Identical, Ellen Hopkins

Title: Identical

Author: Ellen Hopkins

Publish Date: August 2008

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Pages: 576pp

ISBN: 1416950052

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 12 and up

Price: $12.95

Annotation: Kaeleigh and Reanne are identical twins, completely the same on the outside. But on the inside they have lead completely different lives.

Summary: Identical twins Kaeleigh and Reanne are daughters of a Norman Rockwell appearing family. With a mother on the campaign trailer and the father a judge this horrifying tale takes a dark turn. One sister is the object of fathers love. The other is always fighting for equal attention. But, when the reason becomes clear for the actual motives behind this misplaced love both sister need face reality and stand up for each other. Both sister are having troubles, both different, both desperate. Who will be the one to help the other one?

Evaluation: I can't say enough all the things I love about this book. The fact that it's written in verse is stunning. It's wonderful to see expression in this form, I often write my feelings in verse. This book was so emotional and seeing it from the perspective of identical twins was mind-blowing. There is so much dysfunction in this book it makes it hard to breathe. But, it was awfully honest and a great read for someone who is looking for a book that can help them feel not so alone.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Standing up to your abuser, asking for help, drugs, feeling out of control, abusive and absent parents, issues with siblings

Reason this book was chosen: Ellen Hopkins is amazing. Her subject matter is frank and unapologetic. And her style is beautiful.

Website: http://www.ellenhopkins.com/

Fan Made Book Trailer:

Interview with Ellen Hopkins:

Shattering Glass, by Gail Giles

Title: Shattering Glass

Author: Gail Giles

Publish Date: August 2003

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Pages: 224pp

ISBN: 0689858000

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Suspense

Age Range: 13 and up

Price: $7.99

Annotation: When Rob, the charismatic king of popularity in his the senior class, turns the school nerd into Prince Charming, his actions lead to unexpected violence.

Summary: Fat, clumsy Simon Glass is a total nerd and a loser. Until Rob Haynes showed up in his life, Simon is the brunt of teasing from almost everyone. Rob, a transfer with personality and charm, takes over the school easily and he has plans for Simon. Rob is setting out to make Simon a popular Prom King from his clumsy current state and Rob knows he can do it. And he does do it. Simon rises and rises on the high school popularity charts, but as he does he gets more and more confident and more and more devious and dark. As things get stickier and secrets are revealed this experiment turns deadly.

Evaluation: Once again, Gail makes the suspense and horror totally plausible and again I found myself paging through this book rapidly, stopping only now and then to mouth the words "wow" to myself. I love her perspective and I loved the tone of Shattering Glass.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Issues with Violence, Bullying, Family Issue, Friends, Incest,

Manipulation, Sexual Content, Sexual Abuse, Murder, Nerds, Peer pressure, Popularity, relationships, Violence

Reason this book was chosen: I have actually seen this agenda play out in school of turning someone from nerd to cool and was intrigued by the idea of a book about it. Also knowing the style of Giles and hearing about end I was knew that no matter what it would be a great read.

Living Dead Girl, by Elizabeth Scott

Author: Elizabeth Scott

Publish Date: September 2008

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Pages: 176pp

ISBN: 1416960597

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Range: 14 and up

Price: $8.99

Annotation: Alice was kidnapped and abused and now she is waiting to die. She thought she knew how it would all turn out, but she was mistaken.

Summary: Five years ago, Alice was taken by a man in an aquarium pretending to be helping her. Alice isn't even actually Alice. All of Ray's girls are renames Alice. And the last Alice was killed when she no longer had her childlike body. She was 15. This Alice is aware that this will be her fate soon and she almost welcomes it as freedom from the sexual abuse horror that has become common place in her life. Her duty is to find a replacement for Ray. And how it all turns out is not how she envisions at all.

Evaluation: A lot of books are hard to read because the thought is horrific but this is up there on the top ten list. Intense, straightforward, and sexual, listening to her story was like being a prisoner myself. The writing is simple and short of choppy, not in a bad way, but in a way that keeps you feeling short of uncomfortable. It's an interesting use of style with this subject matter. I actually had to stop reading it for a month. I had to. Then I finished it. It was difficult to be in this headspace, but it is clearly a story that needs to be told.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Getting Used to Being Abused, Sexual Abuse, Abduction, Healing, Surviving Abuse, Escape

Reason this book was chosen: I couldn't help but be curious how this book would take shape. After reading it, it was so stunning I had to bring light to it's importance. I know it's one of those books that parents or educators want to shield their children from (the horrors of life-like these) but it's reality and it may make children or teens aware and safer because of it. A must read.

Website: http://www.elizabethwrites.com/livingdeadgirl.php