Sophomore Switch
by Abby McDonald

    SOPHOMORE SWITCH by Abby McDonald
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  3/10/09
    Publisher:  Candlewick
    Reviewed by:  Jennifer Rummel
    Rating:  5 Stars


    Tasha and Emily couldn’t be more different, but each wants to escape their social nightmares.  Tasha needs to hide
    out from the tabloid drama and Emily needs to nurse her broken heart.  They swap lives: Natasha heads to Oxford
    and Emily heads to UC Santa Barbara.

    The only problem – they’ve each already signed up for classes. So Natasha’s stuck taking feminist courses and
    Emily’s stuck learning about film.  Neither of them fit in, until they lean on each other for a bit of advice.  Both girls
    start to dress more appropriately, Natasha with preppy clothes and Emily with fewer layers.  Slowly, things start to
    turn around for both girls.

    Natasha embraces her classes and becomes determined to change people’s mind about her.  She joins in the rally to
    save the women’s health center.  Emily learns how to relax and let go of her control freakiness.  

    Is the newfound happiness about to come crashing down when their responsibilities resurface?

    SOPHOMORE SWITCH is a great novel on several levels.  It's a great tale of two girls switching lives and
    broadening their horizons and examining the question of feminism.  The story especially delves deeply into the topic
    of what makes a feminist - can a girl have fun and still desire equality for women?