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Title: Identical
ISBN: 1416950052
Author:
Ellen Hopkins
Publicate Date: 2008-08-26
Publish: 2008-08-26
List Price: $17.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $11.15
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $10.83
Amazon Merchant Price: $12.23
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| Customer Review: |
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1: A Dark Story about a Disturbing Family
I had never used an audio book before and didn't quite know what to expect. I was a little taken aback when it arrived and contained 8 CD disks. I worried that I would not have time to listen to them, and worse, that I would not really be able to hear what the author wrote. As a result, I bought the hardback edition of the book, feeling that maybe I would be able to read the story.
I discovered that the book is written in an unusual manner. It is sort of a free flowing poetry that is almost like a diary or an assignment from an English class in high school. That wasn't working, so I took out the CD's and started listening to them.
I was impressed by the reader, who captured the nuances of the characters quite well. The story flowed more easily than when I tried to read it and I was able to dig in and really get into the story...so much so that I almost missed picking up my wife at the airport terminal.
The story is dark about a family that is quite dysfunctional. There is graphic language, and the content can be rather raw, but there is nothing here that you won't hear or hear about on any high school campus in the country. It is well written, captivating and shines an interesting light on the subjects (incest, cutting, drugs) that it deals with.
I recommend it in audio form, but would have trouble recommending the written form. I'm not sure how many teens would wade through the free flowing verse
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2: Mediocre.
Reading the description of this book, I was very excited. It seemed like there would be a lot of drama. I knew things weren't going well when I found out it was written in a style reminiscent of My So Called Life (which I actually like). It reads like a bunch of diary entries or maybe a bunch of therapy sessions. Each girl has a lot of issues, but it kind of just drags on and on with no plot with each complaining that their parents aren't involved in their lives (or are too involved in the case of Kayleigh) and that their family has fallen apart.
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3: A Disturbing but well-written tale.
As usual, Ellen Hopkins has created a book that grabs the reader and keeps them there even if they are disturbed by what they see. It isn't as if I didn't enjoy the book - I did, very much so in fact but there were things that are not mature for younger readers. Of course Ms. Hopkins books can be very realistic, they can also be meant for an older audiance.
Kaeleigh and Raenne are twins, identical at birth and identical for life. Although they look completely alike they are two very different people. Raenne is the wild child type that end up hiding from her life by doing dangerous and idiotic things like drugs. Kaeleigh is the truly abused child, much more than her sister. She is the quiet one, hidden and out of sight of anyone that's near. Their choices will take them on a painful and sad journey that the reader(s) will share with them every step of the way.
This book opens your eyes to the truth about sexual abuse and what it can do to people. Most readers of Ellen Hopkins books may be expecting a novel about drugs but this book - although drugs are included - is much different.
I recommend this book to mature readers that are able to take real life situations. The story is interesting as well as the poetry format. Also the ending is terrific. I was so impressed with the authors way of making it seem as if you know nothing. It may sound strange but once you read it I'm sure that you'll understand. Enjoy!
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4: Well written, but not for my kids...
Audiobooks are a great way to get the reading done while you're driving or doing some other mindless task. The actors hired to do audiobooks can make or break the story.
The actor in this version is good. She does consistent voices for the characters and they seem to fit the personalities.
The writing is well crafted. You switch between the experiences of teen twin sisters. One teen acts out rebelliously with bad relationships, sex and drugs. The other turns to bingeing & cutting, which didn't seem realistic to me, and otherwise maintains a clean image.
The parents are a bit too stereotypical, but they are coming from a teen's point of view. As a parent, I would've liked to see some of the good in the parent instead of the typical teen blaming. Even if it was just how the mother acted, instead of the daughter's perception.
There is a lot of graphic experiences described in the book (teen sex and drugs, plus incest). Because of this, I won't have my teens read this book and feel it should be considered an adult novel. But some teens do deal with these situations and they might find comfort in the book.
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5: A very brave, interesting concept. It's in the execution where I think people will either love or hate this.
Ellen Hopkins has put together a very creative book. The subject matter itself is harsh and gritty - twin sisters, one of whom is being molested by their father, but both of whom are feeling the fallout. Hopkins does amazing work with her concept - it is far deeper than one would imagine, and her book draws back even before the twins' birth to show where the seeds of their present torment were sown.
Why I'm ranking the book as only three out of five stars is the prose. Hopkins has taken a very original path with this, using free verse (a form that I personally dislike, and found a bit exhausting) as well as a very "slow build" approach. Artistically I think it was interesting, but I personally would not choose to try something else by this author. That is not a reflection on her work, which I thought was exceptional. I listened to this on audio book - the reader did a nice job, but I wonder if I might've been better off reading it on the page. Hard to say. Very interesting, however, and Ellen Hopkins certainly has a great deal of talent, as well as a lot of bravery to take on this subject matter in a YA novel.
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