Tell us how in the comments!
Want to be updated when our next book review comes out? Subscribe here for weekly posts featuring fresh book reviews with brand-new sentences and passages. Your inbox’s new favorite destination for new YA reading and writing inspiration!
Comments