When I saw a new Haddix book come out I was excited. Her thinking about various alternate worlds always keeps me interested. This story was no different, when Eryn and Nick discover their parents' secret their world turns upside down. They aren't sure who to trust anymore and the problems they now face are enormous! The action was a little slow to start but I feel that may be because this is the set-up for a, possibly long, series. The end definitely left me hanging with no true resolution to their problem. But I still am invested in the characters and want to know what comes next. ( )

What I like about Haddix is that she tells a good story. She writes just enough detail to make a story believable without bogging down less mature readers with a lot of verbiage. Admittedly, her characters aren't deep, but they aren't paper thin either. Her books mainly fall on the science fiction spectrum, which kids tend to avoid, but her element of mystery and dystopia seem to reach those kids who reject science fiction.

Synopsis
Twins Nick and Eryn, have just learned that their mom is getting remarried. They're ok with this, but what they have a hard time grasping is that their soon-to-be stepdad has two kids that have never been mentioned in the two years they've known him. Weirder still, they are all going to live in the same house, but never at the same time. In fact, their mom tells them that they will never meet their stepdad's kids. That would be the end of the story if Nick and Eryn weren't intensely curious. They break into the step siblings room and find things a little odd. As luck would have it, they find a piece of mail with the address of their other home. In perfect curious kid fashion, they run off to spy on the house first chance they get. What they find is bizarre. Can we say...extinction of the human race...robot takeover...your life a complete sham?

It's a typical Haddix read. If you like the Shadow Children or Missing series, then you'll like this one. ( )

3 1/2 stars. Interesting premise. I thought I had an idea what was going on at the beginning but it wasn't too obvious. I'm glad it's a series though because I'm not sure I liked the ending. ( )

Has significant plot holes, but an interesting premise. ( )

Nick and Eryn are curious when their mother remarries, doesn't invite them to the wedding and says they now have step siiblings that they will never meet. But these twins are smart and devise a way to see them. One day they break into their rooms and come across an address on an envelope and when the opportunity arises they check it out. They are totally not prepared for what they see when they peek in the window. Will they be able to recover from what they learn and save the human race? gr. 4-7 ( )