Summary: A Split Second
After a memorable birthday sleepover with her two best friends, Elise wakes up to realize that time has jumped by six months and her best friends no longer speak to her. With the help of an old friend, she works to figure out what happened and how to undo it.
The Good
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! I especially liked that I, at times, had no idea where the story was headed (which always takes me back to reading as a child). It’s written from two points of view, so readers will get to hear from Elise and Cora, providing a well-rounded view of the story and in-depth character knowledge.
A major theme of this book is friendship. Elise and Cora have different friendship struggles. Elise finds a group of friends, but are they good friends? And why have they stopped speaking to her? Cora, on the other hand, can’t seem to find a friend she clicks with, and her social anxiety doesn’t help. It’s hard for her to really be herself for fear of mockery. I loved seeing how Marks draws similarities between their challenges and highlights what a healthy friendship should be.
I also enjoyed the way this book is an ode to art and making art. Elise and Cora are in a photography club and learn a lot about how to make art that is personally meaningful. The girls also have to be brave — making life-changing decisions, admitting to mistakes, and doing their best to repair the rifts created by those mistakes. There’s plenty to appeal to young readers!
A Split Second
A Split Second is a time travel fantasy with a slightly spooky feel, perfect for kids who like books about magic with a touch of mystery. This book will appeal to young readers for a myriad of reasons, including the fact that it’s short, highly accessible, and written from two points of view while tackling hugely relatable themes like friendship and being brave.
Star Rating
Content Notes
Here are some specifics to know about the content.
Content Warnings
- Death: None
- Alcohol/substance abuse: None
- Sexual content: None
- Religious content: The girls visit a magic shop and explore magical spells
- Language: None
Diversity
- Ethnic: The main characters are Black
- Sexual orientation: None
Recommended for ages: 9+
Good for kids who like:
- Stories with magic
- Time travel books
- Books about friendships
- Mystery books
- Stories about art and photography
Sample Discussion Questions for A Split Second
- PRE-READING: Analyze the book cover. What similarities and differences between the two girls do you notice? What do you think will play a part in the story?
- CHAPTER 9: Elise decides that one of the ways to figure out what happened during the time jump is to try to follow Ivy’s social media account by creating an account for Cora. What do we learn about Cora, Elise, and Ivy from the way they deal with social media? Have you ever followed someone on social media, even if you aren’t that close?
- CHAPTER 18: The book now switches to Cora’s point of view. Why do you think the author does this? Does it change your perspective of Cora? Or Elise?
- CHAPTER 25: After witnessing Elise confront Melinda and Ivy, Cora reflects that Elise is the brave one and she is the coward, hiding in the shadows. Do you think what Elise did was brave? How could Cora be brave, too? What does it mean to be brave?
- REFLECTION: What does it mean to be a good friend? How do both Elise and Cora, as well as the other supporting characters in the book, demonstrate both positive and negative acts of friendship? Which are the strongest friendships in the book? Which ones do you think will stand the test of time?
If you’d like to use this book for a book club discussion, you need our full discussion guide for A Split Second by Janae Marks. You can get it in our shop for $10! This guide is best for lit circles and book clubs and does not include curriculum connections.
Publisher Details
Buy This Book
More Book Reviews
- City Spies by James Ponti
- The Liars Society by Alyson Gerber
- What Happened to Rachel Riley? by Claire Swinarski
What do you think? Leave a comment