Title: Double Identity
Author: Margaret Peterson Haddix
Awards: A Junior Library Guild Selection 2005
Summary: As Bethany approaches her thirteenth birthday, her parents start acting very odd. Her mother constantly cries and her father never lets Bethany out of his sight. One day Bethany's father packs a suitcase for her and takes her and her mother on a long road trip. They end up in Sanderfield, Illinois, where Bethany's father leaves Bethany with an aunt she never even knew existed. Her father won't tell her where he and her mom are going and won't give any explanation as to why they are behaving so strangely. However, Bethany does overhear her father telling her aunt not to bring up Elizabeth because Bethany doesn't know about her. Bethany is now determined to find out who Elizabeth is and why she has been kept a secret.
Bethany also experiences some strange encounters with people who live in Sanderfield. When people look at Bethany they react as if they had seen a ghost. There has also been a man who has been following Bethany. He has been driving a black rental car and he somehow knows what Bethany's name is. Soon Bethany realizes that there are many secrets her parents have kept from her and she is now determined to unravel all of the mysteries.
Reaction: I enjoyed this book. At first I wasn't sure why it was classified as modern fantasy but as I got half way through the book I started picking up on why it would be classified as modern fantasy. This book had a lot of mysterious events that happened so it was very easy and enjoyable to keep reading. It wasn't as good as the last book I read, but I still liked it.
Recommendation: This book was an easy read. The main character is a female and she is just getting ready to turn 13 years old. I think the book would appeal to females more than it would appeal to males because the cover has a picture of Bethany on it. I would recommend this book to females in grades 5-8.
Book talk hook: Have you ever had to question who you are? What if one day you found out that your whole life has been a lie and you have actually been living someone else's life? How would you react? Is it even possible to be living someone else's life? As Bethany starts to uncover family secrets, she slowly realizes that she may in fact be someone else.
This sounds like a good read. I'm intrigued by the summary and think students would connect with the character "trying to find out who she is" - literally.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the few titles by Haddix I haven't read. I've liked everything of hers that I have read. Her books are very popular with my 7th -9th students. This will be on my summer read list.
ReplyDeleteSounds like an exciting mystery/fantasy. I know Haddix is a very popular author in the middle school.I think your hook would catch the student's interest.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I am so curious about what all the secrets have to do with Bethany and think that 5th, 6th, and 7th grade girls especially would be able to get into this book. I know I loved mysteries when I was at that age and this one seems like it would really get my imagination going. Can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very intriguing and the whole "parents have kept secrets from me all my life" spin would be something middle school and junior high girls would just love. I'm curious to read it and find out myself why it's fantasy as on the surface, it seems more like realistic fiction.
ReplyDeleteHaddix is an author that keeps popping up. I'm going to need to get a few of her books this summer.
Another Haddix book to put on the list. I'm interested to find out how it is classified as modern fantasy. There must be some new and exciting things going on, that you didn't want to give away!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting book. I know you love Haddix too so I'm sure you're author interest made it even easier for you to get into the book!
ReplyDeleteThis author is popular with my students, but we do not have this title. From your review, it sounds like a book they would enjoy in addition to one that I could add to the collection.
ReplyDeleteI find the idea of a cloned child to be fascinating. Would that child have similar personality traits as the first child, or would be they similar only in physical appearance? I love Margaret Peterson Haddix. I've yet to be disappointed by one of her books.
ReplyDeleteAgain Haddix starts with an interesting premise.
ReplyDelete