By: Ellen Hopkins Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Average Rating: Binding: Hardcover Label: Margaret K. McElderry Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 576 Publication Date: August 26, 2008 Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: August 26, 2008
Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical down to the dimple. As daughters of a district-court judge father and a politician mother, they are an all-American family -- on the surface. Behind the facade each sister has her own dark secret, and that's where their differences begin.
For Kaeleigh, she's the misplaced focus of Daddy's love, intended for a mother whose presence on the campaign trail means absence at home. All that Raeanne sees is Daddy playing a game of favorites -- and she is losing. If she has to lose, she will do it on her own terms, so she chooses drugs, alcohol, and sex.
Secrets like the ones the twins are harboring are not meant to be kept -- from each other or anyone else. Pretty soon it's obvious that neither sister can handle it alone, and one sister must step up to save the other, but the question is -- who?
3.5 stars for a somewhat disappointing book I am a high school librarian and I have read all of Hopkins' previous books so I was looking forward to this one and started it as soon as it arrived. After a few chapters, reading about the incest, I was wondering what the purpose of the book was. A friend pointed out that it was a "mirror" book -- meant to reveal how a student could see herself and her life or an event through the eyes of a character and can see how that character acts or deals with a particular situation. Hopefully to encourage that student to take steps to solve the problem. I can't write much more here because whatever I say in response to what I read would be spoilers as the book moves toward a conclusion that just fell short and ended up being somewhat unbelieavable mostly because a lot of the book took place in school or around other people. The supporting characters, especially the mother, are stereotypes and not at all sympathetic. Yes I know that many awful things happen behind closed doors in families and if by reading this book even one girl gets the courage to step forth and tell on her abuser, then I guess the author will have achieved her goal. Other than that, be warned, there's a lot of descriptive sex, drugs, alcohol abuse, suicide attempts, self-mutilation, anorexia and bulimia -- I mean all of these behaviors are exhibited -- and other mature scenes both on and off-page.
A Quickly-Twisted Disappointment. I am a huge fan of Ellen Hopkins' four other books: Crank, Glass, Burned, and Impulse. I've been awaiting Identical all summer, having preordered it in June.
As I began reading the book, I instantly loved it. I was so intrigued with the family history, and I found myself rooting for Kaeleigh to tell her secret from page one.
When the twist was presented towards the end of the book, however, I was severly disappointed. Ellen Hopkins definitely let me down.
Another great Hopkins novel Ellen Hopkins has created yet another page turner with a great twist! Her ability to get into the troubled teenage psyche of her characters is unbelievable and enables the reader to immediately feel a connection to them. I won't get into the plot as other reviewers have already done an awesome job of that, but I can say this book will make you want to re-read,once you get to the end! Her writing style is very readable,even though she writes in verse, but don't miss the subtle way she ties the lives of the twins together. The sub poems and mirrored poems are eye-catching and tell another, very intriguing part of the story. So, as much as you want to race to the conclusion, take the time to absorb the well-planned and oh-so-well written verse that Hopkins has brought to Identical.
I'm an Ellen Hopkins fan, but this book just fell short for me... So, I was psyched for Identical, being a huge Ellen Hopkins fan. I pre-ordered it, and it showed up on my doorstep this morning. I eagerly began reading it, and figured out the book's biggest plot twist less than a hundred pages in.
I wanted to scream at Ellen Hopkins. Her "M. Night Shamyalan-esque" twist should not come as a surprise to anybody who has read Crank/Glass, or ever watch an episode of Heroes. I'm sure that figuring out the surprise early is part of my reason for disliking this book, but I know it is not the only reason.
SPOILERS AHEAD (minor, I won't give away the 'surprise' but there will be spoilers.
I felt like for a book that was supposed to be about sexual abuse, it was less about the father/daughter relationship and more about out of control teens in the vibe of Crank/Glass. The parts of the book about this relationship were great, but they were few and far between. The history about how the father became who he is today was fascinating, and Ellen Hopkins really should have played that up more. Another thing, in my opinion, that she could have done to improve the plot would have been to continue the story after the protagonist enters rehab. We know she can write about recovery (Impulse) and it would have added to the plot in my opinion.
All in all, this book was 'Eh.' It was a disappointment, as I have come to expect more from Ellen Hopkins. Consequently, I will still be a fan after reading this book, but I won't advertise it as I have with her other works. It seems as if this summer is the summer of gigantic book disappointments. First Breaking Dawn, now this...I really hope Brisingr (the last of the trifecta of great summer books, following BD and Identical) is great.
The Compulsive Reader's Reviews There are so many similarities between Kaeleigh and Raeanne. They're identical twins. They share an absentee politician of a mother, and lonely drunk of a father. They both have had a painful childhood, and for both, it all began with a gruesome accident. But the source of that pain is entirely different for each girl.
For Kaeleigh, it's the pain of a father who loves her too much, who loves her as no father should love his child. Raeanne's pain is the feeling of being unloved and unwanted, except by a string of sleazy boyfriends with an abundance of alcohol and drugs. Each girl knows that what they're experiencing is wrong, but they know nothing else. And unless someone can do something to bring about a change, their pain is all they'll ever know.
Identical is depressing, disturbing, and yet strangely engrossing and electrifying. Through her irresistible and varying poetry, Hopkins coaxes readers into the story, just far enough in for Raeanne and Kaeleigh grasp on, taking you on an unforgettable ride through their lives, and showing us their convoluted--yet curiously levelheaded--reasoning and their innermost thoughts. The beautiful and innovative poetry gets right down to what makes the twins tick in a frank and straightforward style that is not necessarily comforting, but is gritty and real. Full of passion, pain, remorse, and, amazingly, love, Identical is one of those books that will make you gasp theatrically at the end, and then want to immediately re-read the entire thing with new eyes--it is a book that will cause you to think.
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