I absolutely love Ellen Hopkins. She has become my favorite author. She has such a fascinating way of writing. Like the majority of her books, I definitely give it a 5 star review. I was hardly able to out the book down! ( )

Family

The disturbing novel "Identical" by Ellen Hopkins centers on the lives of Kayleigh and Raeanne, two identical twins. The unsettling and inappropriate relationships they have with friends and family, particularly with their troubled father, are explored in the book. They may have the outward appearance of the perfect American dream family, but they actually go through terrible suffering and have no way out.

Thanks to the book's poetic structure, this story transcends typical teenage drama. Even if readers don't personally relate to the characters, it has the ability to put them in relatable situations. The book's raw, unfiltered nature refuses to sugarcoat disturbing or unpleasant details, bravely presenting the characters' feelings as they go through terrifying situations.

I highly recommend reading "Identical" for its gripping plot and remarkable execution of plot twists. The book's impact was so profound that I found myself compelled to revisit its pages to fully appreciate the brilliance of its twists and turns.

This book is tough and heartbreaking to read. It deals with a lot of serious, deep issues that are meant to spark conversations. If you're not in a good mental head space, this book may not be a good one to pick up (see trigger warnings below). I love Ellen Hopkins writing style and this was beautifully written. I love how the poems mirror each other when switching back and forth from Kaeleigh and Raeanne's POV. I love the format of some of the other poems and the shapes they play with relating to that poem. For example there's a poem titled There's Daddy and it talks about their father's alcoholism and the poem is written in the shape of a bottle. I love some of the visual imagery they pair with the poems.

Content warning for this book include: child sexual abuse & sexual exploitation, sexual assault, self-harm, suicide attempts & ideations, teen drug abuse/alcoholism, eating disorders, & mental illnesses. ( )

Identical is the story of Kaeleigh and Raeanne, mirror image identical twins. It deals with incest/sexual abuse, drug abuse, alcoholism, cutting and mental illness. It also has a surprising twist and a hopeful ending.

Kaeleigh deals with her issues by trying to be a "good girl". Making others happy, acquiescing to the needs of others, not saying NO. Raeanne becomes the "bad girl". Turning to drugs, alcohol and sex, rarely saying NO (even when she should).

It is well written enough that I started it at noon and didn't put it down until I finished it at 6:30pm (well, I did make lunch in there and I might have taken a wee nap). While the subject matter is intense, it is not gratuitously graphic.

As a survivor of several of the subject matters discussed, I can honestly say that Ms. Hopkins deals with them honestly. Many may not like the issues (and, no doubt, she is or will be often challenged in libraries) the emotions and language are genuine. I can hear much of myself in her words.

I am looking forward to reading more of her books. ( )