Identical
by Ellen Hopkins

    IDENTICAL by Ellen Hopkins
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  8/26/08
    Publisher:  Margaret K. McElderry
    Reviewed by:  Jaglvr
    Rating:  5 Stars


    Ellen Hopkins does it again! Another page-turning book by this amazing author!

    This is a story filled with drugs, promiscuity, and sexual abuse. Not for those that are easily offended or may have
    issues with the content. That being said, if you can handle the mature content, the book surely will not disappoint.

    Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical twins. But beyond the external comparison, internally Kaeleigh and Raeanne are
    as different as night and day. One twin is the apple of their father’s eye. The other twin wonders why her father
    doesn’t love her the same way.

    One twin dares to defy their father’s rules. Running around with the wrong crowd. Toking up during school hours.
    Trading sex for favors.

    The other twin is the goody-two-shoes. Gets great grades. Is the lead in the high school musical. Has a great guy that
    loves her.

    How could the two girls be so different? It all stems back to “the accident.” No one will talk about what happened
    the night their father drank too much and caused the fatal accident. But ever since that night, things have been far
    from perfect.

    Their mother has basically abandoned the family with ambitions of running for Congress. But could it be she’s running
    from them? Their father forbids any of them to speak to his parents. A secret from his past never to be revealed, at
    least by him. And his love for one of the girls. A love that no father should share with his own child.

    Keeping everything to themselves, the girls are on a course for self-destruction. Somehow, they must come to terms
    with everything since the accident, and possibly trust those that want to help them. But the secrets can’t be revealed
    to outsiders, can they?

    Ms. Hopkins tells her story beautifully. Weaving between sisters, she uses the same key words to blend the thoughts
    of the two together. Ms. Hopkins writes in free verse. At first the pages may not look like much, but upon reading
    the words written in the designs, the story unfolds and the pictures the words create give more meaning behind the
    thoughts. The story builds to a powerful crescendo and the ending comes as a surprise as the inner workings of the
    two girls are revealed.

    Don’t let the length of this book put you off. It’s an addicting read that will find you thinking to yourself, “just one
    more page.” Before you know it, the story has drawn you in and you are hooked until the final page. Ms. Hopkins’
    is a great author for those teens that are hesitant or resistant to reading. The story moves quickly, and the topics are
    those that most authors would be afraid to broach. She speaks honestly and openly to teens, who may come away
    that much more aware of the world that surrounds them.