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Identical
"Perfect on the outside, but behind the Normal Rockwell facades, each holds its secrets. Dark, untellable. Practically unbelievable." -- IDENTICAL
Kaeleigh and Raeanne are 16-year-old identical twins, the daughters of a district court judge father and politician mother running for US Congress. Everything on the surface seems fine, but underneath run very deep and damaging secrets. What really happened when the girls were 7 years old in that car accident that Daddy caused? And why is Mom never home, always running far away to pursue some new dream? Raeanne goes after painkillers, drugs, alcohol, and sex to dull her pain and anger. Kaeleigh always tries so hard to be the good girl -- her father's perfect little flower. But when the girls were 9, Daddy started to turn to his beloved Kaeleigh in ways a father never should and has been sexually abusing her for years. For Raeanne, she needs to numb the pain of not being Daddy's favorite; for Kaeleigh, she wants to do everything she can to feel something normal, even if it means cutting herself and vomiting after every binge.
How Kaeleigh and Raeanne figure out just what it means to be whole again when their entire world has been torn to shreads is the guts and heart of this powerful, disturbing, and utterly remarkable book.
Kaeleigh and Raeanne are 16-year-old identical twins, the daughters of a district court judge father and politician mother running for US Congress. Everything on the surface seems fine, but underneath run very deep and damaging secrets. What really happened when the girls were 7 years old in that car accident that Daddy caused? And why is Mom never home, always running far away to pursue some new dream? Raeanne goes after painkillers, drugs, alcohol, and sex to dull her pain and anger. Kaeleigh always tries so hard to be the good girl -- her father's perfect little flower. But when the girls were 9, Daddy started to turn to his beloved Kaeleigh in ways a father never should and has been sexually abusing her for years. For Raeanne, she needs to numb the pain of not being Daddy's favorite; for Kaeleigh, she wants to do everything she can to feel something normal, even if it means cutting herself and vomiting after every binge.
How Kaeleigh and Raeanne figure out just what it means to be whole again when their entire world has been torn to shreads is the guts and heart of this powerful, disturbing, and utterly remarkable book.
565 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2008
1502 people are currently reading
64706 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Hopkins
48 books19k followersEllen Hopkins is the New York Times bestselling author of Crank, Burned, Impulse, Glass, Identical, Tricks, Fallout, Perfect, Triangles, Tilt, and Collateral. She lives in Carson City, Nevada, with her husband and son. Hopkin's Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest pages get thousands of hits from teens who claim Hopkins is the "only one who understands me", and she can be visited at ellenhopkins.com.
Like most of you here, books are my life. Reading is a passion, but writing is the biggest part of me. Balance is my greatest challenge, as I love my family, friends, animals and home, but also love traveling to meet my readers. Hope I meet many of you soon!
Like most of you here, books are my life. Reading is a passion, but writing is the biggest part of me. Balance is my greatest challenge, as I love my family, friends, animals and home, but also love traveling to meet my readers. Hope I meet many of you soon!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,254 reviews
February 24, 2011
This book was... disturbing. Very disturbing. I really like the author's style and I think the use of verse is highly effective and contributes something to the story that I never imagined possible... but. And there is a but. I felt this book, unlike Burned which I loved, just went too far. It made me feel uncomfortable, too much so. I can't explain, I usually really like books that are controversial and stretch boundaries but... a man performing oral sex on his daughter while her twin watched and secretly wished it was her? The revulsion I felt was too much. Way too much.
I thought the plot idea was great, very interesting and a rather dangerous subject area to delve into (child abuse, amongst other things). Basically, it's the story of identical twins, almost completely alike except one is the reluctant centre of her father's attention... sexual attention. The other twin feels unloved by her father and longs to please him... even sexually. That was the part of this book that made my stomach churn, not so much the abuse of one twin but the incestuous desires of the other.
I read it in a few hours and was gripped in a manner that can only be described as 'horrified'. I couldn't put it down, like the inability to look away from a road accident even after seeing a mangled body. Perhaps it should be given more stars, but I didn't really enjoy this book. Who knows? I'll probably read it again in the future and I might decide to revise this rating. We shall see.
I thought the plot idea was great, very interesting and a rather dangerous subject area to delve into (child abuse, amongst other things). Basically, it's the story of identical twins, almost completely alike except one is the reluctant centre of her father's attention... sexual attention. The other twin feels unloved by her father and longs to please him... even sexually. That was the part of this book that made my stomach churn, not so much the abuse of one twin but the incestuous desires of the other.
I read it in a few hours and was gripped in a manner that can only be described as 'horrified'. I couldn't put it down, like the inability to look away from a road accident even after seeing a mangled body. Perhaps it should be given more stars, but I didn't really enjoy this book. Who knows? I'll probably read it again in the future and I might decide to revise this rating. We shall see.
September 25, 2015
Posted at Shelf Inflicted
My grandfather was a prick. He was an alcoholic and a gambler. He had anger issues and extreme mood swings. He was liberal with his money at the race track and when he was out drinking with his buddies, but it was a big deal if my grandmother wanted a new dress or my mom needed a new pair of shoes. I always hated the way he treated my grandmother and my mother and hated the way they behaved when they were around him. I hated visiting my grandparents on Sundays after church and especially hated being left alone with my grandfather. He died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 86. It was too good for him.
Though I had no reservations about reading Tricks, some of the issues in Identical were a little too close to home for me, and I was afraid of triggering unwanted memories. My fear cast aside, I decided to borrow the unabridged audio version from the library. While my vague memories remained far in the past, I was able to feel a deep emotional connection with the characters. Ellen Hopkins must have teenagers of her own, or is very knowledgeable about the problems that can affect them. Her characters are solid, believable, and strong. As much as I enjoyed the narration, I find that the author's intimate writing style and loosely constructed free prose is meant to be read. After listening to the audio version, I borrowed the book just to see how the 16-year-old identical twins, Kaeleigh's and Raeanne's thoughts were shaped.
The story is told in alternating perspectives by the twins and covers myriad teenage problems, including father-daughter incest, eating disorders, drug abuse, mental illness, promiscuity, and cutting. While the characters were easy to get to know, I found the issues covered a bit too overwhelming and excessive foreshadowing revealed a plot twist that was not a big surprise to me by the book's conclusion.
Still, a mostly satisfying read and I look forward to Hopkins' other titles.
My grandfather was a prick. He was an alcoholic and a gambler. He had anger issues and extreme mood swings. He was liberal with his money at the race track and when he was out drinking with his buddies, but it was a big deal if my grandmother wanted a new dress or my mom needed a new pair of shoes. I always hated the way he treated my grandmother and my mother and hated the way they behaved when they were around him. I hated visiting my grandparents on Sundays after church and especially hated being left alone with my grandfather. He died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 86. It was too good for him.
Though I had no reservations about reading Tricks, some of the issues in Identical were a little too close to home for me, and I was afraid of triggering unwanted memories. My fear cast aside, I decided to borrow the unabridged audio version from the library. While my vague memories remained far in the past, I was able to feel a deep emotional connection with the characters. Ellen Hopkins must have teenagers of her own, or is very knowledgeable about the problems that can affect them. Her characters are solid, believable, and strong. As much as I enjoyed the narration, I find that the author's intimate writing style and loosely constructed free prose is meant to be read. After listening to the audio version, I borrowed the book just to see how the 16-year-old identical twins, Kaeleigh's and Raeanne's thoughts were shaped.
The story is told in alternating perspectives by the twins and covers myriad teenage problems, including father-daughter incest, eating disorders, drug abuse, mental illness, promiscuity, and cutting. While the characters were easy to get to know, I found the issues covered a bit too overwhelming and excessive foreshadowing revealed a plot twist that was not a big surprise to me by the book's conclusion.
Still, a mostly satisfying read and I look forward to Hopkins' other titles.
May 20, 2017
DNF @ 65%
I legit only picked up this book bc the **plot twist** was said to be MIND BOGGLING and after searching through spoilers I found that, yes, it is a pretty good plot twist, but I could PHYHSICALY not put up with this book any longer.
The Writing
- I came looking for free verse poetry but the writing was bland and v v tiring
- when I wasn’t puking my guys out bc of how messed up the book was I was falling asleep
- also everything is so drawn out
- like plz edit through man
The Plot
- what the heck was the whole POINT of this book ???
- its like it had EVERY mental/physical illness/problem in the world all at once
- excessive drinking, drugs, cutting, bulimia, cheating, fricken MESSED UP AND ILLEGAL relationships, incest, serious daddy issues etc. etc.
- its like messed up af(rench fries)
- and like whats THE REASON ???
- is this to show like this happens to people bc I don’t think that’s v realistic
- idk its weird and I cant relate and I just hated it
- the plot twist isn’t worth it
- id rather not be scarred for the rest of my life
Theres more I wanted to say but I have no energy to speak of this book any longer. I just want to forget this ever happened.
The book is just depressing and I don’t know why its necessary or what benefit it brings and WHY was it written in free verse like THERES NO NEED for it to be considered poetry, theres NOTHING poetic about it
anyways
I don’t think im much of a fan
1 star!!
I legit only picked up this book bc the **plot twist** was said to be MIND BOGGLING and after searching through spoilers I found that, yes, it is a pretty good plot twist, but I could PHYHSICALY not put up with this book any longer.
The Writing
- I came looking for free verse poetry but the writing was bland and v v tiring
- when I wasn’t puking my guys out bc of how messed up the book was I was falling asleep
- also everything is so drawn out
- like plz edit through man
The Plot
- what the heck was the whole POINT of this book ???
- its like it had EVERY mental/physical illness/problem in the world all at once
- excessive drinking, drugs, cutting, bulimia, cheating, fricken MESSED UP AND ILLEGAL relationships, incest, serious daddy issues etc. etc.
- its like messed up af(rench fries)
- and like whats THE REASON ???
- is this to show like this happens to people bc I don’t think that’s v realistic
- idk its weird and I cant relate and I just hated it
- the plot twist isn’t worth it
- id rather not be scarred for the rest of my life
Theres more I wanted to say but I have no energy to speak of this book any longer. I just want to forget this ever happened.
The book is just depressing and I don’t know why its necessary or what benefit it brings and WHY was it written in free verse like THERES NO NEED for it to be considered poetry, theres NOTHING poetic about it
anyways
I don’t think im much of a fan
1 star!!
February 10, 2009
I have to say, this book is pretty amazing.
Basically it's about these two twins, Kaeleigh and Raeanne. They are half of the All-American family, with a dad who is a judge and a mom who is running for a position in Congress. But what lies beneath their facade is really dysfunction; and the worst, worst kind.
Kaeleigh, the introverted one, is being sexually abused by Ray, her own father, and also binges and cuts herself. Raeanne is the exact opposite and is more outgoing, but finds herself wanting the attention Kaeleigh always gets. So, she resorts to drugs, and lots, and lots of sex. And this is just the beginning of the horrible suffering the twins face in this book.
As a teenager myself, I must admit that sometimes I cringed while reading the book and had to put it down for a second. However, I would immediately pick it right back up and continue reading. I strongly would recommend not giving this book out to teens under the age of 14; it's just THAT graphic at some parts of the story. Not bad, though.
Ellen Hopkin's unique poetry style is commanding and flawlessly executed, and when the twin's viewpoint switches over the mirroring effect is awe-inspiring. (read the individual words as they go down the page.)
The twist at the end was... wow. I remember the shock I experienced the first time I saw it. Overall, if you are a fan of Ellen Hopkin's previous works this will be another amazing read through, if not, then it won't hurt to give it a try. /end review
Basically it's about these two twins, Kaeleigh and Raeanne. They are half of the All-American family, with a dad who is a judge and a mom who is running for a position in Congress. But what lies beneath their facade is really dysfunction; and the worst, worst kind.
Kaeleigh, the introverted one, is being sexually abused by Ray, her own father, and also binges and cuts herself. Raeanne is the exact opposite and is more outgoing, but finds herself wanting the attention Kaeleigh always gets. So, she resorts to drugs, and lots, and lots of sex. And this is just the beginning of the horrible suffering the twins face in this book.
As a teenager myself, I must admit that sometimes I cringed while reading the book and had to put it down for a second. However, I would immediately pick it right back up and continue reading. I strongly would recommend not giving this book out to teens under the age of 14; it's just THAT graphic at some parts of the story. Not bad, though.
Ellen Hopkin's unique poetry style is commanding and flawlessly executed, and when the twin's viewpoint switches over the mirroring effect is awe-inspiring. (read the individual words as they go down the page.)
The twist at the end was... wow. I remember the shock I experienced the first time I saw it. Overall, if you are a fan of Ellen Hopkin's previous works this will be another amazing read through, if not, then it won't hurt to give it a try. /end review
August 24, 2015
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
This book was amazing and it tore me apart :( I had a feeling I knew where it was going and it did but in a little bit of a different way. It's so very sad. This author can write some amazing ~ heart-wrenching books.. the sad thing is she knows a lot of this stuff from experience.
You have Kaeleigh and Raeanne that are twins and they both have such crappy lives that I almost have no words. It breaks me into pieces.
*EXCERPT FROM BOOK*
Eyes firmly planted on Daddy,
who follows. Why does it have
to be just the two of us here?
I want my sister. I want my mom.
Surely he won't trail me into
my room. Won't watch me undress.
*END OF EXCERPT*
The things that Kaeleigh endures while Raeanne has to watch and feels helpless is so atrocious, but it happens.
Raeanne spiraling down the sex and drugs road. Kaeleigh... cutting..purging..........
Their mother is gone all of the time running her campaign. Their father is a judge and starts drinking when he comes home among other things. What happened to these people in their lifetimes? It's not a pretty story, all things come from somewhere... and someone is always the one to let it happen.
I was so ripped to shreds by the end of this book and the ending is so broken. But it will be put back together.
This is a brilliantly sad story and I will continue on with all of the author's books I have yet to read.
This book was amazing and it tore me apart :( I had a feeling I knew where it was going and it did but in a little bit of a different way. It's so very sad. This author can write some amazing ~ heart-wrenching books.. the sad thing is she knows a lot of this stuff from experience.
You have Kaeleigh and Raeanne that are twins and they both have such crappy lives that I almost have no words. It breaks me into pieces.
*EXCERPT FROM BOOK*
Eyes firmly planted on Daddy,
who follows. Why does it have
to be just the two of us here?
I want my sister. I want my mom.
Surely he won't trail me into
my room. Won't watch me undress.
*END OF EXCERPT*
The things that Kaeleigh endures while Raeanne has to watch and feels helpless is so atrocious, but it happens.
Raeanne spiraling down the sex and drugs road. Kaeleigh... cutting..purging..........
Their mother is gone all of the time running her campaign. Their father is a judge and starts drinking when he comes home among other things. What happened to these people in their lifetimes? It's not a pretty story, all things come from somewhere... and someone is always the one to let it happen.
I was so ripped to shreds by the end of this book and the ending is so broken. But it will be put back together.
This is a brilliantly sad story and I will continue on with all of the author's books I have yet to read.
May 20, 2024
The manner of the storytelling is disturbing the same way as the story itself.
It’s worth reading.
It’s worth reading.
November 25, 2011
I can certainly say that this is one of my favorite books now. In the beginning, I couldn't help but to think what the ending would be like. It never really gives you a sure-fire conflict. I mean, yes, one twin is molested by her father. The other is getting into a lot of trouble with drugs and boys. But while reading it, the whole time I thought maybe their problems would resolve themselves. Once I got to the ending everything made sense to me and I couldn't help but to stare at my wall for a few minutes with my mouth wide open. It was THAT surprising of an ending. I really had no idea that it would be THAT huge. I think I need to re-read it. Just to give myself more of an understanding now that I know what happened. I never want to re-read a book straight after finishing it. I also have to say, I've never read something in this style or with such plot. I wish I could give this book 1000/10 stars. I honestly do. Read this book. The poetry isn't too difficult to read. It's written prose-y and you can certainly read it like a real book once you get by it's format.
April 3, 2020
I'm struggling on what to rate this book its between 2 and 3 stars. I guess I'll give it a 2.5. It's a lot. First and foremost there are A LOT of triggers in this book, sexual abuse, cutting, addiction, eating disorders, mental illness. It's a lot to take in and it's a struggle to get through. So many times I had to set the book down because I just couldn't handle it and I had tears in my eyes. Anyone who wants to read this book I reccomend going into it with causation because it is so heavy and deep. I really like Ellen Hopkins and I think shes a very talented author and she does talk about subjects most people wont because they're very difficult, but this book was just to much. I honestly don't really know what else to say about it. If it wasn't written in verse I wouldn't have gotten through it. The writing style is the only thing that saved his book for me.
June 25, 2018
THE GOOD:
* WELL I’M NOT OKAY
* at all, jesus fucking christ
* it’s 100% better to go into this as blind as possible (aside from trigger warnings, that I’ll list below)
* it’s a novel written in verse, which is a format that I’ve never read before, but oh my gosh so cool?!!?
* it’s a lot more introspective than I’m used to, but it 100% works bless this
* THE PLOT TWIST FUCKING RUINED ME OKAY?!?
* I want to tell you all to go read this, but holy cow, this was probably the hardest book I’ve ever read in my entire goddamn life
* loved the writing, the characters, the vibe, the story telling - everything is just a big oh mY LORD
* everything was NUTS and a fucking roller coaster
* i am dEAD™
THE BAD:
* I legitimately don’t have anything bad to say
* HOWEVER
Special mentions: there are legitimately trigger warnings for everything in existence - sexual abuse, sexual assault, self harm, drug abuse, alcoholism, incest, suicide attempt, eating disorders (bulimia, binge/purge)
* guys, I mean it, if you’re even the least bit triggered by anything I listed above, move on. I’m fairly well adjusted and even I had issues sometimes to be able to get through it. Like... shit is graphic, okay? Regardless of how good a book is, it’s never worth sacrificing your well being to read it.
YAY or NAY: YAY but plsssssss take the trigger warnings into account
Favourite quotes:
“I'm in love. And I like how that feels. And I hate how that feels. Because love is an invention of fiction writers.”
“I want the part of you that you refuse to give.”
“I do have friends, but they don't know me, only someone I've created to take my place. Someone sculpted from ice. I keep the melted me bottled up inside. Where no one can touch her, until, unbidden, she comes pouring out.”
★★★★★
To everyone who got this far, thank you for reading and have a wonderful day! Also, feel free to share your thoughts, comment or tell me anything :)
Buy it from the Book Depository :)
If you liked this stupid review, consider buying me a coffee because it keeps me warm :)
* WELL I’M NOT OKAY
* at all, jesus fucking christ
* it’s 100% better to go into this as blind as possible (aside from trigger warnings, that I’ll list below)
* it’s a novel written in verse, which is a format that I’ve never read before, but oh my gosh so cool?!!?
* it’s a lot more introspective than I’m used to, but it 100% works bless this
* THE PLOT TWIST FUCKING RUINED ME OKAY?!?
* I want to tell you all to go read this, but holy cow, this was probably the hardest book I’ve ever read in my entire goddamn life
* loved the writing, the characters, the vibe, the story telling - everything is just a big oh mY LORD
* everything was NUTS and a fucking roller coaster
* i am dEAD™
THE BAD:
* I legitimately don’t have anything bad to say
* HOWEVER
Special mentions: there are legitimately trigger warnings for everything in existence - sexual abuse, sexual assault, self harm, drug abuse, alcoholism, incest, suicide attempt, eating disorders (bulimia, binge/purge)
* guys, I mean it, if you’re even the least bit triggered by anything I listed above, move on. I’m fairly well adjusted and even I had issues sometimes to be able to get through it. Like... shit is graphic, okay? Regardless of how good a book is, it’s never worth sacrificing your well being to read it.
YAY or NAY: YAY but plsssssss take the trigger warnings into account
Favourite quotes:
“I'm in love. And I like how that feels. And I hate how that feels. Because love is an invention of fiction writers.”
“I want the part of you that you refuse to give.”
“I do have friends, but they don't know me, only someone I've created to take my place. Someone sculpted from ice. I keep the melted me bottled up inside. Where no one can touch her, until, unbidden, she comes pouring out.”
★★★★★
To everyone who got this far, thank you for reading and have a wonderful day! Also, feel free to share your thoughts, comment or tell me anything :)
Buy it from the Book Depository :)
If you liked this stupid review, consider buying me a coffee because it keeps me warm :)
August 12, 2017
2.5 stars
I doubt I'll ever cotton to the literary stylings of Ellen Hopkins (that faux-poetry thing drives me nuts; she's no Jacqueline Woodson, that's for damn sure) but I suspect Identical will strike a chord of truth for incest survivors and others who've grown up in exceedingly dysfuctional families like the one that identical twin sisters Kaeleigh and Raeanne endure here. About as subtle as unanesthetized oral surgery, and (for me, anyway) just as painful to endure.
I doubt I'll ever cotton to the literary stylings of Ellen Hopkins (that faux-poetry thing drives me nuts; she's no Jacqueline Woodson, that's for damn sure) but I suspect Identical will strike a chord of truth for incest survivors and others who've grown up in exceedingly dysfuctional families like the one that identical twin sisters Kaeleigh and Raeanne endure here. About as subtle as unanesthetized oral surgery, and (for me, anyway) just as painful to endure.
June 26, 2008
One family - damaged by tragedy. A father who drinks too much; an absentee, professionally-driven mother. Twin girls left in the middle.
Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical twins - each with their own deep, dark secret. One daughter attracts the inappropriate attention of their damaged father. The other daughter, usually ignored, takes part in riskier and riskier behavior just screaming to be heard. Both girls suffer in silence, living behind the facade of a perfect, all-American family.
Ellen Hopkins has written another gripping novel in verse that will leave you on the edge of your seat. If you are at all familiar with her work you know to expect the unexpected. Prepare for your jaw to drop when you reach the end of this gripping tale. You absolutely won’t believe your eyes.
Be aware - this is a graphic story. I have Crank in my middle school library, but I WOULD NOT have this one available to them. It is HEAVY!!
Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical twins - each with their own deep, dark secret. One daughter attracts the inappropriate attention of their damaged father. The other daughter, usually ignored, takes part in riskier and riskier behavior just screaming to be heard. Both girls suffer in silence, living behind the facade of a perfect, all-American family.
Ellen Hopkins has written another gripping novel in verse that will leave you on the edge of your seat. If you are at all familiar with her work you know to expect the unexpected. Prepare for your jaw to drop when you reach the end of this gripping tale. You absolutely won’t believe your eyes.
Be aware - this is a graphic story. I have Crank in my middle school library, but I WOULD NOT have this one available to them. It is HEAVY!!
October 26, 2008
Okay so, WOW. I was first introduced to the power of verse writing when I read I Heart You, You Haunt Me by Lisa Schroeder. I love the rawness, no fluffy descriptions or unneeded stances, just pure emotion. Laci is a huge fan of Ellen Hopkins and she had been trying to get me to read one of her books for a long time. And it isn’t that I didn’t want to, I was just waiting for the right opportunity. And when opportunity comes knockin, you best answer the door.
I read a lot of books. And ones that make a definite impression are few and far between. But I’m not always in the mood to read a book that makes an “impression” sometimes I just want a book that entertains me, makes me feel good. Identical falls in the former category with a few other books that continue to stay on my mind.
This book is engrossing, it’s disturbing, it’s disgusting, it’s addictive, it’s powerful and I loved it. I did have sneaking suspicion throughout the entire book and when it was finally revealed I still didn’t believe it. But, the less you know about that going in, the better. Now that I’ve read Identical, I know I won’t be able to stop, I’ll have to read Hopkins earlier titles and continue to read her new ones. And a fan is born.
I read a lot of books. And ones that make a definite impression are few and far between. But I’m not always in the mood to read a book that makes an “impression” sometimes I just want a book that entertains me, makes me feel good. Identical falls in the former category with a few other books that continue to stay on my mind.
This book is engrossing, it’s disturbing, it’s disgusting, it’s addictive, it’s powerful and I loved it. I did have sneaking suspicion throughout the entire book and when it was finally revealed I still didn’t believe it. But, the less you know about that going in, the better. Now that I’ve read Identical, I know I won’t be able to stop, I’ll have to read Hopkins earlier titles and continue to read her new ones. And a fan is born.
October 18, 2017
This story is so disturbing I'm almost appalled at myself for enjoying it this much. The writing is great though, and the story too actually. Awesome really. I thought I knew what I was reading, and then she flipped it. Quite brilliantly. I should have thought of it. I loved that I didn't. It's so lovely to be oblivious. No, really. I usually expect plot twists, and I mostly find it tiring if there are none. Just not with this genre. Probably because it's just light, bland, nothingness most of the time. At least IMO more often than not, it's time wasted.
And then this book comes along. Really, why is it that I automatically disregard contemporary fiction? I know... Because it doesn't interest me much. Because they're all the same.. Identical is more, though. It's teenage drama and family life, sure, but not just. And not just small ridiculous stuff, or a bunch of generic morals being pushed through either.
This novel offers more than mere ordinary or relatable issues. It probably won't make you feel, like you've experienced something similar, or know someone who has. It might not even make you feel all that emotional - except maybe more or less appalled - regardless of the devastating subject. Or, I wouldn't think so. At least I didn't love it for its ability to draw me in emotionally. I loved it as a whole, especially because it allows for a lot more grayscale than most.
Which I think, is what makes it stand out. That, and the fact that nothing gets sugarcoated, or gloss over. Also it's the definitely proof, that there's still lots of great stories, I've missed.
In fact, I might just have to go back to screening the contemporary genre a bit more thoroughly. Maybe even read the actual description rather than just skim a few lines. And acknowledge, that the genre is not all chick-lit, teenage romance and the likes. At least not if I'm more careful with my choices.
I've actually been wanting to read something by Ellen Hopkins for awhile. I can't recall why though, because if had I known what to expect, I wouldn't have left it for sometime in the future.
Obvious I'm happy with this book. It's one of a small number of books I've actually liked enough to go for the five star rating this year. *Sad face*
As for Ellen Hopkins. I'm definitely reading more of her books. Soon. Fortunately there is a lot of them.
In fact I went straight on to RUMBLE. Which I enjoyed less - Probably inevitable, because how would it compare to this one? And it's kind of impossible not to compare, when reading them back to back. So the next one will be as soon as I've read a few non-contemporaries.
And then this book comes along. Really, why is it that I automatically disregard contemporary fiction? I know... Because it doesn't interest me much. Because they're all the same.. Identical is more, though. It's teenage drama and family life, sure, but not just. And not just small ridiculous stuff, or a bunch of generic morals being pushed through either.
This novel offers more than mere ordinary or relatable issues. It probably won't make you feel, like you've experienced something similar, or know someone who has. It might not even make you feel all that emotional - except maybe more or less appalled - regardless of the devastating subject. Or, I wouldn't think so. At least I didn't love it for its ability to draw me in emotionally. I loved it as a whole, especially because it allows for a lot more grayscale than most.
Which I think, is what makes it stand out. That, and the fact that nothing gets sugarcoated, or gloss over. Also it's the definitely proof, that there's still lots of great stories, I've missed.
In fact, I might just have to go back to screening the contemporary genre a bit more thoroughly. Maybe even read the actual description rather than just skim a few lines. And acknowledge, that the genre is not all chick-lit, teenage romance and the likes. At least not if I'm more careful with my choices.
I've actually been wanting to read something by Ellen Hopkins for awhile. I can't recall why though, because if had I known what to expect, I wouldn't have left it for sometime in the future.
Obvious I'm happy with this book. It's one of a small number of books I've actually liked enough to go for the five star rating this year. *Sad face*
As for Ellen Hopkins. I'm definitely reading more of her books. Soon. Fortunately there is a lot of them.
In fact I went straight on to RUMBLE. Which I enjoyed less - Probably inevitable, because how would it compare to this one? And it's kind of impossible not to compare, when reading them back to back. So the next one will be as soon as I've read a few non-contemporaries.
March 8, 2016
Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical twins, mirror images of each other. They share a terrible secret.
Kaeleigh is the good girl--she does well in school and has a lead role in the school musical. Ian, her sort-of boyfriend, loves her deeply. Her father loves her too, but not the way a father should.
Raeanne knows about her father's visits to Kaeleigh's bed. While a part of her wants to protect Kaeleigh, another part of her feels jealous because her father didn't pick her. She breaks rules at every turn, skipping school, getting high, and having all kinds of sex.
The family was normal until the night of the accident, when their father, a judge, caused a fatal accident while driving drunk. Their mother responded by throwing herself into her political career and freezing out her family. Their parents are still married, but the marriage is in name only.
Their father, lonely and tortured by his own terrible secret, drinks to escape his demons. And he sexually abuses Kaeleigh.
I loved the format of the novel. The poems were beautifully written and the shapes, especially of the mirrored ones, made me slow down and savor the structure.
The treatment of Raeanne's drug use made me a bit uncomfortable, mostly because the negative aspects were downplayed. In Crank, which details a girl's downward spiral into addiction, her drug use is also graphic and descriptive, but the reader could clearly see the path of destruction.
I would have liked to have read more about Kaeleigh's relationship with her father and also about the events in his childhood that set him on the path of the abuser. Also, the twist at the end would have felt more authentic if it hadn't happened so close to the end of the book. I wanted to know more about what happened AFTER Kaeleigh faced the truth.
While this was not my favorite Hopkins novel, teen fans will not be able to put it down. It is chock full of issues and mature content. It's all here--sexual abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, cutting, mental illness, bad boys, and, like Pandora's box, a small taste of hope and love.
Kaeleigh is the good girl--she does well in school and has a lead role in the school musical. Ian, her sort-of boyfriend, loves her deeply. Her father loves her too, but not the way a father should.
Raeanne knows about her father's visits to Kaeleigh's bed. While a part of her wants to protect Kaeleigh, another part of her feels jealous because her father didn't pick her. She breaks rules at every turn, skipping school, getting high, and having all kinds of sex.
The family was normal until the night of the accident, when their father, a judge, caused a fatal accident while driving drunk. Their mother responded by throwing herself into her political career and freezing out her family. Their parents are still married, but the marriage is in name only.
Their father, lonely and tortured by his own terrible secret, drinks to escape his demons. And he sexually abuses Kaeleigh.
I loved the format of the novel. The poems were beautifully written and the shapes, especially of the mirrored ones, made me slow down and savor the structure.
The treatment of Raeanne's drug use made me a bit uncomfortable, mostly because the negative aspects were downplayed. In Crank, which details a girl's downward spiral into addiction, her drug use is also graphic and descriptive, but the reader could clearly see the path of destruction.
I would have liked to have read more about Kaeleigh's relationship with her father and also about the events in his childhood that set him on the path of the abuser. Also, the twist at the end would have felt more authentic if it hadn't happened so close to the end of the book. I wanted to know more about what happened AFTER Kaeleigh faced the truth.
While this was not my favorite Hopkins novel, teen fans will not be able to put it down. It is chock full of issues and mature content. It's all here--sexual abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, cutting, mental illness, bad boys, and, like Pandora's box, a small taste of hope and love.
June 14, 2014
(spoiler)
Honestly, I was a little surprised by this book. I'm used to her books being about drugs or sexual things, but this book was different. At the beginning you're introduced to these two twin sisters, Kaeleigh and Raeanne. You learn that their father sexually abuses Kaeleigh and Raeanne secretly wants it.
Then you LATER learn, Kaeleigh's mother never forgave their father for the car accident he caused in which Raeanna died & the mother was injured. The mother, Kay, then ran for Congress woman and was never home, which made the fater, Ray, in charge of everything. The daughters both had their major problems: drugs, sex, alcohol, etc. and they both had a hard time loving someone else after what their father did to them.
The sad part is, at the end of the book, or near the end of the book I should say, you learn that Raeanna actually died in the car accident caused by Ray and Kaeleigh had multiple identities, living through herself and her twin sister.
It was a really confusing book and makes me wonder where Ellen Hopkins gets her ideas, you know? I was a little disappointed, but it was an okay book, it kept me reading. Ellen could have done a lot better though.
Honestly, I was a little surprised by this book. I'm used to her books being about drugs or sexual things, but this book was different. At the beginning you're introduced to these two twin sisters, Kaeleigh and Raeanne. You learn that their father sexually abuses Kaeleigh and Raeanne secretly wants it.
Then you LATER learn, Kaeleigh's mother never forgave their father for the car accident he caused in which Raeanna died & the mother was injured. The mother, Kay, then ran for Congress woman and was never home, which made the fater, Ray, in charge of everything. The daughters both had their major problems: drugs, sex, alcohol, etc. and they both had a hard time loving someone else after what their father did to them.
The sad part is, at the end of the book, or near the end of the book I should say, you learn that Raeanna actually died in the car accident caused by Ray and Kaeleigh had multiple identities, living through herself and her twin sister.
It was a really confusing book and makes me wonder where Ellen Hopkins gets her ideas, you know? I was a little disappointed, but it was an okay book, it kept me reading. Ellen could have done a lot better though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2008
This is one of those really hard books to review, because it's difficult to say if I really enjoyed it. It deals with twin sisters, one who is sexually abused by their father for years and the other who watches it from her bed.
It's a story dealing with sexual abuse, mental illness, drug abuse, alcoholism, eating disorders and promiscuity in teenagers, and at times it was really horrifying and difficult to read. But, Ellen Hopkins is really excellent at pulling you through the tough spots with some kind of glimmer of hope that things might turn out alright in the end.
At first I hated the sheer number of names Hopkins dumps on the reader right at the beginning--the book is separated into chunks (basically, chapters, but Hopkins doesn't really ever use chapters in her novels) told from the perspective of each twin, with a neat mirror effect with the poetry every time the perspective swaps. There's a lot of names, though, and at first I had a tough time keeping it all straight. By the end it was definitely worth it.
I was bugged by some of the details, like the fact the sisters never really interact with each other even though they see each other. Luckily, this is resolved in the end in a way I was expecting about halfway through but was still surprised to see her pull off.
It definitely kept me reading, despite some of the rougher points. On sheer craft, plot and character I'd probably have rated this 5-stars, but I certainly can't claim to have loved this. "Liked it" is the closest I can get--I'm glad I read it, but it's really hard for me to really say how much I enjoyed it.
It's a story dealing with sexual abuse, mental illness, drug abuse, alcoholism, eating disorders and promiscuity in teenagers, and at times it was really horrifying and difficult to read. But, Ellen Hopkins is really excellent at pulling you through the tough spots with some kind of glimmer of hope that things might turn out alright in the end.
At first I hated the sheer number of names Hopkins dumps on the reader right at the beginning--the book is separated into chunks (basically, chapters, but Hopkins doesn't really ever use chapters in her novels) told from the perspective of each twin, with a neat mirror effect with the poetry every time the perspective swaps. There's a lot of names, though, and at first I had a tough time keeping it all straight. By the end it was definitely worth it.
I was bugged by some of the details, like the fact the sisters never really interact with each other even though they see each other. Luckily, this is resolved in the end in a way I was expecting about halfway through but was still surprised to see her pull off.
It definitely kept me reading, despite some of the rougher points. On sheer craft, plot and character I'd probably have rated this 5-stars, but I certainly can't claim to have loved this. "Liked it" is the closest I can get--I'm glad I read it, but it's really hard for me to really say how much I enjoyed it.
January 27, 2013
Actual Rating: 1 and a half stars
I was kind and rounded up.
I finished this book last night and I'm still not entirely certain what I want to say about it or how I want to rate it. I wanted to sleep on it, mull it over - I'm still at a loss. So, I'm just going to start writing and hope that whatever spills out gives me an appropriate star rating.
What the back of the book says: "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. But behind the facade, each sister has her own dark secret."
First of all, during the entire book, I couldn't remember the girls' names, so I was calling them Twin 1 and Twin 2. I'm probably just going to continue that into the review, because that'll let me have more of a stream of consciousness, try to get this all out.
Twin 1 is being raped by Daddy, and Twin 2 wants to be raped by Daddy. I almost had to stop reading on page 25.
I threw the book against the wall at that point and walked away. I was pissed, and honestly, I still am. That was a clue that perhaps this book was written for the shock value, and not entirely for tackling the issue. I know it's a hard issue to tackle, but I've read books with similar subject matters and none of them have left me with a book on the other side of the room and twitching. Shock value is not synonymous with tackling difficult issues. One of the reviews I read on Goodreads, that I can't find at the moment - if you find it, let me know and I'll link to it - called this book "trauma porn." At this point I am inclined to agree.
Thank Gods after that point the I want to fuck Daddy, erotic language was largely dropped, because that's what made it seem like Hopkins was just trying to get a rise out of us. There were definitely other scenes that I felt were written for their shock, rather than their value, but nothing that got such a disgusted reaction from me.
Twin 1 is the "weak" twin, who can't say no, is the lead in the school play (Grease). Twin 2 is the "strong" twin, getting stoned daily, sleeping around with her dealers. Both twins have eating disorders of various types, and deal with their pain in less-than-healthy ways. Mom is always away, she's running for Congress, only returning for photo-ops. Daddy's a judge and he's also an alcoholic, control freak.
It was almost a 600 page book, and I had the big twist figured out in the first 150 or so. I think if I hadn't figured it out, I would have stopped reading. It made some of the shock value stuff seem less out-and-out shock value. I'd explain why, but if you still plan to read this, or are reading it and haven't figured out the big twist, I won't give it away for you.
I think that Ellen Hopkins is an incredibly talented author, I actually enjoyed the prose - and I am not a poetry person, not even a little. What soured this book for me is that I didn't think she was actually tackling the big issue, I think she was writing to get a rise. And she got one, but not in a good way.
I think that I'd be interested to read Crank, because that was based on her daughter, so it will probably be less shock-value and more actual value.
I was kind and rounded up.
I finished this book last night and I'm still not entirely certain what I want to say about it or how I want to rate it. I wanted to sleep on it, mull it over - I'm still at a loss. So, I'm just going to start writing and hope that whatever spills out gives me an appropriate star rating.
What the back of the book says: "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. But behind the facade, each sister has her own dark secret."
First of all, during the entire book, I couldn't remember the girls' names, so I was calling them Twin 1 and Twin 2. I'm probably just going to continue that into the review, because that'll let me have more of a stream of consciousness, try to get this all out.
Twin 1 is being raped by Daddy, and Twin 2 wants to be raped by Daddy. I almost had to stop reading on page 25.
"...And if Daddy would just stand
still for me, I'd happily tap his core."
I threw the book against the wall at that point and walked away. I was pissed, and honestly, I still am. That was a clue that perhaps this book was written for the shock value, and not entirely for tackling the issue. I know it's a hard issue to tackle, but I've read books with similar subject matters and none of them have left me with a book on the other side of the room and twitching. Shock value is not synonymous with tackling difficult issues. One of the reviews I read on Goodreads, that I can't find at the moment - if you find it, let me know and I'll link to it - called this book "trauma porn." At this point I am inclined to agree.
Thank Gods after that point the I want to fuck Daddy, erotic language was largely dropped, because that's what made it seem like Hopkins was just trying to get a rise out of us. There were definitely other scenes that I felt were written for their shock, rather than their value, but nothing that got such a disgusted reaction from me.
Twin 1 is the "weak" twin, who can't say no, is the lead in the school play (Grease). Twin 2 is the "strong" twin, getting stoned daily, sleeping around with her dealers. Both twins have eating disorders of various types, and deal with their pain in less-than-healthy ways. Mom is always away, she's running for Congress, only returning for photo-ops. Daddy's a judge and he's also an alcoholic, control freak.
It was almost a 600 page book, and I had the big twist figured out in the first 150 or so. I think if I hadn't figured it out, I would have stopped reading. It made some of the shock value stuff seem less out-and-out shock value. I'd explain why, but if you still plan to read this, or are reading it and haven't figured out the big twist, I won't give it away for you.
I think that Ellen Hopkins is an incredibly talented author, I actually enjoyed the prose - and I am not a poetry person, not even a little. What soured this book for me is that I didn't think she was actually tackling the big issue, I think she was writing to get a rise. And she got one, but not in a good way.
I think that I'd be interested to read Crank, because that was based on her daughter, so it will probably be less shock-value and more actual value.
June 20, 2020
''Identical' by Ellen Hopkins tackles a very difficult subject. A father decides his nine-year-old daughter will be great to have sex with whenever he wants sex. So, eight years after the abuse started, Kaeleigh is still the perfect daughter to him. She never says no to him. In fact, she apologizes to him. A lot. He reminds her she has to be clean and neat at all times. Sometimes she isn't. He must know where she is at all times. He demands respect. After all, he's a district court judge.
Where is Kaeleigh's mother? She is in Washington, D.C. - a long way from the California valley where Kaeleigh and her father live. She is a congresswoman. At the moment, she is running for re-election. But either way, when in California for a visit or gone for months, she no longer cares about Kaeleigh. She hasn't since the car accident. Kaeleigh's daddy is an alcoholic and was driving drunk with his wife and twin girls, Kaeleigh and Raeanne. It was a terrible accident. Nothing was ever the same. But publicly? They are a happy family.
Raeanne and Kaeleigh know the family is a dysfunctional mess. But neither can see a way out except for one way. Kaeleigh is a good student and works at a nursing home after school, but she gets high on marijuana to do it. Raeanne trades sex for drugs. Both drink too.
It's ok, it seems to work. It stops the emotional pain, plus it is so much fun. They both know love is fake, love doesn't exist, so in not caring about love, they don't need it. They are both cool, doing well. Daddy takes care of them, and Kaeleigh takes care of daddy. Raeanne is jealous, but she is having sex with a lot of older guys in trade for drugs. It is working. But why can't daddy love her like Kaeleigh? Oh well, she has a lot more men wanting her.
Hopkins writes a powerful story about child abuse in an upper-class family. The novel is written entirely in first-person free verse. The twins' internal dialogues and worries are very common to every teenager, although they are also warped and bent by the sex abuse. The intensity is extreme. A good outcome is not a sure bet. The sexual abuse leads to a lot of mental instability. Kaeleigh and Raeanne do things progressively more harsh to punish themselves. The punishment helps them stay in control to appear normal. Despite how the two girls are becoming more involved in drugs and other measures in attempts to distract from their downward spiral of despair, neither people or friends at school have any idea about what is happening. There are two big secrets I haven't revealed about Kaeleigh, but some readers guess these secrets before the end.
Nonetheless, I think the book an excellent choice for young adults and mature teens to read. It shows so much of what really happens and the how and why victims of sexual abuse almost never go public. However, I think if a reader is a mature teen or close to being a mature young adult, especially sensitive or abused teens, they should have a responsible smart non-abusive kind adult available for guidance in reading this book, or to be there as a listener for younger readers to vent.
It is terribly upsetting for adult people who know how often sex abuse happens unpunished, but exponentially worse for younger people inexperienced in how life works sometimes. It is a good thing that for some victims professional psychiatric help is available. Sometimes ordinary people can render temporary help until the professionals are available (or asked) to do something. But the first step is for people to learn what are the signs of abuse and what to expect if one decides to take any steps. The victim might not let you help her at all! So, gentle reader, news flash! life is complicated. This novel gives much insight to many of the issues surrounding the problem.
Where is Kaeleigh's mother? She is in Washington, D.C. - a long way from the California valley where Kaeleigh and her father live. She is a congresswoman. At the moment, she is running for re-election. But either way, when in California for a visit or gone for months, she no longer cares about Kaeleigh. She hasn't since the car accident. Kaeleigh's daddy is an alcoholic and was driving drunk with his wife and twin girls, Kaeleigh and Raeanne. It was a terrible accident. Nothing was ever the same. But publicly? They are a happy family.
Raeanne and Kaeleigh know the family is a dysfunctional mess. But neither can see a way out except for one way. Kaeleigh is a good student and works at a nursing home after school, but she gets high on marijuana to do it. Raeanne trades sex for drugs. Both drink too.
It's ok, it seems to work. It stops the emotional pain, plus it is so much fun. They both know love is fake, love doesn't exist, so in not caring about love, they don't need it. They are both cool, doing well. Daddy takes care of them, and Kaeleigh takes care of daddy. Raeanne is jealous, but she is having sex with a lot of older guys in trade for drugs. It is working. But why can't daddy love her like Kaeleigh? Oh well, she has a lot more men wanting her.
Hopkins writes a powerful story about child abuse in an upper-class family. The novel is written entirely in first-person free verse. The twins' internal dialogues and worries are very common to every teenager, although they are also warped and bent by the sex abuse. The intensity is extreme. A good outcome is not a sure bet. The sexual abuse leads to a lot of mental instability. Kaeleigh and Raeanne do things progressively more harsh to punish themselves. The punishment helps them stay in control to appear normal. Despite how the two girls are becoming more involved in drugs and other measures in attempts to distract from their downward spiral of despair, neither people or friends at school have any idea about what is happening. There are two big secrets I haven't revealed about Kaeleigh, but some readers guess these secrets before the end.
Nonetheless, I think the book an excellent choice for young adults and mature teens to read. It shows so much of what really happens and the how and why victims of sexual abuse almost never go public. However, I think if a reader is a mature teen or close to being a mature young adult, especially sensitive or abused teens, they should have a responsible smart non-abusive kind adult available for guidance in reading this book, or to be there as a listener for younger readers to vent.
It is terribly upsetting for adult people who know how often sex abuse happens unpunished, but exponentially worse for younger people inexperienced in how life works sometimes. It is a good thing that for some victims professional psychiatric help is available. Sometimes ordinary people can render temporary help until the professionals are available (or asked) to do something. But the first step is for people to learn what are the signs of abuse and what to expect if one decides to take any steps. The victim might not let you help her at all! So, gentle reader, news flash! life is complicated. This novel gives much insight to many of the issues surrounding the problem.
December 31, 2013
For the last several days since I finished Identical, I, A. have been trying to think of how best to review this first Ellen Hopkins read for me, and B. I keep finding myself thinking about Kaleigh and Raeanne and their stories. Oh, and I guess a C....Well, I've already ordered two more of Hopkins' books, and bought two at Half-Price Books. :)
Having never read Ellen Hopkins, nor a book written in poetry form, I was skeptical if I would like the style or not. My friend Janie recently read Identical and thought I would like it, and her review really made me want to check this out for myself. I found the book used, and was really excited to get it. When I finally did receive it in the mail, I finished up my current read at the time, and moved this up on my reading list. I am so glad I did that.....
What a powerful (not necessarily in the way you might think), emotional, crazy, unbelievable story. I have never read anything quite like this before, and it was extremely refreshing.
Now, even though I said I've never read anything quite like Identical, I have read books about drug use, promiscuous sex, alcohol abuse, and the like. And to be honest, they are usually some of the best books I've read and my favorites. I don't know why and am unsure of what that says about me. It sounds bad to say, almost, because I find it fascinating, intriguing, and I even like the heart-breaking things to some extent. I like rooting for these characters you wouldn't root for in real life. I love feeling SOMETHING.
Ellen Hopkins and Identical made me feel A LOT. I love when an author can do this to me. I kept wanting certain things to happen I wouldn't have wanted my own daughter, of which I don't have kids, doing. To me, that is part of what makes this book so good.
What also made this book so good is the fact, in the beginning, I had a slight suspicion of what was really going on. But, Hopkins really took that idea away from me and made me abandon it. Then, when I found out what was really going on, I couldn't believe I didn't see it coming sooner. My original idea was wrong for the most part, and I like that I was wrong.
Oh, and do I even need to say there is some F&@%!* UP!!!!, crazy stuff in this story. I'm sorry to use language like that, but this is serious. I had suspected a part of what was going on . But when Raeanne says, . OMG. OMG. I had to walk away from the book for a moment.
And even though I had to walk away, I still had to know what was going on. To me, that is so important to me about writing, but also, it's what I love and why I read.
Ellen Hopkins is surely not an author to miss. I don't think many people can handle her books (well, I've only read this one, but they follow the same type of destructive lives), so I definitely say proceed with caution. All in all, a fantastic, refreshing read, and I am really, really looking forward to reading the rest of her work.
Having never read Ellen Hopkins, nor a book written in poetry form, I was skeptical if I would like the style or not. My friend Janie recently read Identical and thought I would like it, and her review really made me want to check this out for myself. I found the book used, and was really excited to get it. When I finally did receive it in the mail, I finished up my current read at the time, and moved this up on my reading list. I am so glad I did that.....
What a powerful (not necessarily in the way you might think), emotional, crazy, unbelievable story. I have never read anything quite like this before, and it was extremely refreshing.
Now, even though I said I've never read anything quite like Identical, I have read books about drug use, promiscuous sex, alcohol abuse, and the like. And to be honest, they are usually some of the best books I've read and my favorites. I don't know why and am unsure of what that says about me. It sounds bad to say, almost, because I find it fascinating, intriguing, and I even like the heart-breaking things to some extent. I like rooting for these characters you wouldn't root for in real life. I love feeling SOMETHING.
Ellen Hopkins and Identical made me feel A LOT. I love when an author can do this to me. I kept wanting certain things to happen I wouldn't have wanted my own daughter, of which I don't have kids, doing. To me, that is part of what makes this book so good.
What also made this book so good is the fact, in the beginning, I had a slight suspicion of what was really going on. But, Hopkins really took that idea away from me and made me abandon it. Then, when I found out what was really going on, I couldn't believe I didn't see it coming sooner. My original idea was wrong for the most part, and I like that I was wrong.
Oh, and do I even need to say there is some F&@%!* UP!!!!, crazy stuff in this story. I'm sorry to use language like that, but this is serious. I had suspected a part of what was going on . But when Raeanne says, . OMG. OMG. I had to walk away from the book for a moment.
And even though I had to walk away, I still had to know what was going on. To me, that is so important to me about writing, but also, it's what I love and why I read.
Ellen Hopkins is surely not an author to miss. I don't think many people can handle her books (well, I've only read this one, but they follow the same type of destructive lives), so I definitely say proceed with caution. All in all, a fantastic, refreshing read, and I am really, really looking forward to reading the rest of her work.
March 5, 2013
Let me start by saying that when I read a book, I am usually certain about whether or not I liked it. However, that is not the case with this book. "Identical" is the first book I have read by Ellen Hopkins, and I'm very unsure what to think, or if I want to read any of her other books.
I have never particularly enjoyed verse writing, so when this book arrived and I saw that it was ALL in verse, I considered just leaving it in a corner to collect dust. BUT! Yes, there's a "but". After reading a couple reviews on here, I decided to give it a shot. I can say that I'm glad I did.
Now I know since you're reading this, you have probably heard all about the book from the summary and all the other reviews. So I won't talk about that at all. There are a couple things I would like to say though.
1) People who say this book is too disturbing: Don't listen. I'm a young reader, and I PROMISE you it did not corrupt me in any way. If not the best book in the world, the story is one that teaches us a lot about ourselves. Though I myself don't do drugs or go around sleeping with every guy I meet (let out that breath you've been holding), I find that the emotions are very easy to relate to.
2) *SPOILER HERE (kinda)*: I wish that Kaeleigh had told Ian about her father, or at least that he had found out some other way.
3) *REAL SPOILER*: I was SO shocked when I found out that Raeanne was dead. At the end, Kaeleigh feels more in control. However, I just felt hopeless from the perspective of a reader. Sure, Kaeleigh learns to stand up for herself. But come on. She lost her sister, her twin sister, her strongest link. The fact that I'm frustrated probably means that Ellen Hopkins did her job though.
So should you read this book? Sure. Give it a go. If you're like me and can't abandon a book, you'll be fine. It's a quickie. But don't expect something amazing. And the "disgusting" parts... embrace them for their part in the story. It's life, and there is no use hiding from it. I commend Hopkins for being brave enough to express this issue as it is. If people have a problem with it, then they can read a whole lot of other books out there.
May 9, 2021
3 stars for the odd book 'Identical', by Ellen Hopkins.
TW: This book contains numerous possible trigger warnings as it handles/includes various unfortunate events.
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Okay, so when I was reading this I don't think that I was in the correct headspace to be doing so. I have exams coming up, school is picking up a lot, and I have a ton of family stuff going on. Therefore, I think I was reading this....blindly? It wasn't anything incredible and I found a lot of plot holes in it, but it was entertaining for the time being. I don't remember much from it already. I think I was just so busy last week that I couldn't put any of my focus on this whatsoever. Take that as you will.
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The only thing I will be talking about in this book is the ending (since it's the main thing that bothered me/the only thing I can truly remember). So, in the ending Kaleigh found out that she has been living with/as DID (dissociative identity disorder). The brain creates separate personas (sometimes related to the person) to protect the brain from typically childhood trauma. This was Kaleigh's response to her sister dying in a car crash caused by her dad (which in turn caused the downward spiral of her entire family's life). Her one and only DID was her dead sister, Reanne. She came out when Kaleigh needed to escape or protection, mostly from her dad.
I was cOMPLETELY caught off guard by this, throughout the entire book it was so evident that we were getting two different people that I was just so shocked. But, technically we were getting two different people. The shock wore off quickly, again my mind was elsewhere that entire week of reading. I was very confused when Ian came to see Kaleigh at Ty's house, the writing made it so confusing. But, I guess that makes sense because we were reading from KAliegh's POV and she must have been even more confused than me!
Although it was an interesting turn, I just feel like there were either too many plotholes or everything wasn't explained in detail enough. I lost on how she could have gotten away with being two completely different people at school (switching from time to time), without gaining more of a reaction or notice from people. The only person who caught on was Ian (oh and what a saint he is!). How did not a SINGLE other person notice her switching from person to person, they were so blatantly different?!?!!? Is it because Reanne only hung out with people not in high school? But, didn't Reanne go to school some days too, not just Kaleigh? How did her dad not notice at all when he was constantly watching her?
These questions RAMMED into me after finishing it, I guess it just kind of didn't make sense. I needed more from the book, more insight, more resolution, more of an explanation I guess.
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So, overall, it was mildly entertaining for the time being. It handled difficult topics that aren't spoken upon much as they can people uncomfortable. It had many plotholes/places for more explanation which threw off the book for me.
TW: This book contains numerous possible trigger warnings as it handles/includes various unfortunate events.
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Okay, so when I was reading this I don't think that I was in the correct headspace to be doing so. I have exams coming up, school is picking up a lot, and I have a ton of family stuff going on. Therefore, I think I was reading this....blindly? It wasn't anything incredible and I found a lot of plot holes in it, but it was entertaining for the time being. I don't remember much from it already. I think I was just so busy last week that I couldn't put any of my focus on this whatsoever. Take that as you will.
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The only thing I will be talking about in this book is the ending (since it's the main thing that bothered me/the only thing I can truly remember). So, in the ending Kaleigh found out that she has been living with/as DID (dissociative identity disorder). The brain creates separate personas (sometimes related to the person) to protect the brain from typically childhood trauma. This was Kaleigh's response to her sister dying in a car crash caused by her dad (which in turn caused the downward spiral of her entire family's life). Her one and only DID was her dead sister, Reanne. She came out when Kaleigh needed to escape or protection, mostly from her dad.
I was cOMPLETELY caught off guard by this, throughout the entire book it was so evident that we were getting two different people that I was just so shocked. But, technically we were getting two different people. The shock wore off quickly, again my mind was elsewhere that entire week of reading. I was very confused when Ian came to see Kaleigh at Ty's house, the writing made it so confusing. But, I guess that makes sense because we were reading from KAliegh's POV and she must have been even more confused than me!
Although it was an interesting turn, I just feel like there were either too many plotholes or everything wasn't explained in detail enough. I lost on how she could have gotten away with being two completely different people at school (switching from time to time), without gaining more of a reaction or notice from people. The only person who caught on was Ian (oh and what a saint he is!). How did not a SINGLE other person notice her switching from person to person, they were so blatantly different?!?!!? Is it because Reanne only hung out with people not in high school? But, didn't Reanne go to school some days too, not just Kaleigh? How did her dad not notice at all when he was constantly watching her?
These questions RAMMED into me after finishing it, I guess it just kind of didn't make sense. I needed more from the book, more insight, more resolution, more of an explanation I guess.
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So, overall, it was mildly entertaining for the time being. It handled difficult topics that aren't spoken upon much as they can people uncomfortable. It had many plotholes/places for more explanation which threw off the book for me.
July 11, 2016
My second book club read couldn't have been further from the first in tone and quality. Hopkins throws every teenage problem at the wall and hopes something sticks: drugs, alcohol, child abuse, Dark Family Secrets, a work-obsessed parent, a sweet elderly confessor, divorce, love, lust, death, sex, rape, pills, teacher crushes, drinking and driving, cat fights, boys, cutting, binging and purging, suicide, schizophrenia... This book is a mess. I realized the "twist" within the first few pages. In fact, I thought we were supposed to understand part of it from the first page, but only realized after about ten pages that we weren't supposed to know one part of it from the beginning. For the rest of the book, I chuckled as Hopkins (very) awkwardly structured the verse monologues around the glaringly obvious "twist," not believing that anyone could read this entire book and be shocked by the ending. I laughed out loud for most of the first half of book, but soon grew bored as the drama dragged on and Hopkins piled hysteria upon hysteria.
To make matters worse, Hopkins writes like an adult trying to relate to a kid from the 1970s. (The outdated drug slang was hilarious, sounding like the dialogue of kids in old after school specials discussing drugs. Click HERE for an example of what it was like reading this book...) The pills and Wild Turkey episode was the closest literary equivalent to Tommy Wiseau's The Room I've ever seen. But unlike that infinitely watchable movie that's "so bad it's good," this stinker of a book was just dreadful.
I realize I'm not the audience for this book. I'm sure some teenage girls who think they identify with this dreck are probably blown away by the typography because they've never encountered concrete poetry. (It's written as poetry! And the poems are shaped like the objects being discussed!) It's too bad their introduction to this style of free verse comes with some embarrassingly bad content. I'm not saying teens should be reading Apollinaire (although it wouldn't hurt!), but I'd almost rather that kids didn't read than to read this type of soapy kitsch. Ultimately, Hopkins' book is not a serious, realistic, or educational way to discuss any of the topics she juggles in such a ham-handed way, despite the half-hearted reference to the Jungian shadow at the end. It's purely (and cynically, perhaps) cheap teensploitation.
To make matters worse, Hopkins writes like an adult trying to relate to a kid from the 1970s. (The outdated drug slang was hilarious, sounding like the dialogue of kids in old after school specials discussing drugs. Click HERE for an example of what it was like reading this book...) The pills and Wild Turkey episode was the closest literary equivalent to Tommy Wiseau's The Room I've ever seen. But unlike that infinitely watchable movie that's "so bad it's good," this stinker of a book was just dreadful.
I realize I'm not the audience for this book. I'm sure some teenage girls who think they identify with this dreck are probably blown away by the typography because they've never encountered concrete poetry. (It's written as poetry! And the poems are shaped like the objects being discussed!) It's too bad their introduction to this style of free verse comes with some embarrassingly bad content. I'm not saying teens should be reading Apollinaire (although it wouldn't hurt!), but I'd almost rather that kids didn't read than to read this type of soapy kitsch. Ultimately, Hopkins' book is not a serious, realistic, or educational way to discuss any of the topics she juggles in such a ham-handed way, despite the half-hearted reference to the Jungian shadow at the end. It's purely (and cynically, perhaps) cheap teensploitation.
October 6, 2018
This book was okay. It was fine. It was medium. Hopkins is notorious for luring her readers into dark, sensitive territories through poetic POVs of initially innocent, good-natured young women. I didn’t particularly care for this one, though. Identical seemed to go for shock value rather than any sort of complexity, so all of the characters felt highly generic regardless of the horrible abuse they suffered (and there is A LOT). Nothing ever went further than superficial. There is “cutting to feel pain” and “throwing up because it’s the only thing I can control” and all other cliche explanations for serious mental health disorders. As someone who has struggled with poor mental health since adolescence, I can assure you I never once had any idea why I was self-harming every night before bed. In fact, I remember listening to songs about the “I cut to feel” cliche on the school bus in 9th grade (the emo phase was big at the time, and while I was in no way an “emo” or “scene” kid, that didn’t stop me from enjoying some classic My Chemical Romance) and feeling even more isolated before I couldn’t identify with it at all. Mental health deserves better than generic, Hopkins.
However, I do want to look at a small piece of Hopkins’s prose that I find highly relevant to the political world this week:
“I didn’t want him to go to prison.
He probably would have pulled
strings to avoid it, anyway. I didn’t
want to see him locked up. But
more, I didn’t want to testify.”
Because testifying would mean reliving it. Reliving it in front of an audience. Reliving it in front of the world. Reliving it in front of him. And you don’t get to just relive it.
No.
Now you get to relive the soul-shattering agony tear you apart stitch by stitch under a spotlight of eyes that scream,
It’s been decades...
and,
Move on...
and, often with fatal results,
We don’t believe you...
However, I do want to look at a small piece of Hopkins’s prose that I find highly relevant to the political world this week:
“I didn’t want him to go to prison.
He probably would have pulled
strings to avoid it, anyway. I didn’t
want to see him locked up. But
more, I didn’t want to testify.”
Because testifying would mean reliving it. Reliving it in front of an audience. Reliving it in front of the world. Reliving it in front of him. And you don’t get to just relive it.
No.
Now you get to relive the soul-shattering agony tear you apart stitch by stitch under a spotlight of eyes that scream,
It’s been decades...
and,
Move on...
and, often with fatal results,
We don’t believe you...
May 9, 2019
This story is about two identical twins, Kaeleigh and Raeanne. Kaeleigh is being abused by her father and Raeanne is jealous of the attention she gets. It's messed up! The book goes through how each twin deals with the abuse and the additional problems that arise because of it.
It is hard for me to give a book about abuse 5 stars - I know, I know, the subject matter shouldn't really influence me like that especially since I chose to read it. This book was so well written though! Each twin's character is well developed and unique. The story is horrifically messed up; I kept cringing through each chapter. And just things were building and I thought I knew what was going to happen, the author completely blew me away with a twist. It was amazing! So even though I really didn't like what happens in the story, I can't deny that it was an amazing book and deserves 5 stars.
It is hard for me to give a book about abuse 5 stars - I know, I know, the subject matter shouldn't really influence me like that especially since I chose to read it. This book was so well written though! Each twin's character is well developed and unique. The story is horrifically messed up; I kept cringing through each chapter. And just things were building and I thought I knew what was going to happen, the author completely blew me away with a twist. It was amazing! So even though I really didn't like what happens in the story, I can't deny that it was an amazing book and deserves 5 stars.
August 2, 2016
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
Kaleigh and Raeanne are identical twins, each with their own dark secret. Their mother is running in the upcoming election and their Daddy is a district-court judge. Kaeleigh is the focus of her Daddy's affection and Raenne craves the love she never received. Raeanne quickly turns to drugs, sex and alcohol to try and fill the void her parents created. With each sister spiralling out of control, they need to save each other, before it's too late.
Wow... This book blew me away. This book is so twisted and dark, it had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I had my theory on how the book would end, I ended up being correct, but honestly I thought it was so far fetched and didn't think that it would actually happen, but I'm so glad Hopkins decided to end it the way she did! I love the alternating perspectives between the two twins. This is my first Ellen Hopkins book and I can not wait to read more of her work!!!
Kaleigh and Raeanne are identical twins, each with their own dark secret. Their mother is running in the upcoming election and their Daddy is a district-court judge. Kaeleigh is the focus of her Daddy's affection and Raenne craves the love she never received. Raeanne quickly turns to drugs, sex and alcohol to try and fill the void her parents created. With each sister spiralling out of control, they need to save each other, before it's too late.
Wow... This book blew me away. This book is so twisted and dark, it had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I had my theory on how the book would end, I ended up being correct, but honestly I thought it was so far fetched and didn't think that it would actually happen, but I'm so glad Hopkins decided to end it the way she did! I love the alternating perspectives between the two twins. This is my first Ellen Hopkins book and I can not wait to read more of her work!!!
October 23, 2015
As I opened up this book and looked at the writing I was like.. What the hell is this? It's a 565 pages of poems? This is gonna be weird and confusing.
HOW WRONG WAS I!!!!!!!
I started flipping through the pages as fast as I could cause I must and needed to know how it ends. After page 3 I barely noticed it was in poem form and in the middle of the book I realized this author is a genius. Not only for how unique this book is but her writing style is highly addicting. **claps loudly for author**
This book is messed up. Like you will be traumatized. And somehow I could not stop reading. Many times I cringed and said OMG NO as I quickly kept turning the pages!
And the ending! OM-EFFING-G Brillant!!!!
HOW WRONG WAS I!!!!!!!
I started flipping through the pages as fast as I could cause I must and needed to know how it ends. After page 3 I barely noticed it was in poem form and in the middle of the book I realized this author is a genius. Not only for how unique this book is but her writing style is highly addicting. **claps loudly for author**
This book is messed up. Like you will be traumatized. And somehow I could not stop reading. Many times I cringed and said OMG NO as I quickly kept turning the pages!
And the ending! OM-EFFING-G Brillant!!!!
December 27, 2020
Whew! Though I cringed a lot while reading this book, Ellen’s style of writing made the narration more.. realistic? I liked how well the thoughts were conveyed. The book is disturbing but sadly these disturbing things do occur daily. Looking at the abuse from the victim’s point of view was new to me. I did see some reviews that the author went too far. That Raeanne wanting her father’s touch was too far. But maybe she just wants any form of attention as there is a severe lack of love from her parents? Well, you can’t blame how a child thinks around the years of abuse.
Total time spent: 5h 36min.
Total time spent: 5h 36min.
June 4, 2024
TW: Child sexual assult, Rape by a parent, Cutting, Suicide, ED, Addiction
"Everyone here has parents. Maybe not together parents, and maybe some are substitute parents. Butno one has parents like mine. I'm a complete freak, and so alone."
این کتاب وحشتناک بود...
به عنوان کتاب YA انتظار داشتم یه مرزی از دارک بودن رو رد نکنه ولی با اینکه هیچ صحنهایش جوری توصیف نشده بود که مرز سنی رو رد کنه...وحشتناک دردناک بود.
من یه آدمیم که تقریبا هیچ تریگری ندارم و هیچوقت با در نظر گرفتن تریگرهای یه کتاب انتخاب نمیکنم بخونمش یا نه ولی این کتاب حتی برای منم زیادی بود.
یه جایی اینقدر سنگین شد و روی سلامت روانیم تاثیر داشت که بستمش و یه ماه بعد اومدم سراغش.
تکتک صفحههای این کتاب درد بود. دردی که یه دختر بچه طی سالها کشیده بود و هیچکس ندیده بود. دردی که تنهایی و تو سکوت کشیده بود و اینقدر راهی برای کمک پیدا کردن نداشت، تکتک راهای خطرناک رو برای فرار ازش رفته بود.
"Did he not see Kaeleigh, screaming for help, the only way she could-wordlessly, helplessly, no one to hear?"
چون آدمی که داشت بدترین کارا رو باهاش میکرد، آدمی بود که اولین وظیفهش توی دنیا محافظت ازش بود.
دو نفری که مسئولیت مراقبت و محافظت ازشو داشتن، دو نفری که باید امنترین خونه رو براش میساختن، یکیشون به بدنش و روح و روانش تجاوز میکرد و اونیکی نبود که ببینه و اگرم بود چشماشو روش میبست.
هیچوقت توی زندگیم اینقدر دلم نخواسته بود برم توی یه کتابی و یه شخصیتی رو نجات بدم. شاید غمگینترین بخش این بود که من ایمیلهایی که الن هاپکینز داشته رو خوندم و دیدم چقدر آدم توی دنیای واقعی دقیقا همین تجربهها رو داشتن و همین حسا رو تجربه کردن.
و من با هر صفحه دلم هزار تیکه میشد برای کیلیهای این دنیا.
باید اعتراف کنم بارها توی این کتاب گریه کردم. گاهی با صحنههای خیلی بزرگ و وحشتناک و غمگینش و گاهی وقتا...با چیزای خیلی کوچیک. با خوشیها و آرامش خیالهایی که همهی بچههای نوجوون باید داشته باشن و خیلیا این حق ساده ازشون دزدیده شده. خیلیا به دست یکی از اعضای خانواده و خیلی وقتا به خاطر اینکه والدین شغل اصلیشونو درست انجام ندادن؛ مراقبت از بچه.
"I Want to Shout, Leave me alone! What's wrong with you? Don't you remember who I am? Who you are? This is not a father's love!
I want to scream, Can't you see what you are doing to me? What you've done to me? What you've made of me?
I want to cry out, I am your little girl. I am not your girlfriend. I am not your whore."
حتی الان، خوندن این جملهها برای چندمین بار باعث میشه قفسهی سینهم سنگین شه و چشمام پر شه. چقدر نیاز داشتم یکی این بچه رو نجات بده...
یکی از مبحثهای این کتاب بخش ED کیلی بود. Bulimia. اینقدر عمیق درک میکردم صحنههایی که توصیف میکردو که دلم میخواست کتابو ببندم بگم خب دیگه بسه! الن هاپکینز با قلم وحشتناک خوبی این حسو توصیف کرده بود که وقتی استرس داشت یا حالش خوب نبود اول با حجم زیادی از غذا حالشو بهتر میکرد و بعد حالش به خاطر اینکه خیلی غذا خورده بد میشد و مجبور بود کلشو بالا بیاره.
و در آخر...من یه تریگر دارم که تا قبل این کتاب نمیدونستم. Cutting. اینکه چرا و چطوری بماند ولی هر صحنهای که اشاره به این قضیه داشتو با عضلات منقبض میخوندم و شانس اوردم خیلی کم بود تعدادشون.
"I'm Kind of Liking this blood thing. Fetish? Fixation? Not quite an obsession yet, but I can see it growing into that.
Drip. Drip. Steady. Slow.
Drip-drip. Quicker yet.
Drip-drip-drip.
Drip-drip-drip.
Drip.
Drip
Drip"
و پایانش...
امیدوار بودم قشنگتر باشه. امیدوارم همه به چیزی که حقشو دارن برسن ولی...پایانشم مثل کلش شبیه زندگی واقعی بود. بهترین حالت ممکن.
تنها چیزی که مهم بود این بود که خیلی از قربانیا همین راهو انتخاب میکنن و من درک میکنم...
نمیدونم الن هاپکینز چطوری تونسته هر روز بشینه و اینو بنویسه. هر روز توی ذهن کیلی بیچاره باشه. هر روز این چیزا رو بنویسه ولی ازش ممنونم.
ازش ممنونم که صدای این افراد شده، بهشون حس دیده شدن داده، تجربشونو درک کرده و به بقیه هم فهمونده.
و سخت بود...خوندنش سخت بود ولی شدیدا خوشحالم که خوندمش.
خوشحالم چون باید ��یتونستم درک کنم و نیاز داشتم که درک کنم. دلمو هزار تیکه کرد ولی...دونستنش واجب بود.
"Everyone here has parents. Maybe not together parents, and maybe some are substitute parents. Butno one has parents like mine. I'm a complete freak, and so alone."
این کتاب وحشتناک بود...
به عنوان کتاب YA انتظار داشتم یه مرزی از دارک بودن رو رد نکنه ولی با اینکه هیچ صحنهایش جوری توصیف نشده بود که مرز سنی رو رد کنه...وحشتناک دردناک بود.
من یه آدمیم که تقریبا هیچ تریگری ندارم و هیچوقت با در نظر گرفتن تریگرهای یه کتاب انتخاب نمیکنم بخونمش یا نه ولی این کتاب حتی برای منم زیادی بود.
یه جایی اینقدر سنگین شد و روی سلامت روانیم تاثیر داشت که بستمش و یه ماه بعد اومدم سراغش.
تکتک صفحههای این کتاب درد بود. دردی که یه دختر بچه طی سالها کشیده بود و هیچکس ندیده بود. دردی که تنهایی و تو سکوت کشیده بود و اینقدر راهی برای کمک پیدا کردن نداشت، تکتک راهای خطرناک رو برای فرار ازش رفته بود.
"Did he not see Kaeleigh, screaming for help, the only way she could-wordlessly, helplessly, no one to hear?"
چون آدمی که داشت بدترین کارا رو باهاش میکرد، آدمی بود که اولین وظیفهش توی دنیا محافظت ازش بود.
دو نفری که مسئولیت مراقبت و محافظت ازشو داشتن، دو نفری که باید امنترین خونه رو براش میساختن، یکیشون به بدنش و روح و روانش تجاوز میکرد و اونیکی نبود که ببینه و اگرم بود چشماشو روش میبست.
هیچوقت توی زندگیم اینقدر دلم نخواسته بود برم توی یه کتابی و یه شخصیتی رو نجات بدم. شاید غمگینترین بخش این بود که من ایمیلهایی که الن هاپکینز داشته رو خوندم و دیدم چقدر آدم توی دنیای واقعی دقیقا همین تجربهها رو داشتن و همین حسا رو تجربه کردن.
و من با هر صفحه دلم هزار تیکه میشد برای کیلیهای این دنیا.
باید اعتراف کنم بارها توی این کتاب گریه کردم. گاهی با صحنههای خیلی بزرگ و وحشتناک و غمگینش و گاهی وقتا...با چیزای خیلی کوچیک. با خوشیها و آرامش خیالهایی که همهی بچههای نوجوون باید داشته باشن و خیلیا این حق ساده ازشون دزدیده شده. خیلیا به دست یکی از اعضای خانواده و خیلی وقتا به خاطر اینکه والدین شغل اصلیشونو درست انجام ندادن؛ مراقبت از بچه.
"I Want to Shout, Leave me alone! What's wrong with you? Don't you remember who I am? Who you are? This is not a father's love!
I want to scream, Can't you see what you are doing to me? What you've done to me? What you've made of me?
I want to cry out, I am your little girl. I am not your girlfriend. I am not your whore."
حتی الان، خوندن این جملهها برای چندمین بار باعث میشه قفسهی سینهم سنگین شه و چشمام پر شه. چقدر نیاز داشتم یکی این بچه رو نجات بده...
یکی از مبحثهای این کتاب بخش ED کیلی بود. Bulimia. اینقدر عمیق درک میکردم صحنههایی که توصیف میکردو که دلم میخواست کتابو ببندم بگم خب دیگه بسه! الن هاپکینز با قلم وحشتناک خوبی این حسو توصیف کرده بود که وقتی استرس داشت یا حالش خوب نبود اول با حجم زیادی از غذا حالشو بهتر میکرد و بعد حالش به خاطر اینکه خیلی غذا خورده بد میشد و مجبور بود کلشو بالا بیاره.
و در آخر...من یه تریگر دارم که تا قبل این کتاب نمیدونستم. Cutting. اینکه چرا و چطوری بماند ولی هر صحنهای که اشاره به این قضیه داشتو با عضلات منقبض میخوندم و شانس اوردم خیلی کم بود تعدادشون.
"I'm Kind of Liking this blood thing. Fetish? Fixation? Not quite an obsession yet, but I can see it growing into that.
Drip. Drip. Steady. Slow.
Drip-drip. Quicker yet.
Drip-drip-drip.
Drip-drip-drip.
Drip.
Drip
Drip"
و پایانش...
امیدوار بودم قشنگتر باشه. امیدوارم همه به چیزی که حقشو دارن برسن ولی...پایانشم مثل کلش شبیه زندگی واقعی بود. بهترین حالت ممکن.
تنها چیزی که مهم بود این بود که خیلی از قربانیا همین راهو انتخاب میکنن و من درک میکنم...
نمیدونم الن هاپکینز چطوری تونسته هر روز بشینه و اینو بنویسه. هر روز توی ذهن کیلی بیچاره باشه. هر روز این چیزا رو بنویسه ولی ازش ممنونم.
ازش ممنونم که صدای این افراد شده، بهشون حس دیده شدن داده، تجربشونو درک کرده و به بقیه هم فهمونده.
و سخت بود...خوندنش سخت بود ولی شدیدا خوشحالم که خوندمش.
خوشحالم چون باید ��یتونستم درک کنم و نیاز داشتم که درک کنم. دلمو هزار تیکه کرد ولی...دونستنش واجب بود.
February 24, 2021
This book was so dark and disturbing that I have spent all day trying to get it out of my head. It left me with a very sad, icky feeling. I normally enjoy Hopkins novels but this one I kept reading because I had to know what was going to happen with the twins. The plot twist and the end was definitely a shocker, and the book ended relatively well but man... I have no words.
November 15, 2015
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This is not my first Ellen Hopkins book so I know by now not to expect fluffy bunnies and happily ever after endings. I know to expect a vivid depiction of exactly how life can be and is for some… but boy oh boy, this one really takes the cake.
Identical is the story of Kaeleigh and Raeanne, 16 year-old identical twins. Their father is a district court judge and their mother is currently running for Congress. On the outside their family is picture perfect… but look closely and you’ll see the cracks in their veneer. Kaeleigh has been sexually abused by her father since she was nine years old. Raeanne drinks and uses drugs heavily because she feels she’s the lesser twin that isn’t loved like Kaeleigh. Their story is a stomach turning experience.
I’m not sure I would have actually finished this if I didn't have faith in Ellen Hopkins to pull off one whopper of a story, and sure enough she did. The ending blew my mind and almost had me wanting to sit down and read it again because every notion or preconception I had was way off the mark. Brutal story but so incredibly well done it was shocking.
This is not my first Ellen Hopkins book so I know by now not to expect fluffy bunnies and happily ever after endings. I know to expect a vivid depiction of exactly how life can be and is for some… but boy oh boy, this one really takes the cake.
Identical is the story of Kaeleigh and Raeanne, 16 year-old identical twins. Their father is a district court judge and their mother is currently running for Congress. On the outside their family is picture perfect… but look closely and you’ll see the cracks in their veneer. Kaeleigh has been sexually abused by her father since she was nine years old. Raeanne drinks and uses drugs heavily because she feels she’s the lesser twin that isn’t loved like Kaeleigh. Their story is a stomach turning experience.
I’m not sure I would have actually finished this if I didn't have faith in Ellen Hopkins to pull off one whopper of a story, and sure enough she did. The ending blew my mind and almost had me wanting to sit down and read it again because every notion or preconception I had was way off the mark. Brutal story but so incredibly well done it was shocking.
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