Ellen Hopkins

Identical

Jenna Pascale 

Holy. Wow. 

I initially was interested in this book due to the style of writing/formatting of the book. I stumbled across this one accidentally and added it to my Amazon wishlist. It was then gifted to me by @bookmarkedbymel and I immediately started reading it upon receiving it. I’ve barely put it down since. 

Ellen Hopkins is an artist. There’s no other way to describe it. The plot is phenomenal and dark and unsettling but is written and portrayed in the most beautiful way possible. I can’t even say anymore about this book because it truly wouldn’t do it justice. 

Now I’m off to Amazon to add every book written my Ellen Hopkins to my wishlist.

I don't think poetry is for me. I really picked it up because of the ~plot twist~ everyone's talking about and how good the twist is so I read like what, 100 pages? And I just couldn't, poetry really isn't for me in a narrative sense. I have to give credit for the actual plot twist though, I skipped to the last like 50 pages or so to see the ending and honestly, I'm glad I did. The plot twist is KILLER. If this was written like a narrative maybe I'd like it but eh.. poetry. 

That's not to say that the author did a good job, she tried and I have to give her props for that. I don't know what's good poetry and what's bad so I can't really comment on that.

Alyssa 

wow! really intense! Loved it! I want to know what happens next though! :( she didn't get rid of her other personality...Raeanne's still there! what will happen cuz she's not completely cured yet.

Kim Tyo-Dickerson

Big gulp book. Sat there reading as fast as possible, as creeped out as possible. Snapped at anyone who came to ask me a question. And I was at work in the Library at the time, it was our do-without-electricity-for-an-hour or some similar initiative. So I read Identical because Ellen was coming to our school for an author visit and I wanted to read one of her books I hadn't read yet.

The story isn't one I would normally seek out, twin teens whose father is sexually abusing one of the them. But the twisted mental states of this picture perfect family hiding horrifying secrets is so compellingly created through free-verse poetry that the story is an enthralling spiral of denial, guilt, rebellion, and hope, however tenuous. And the carefully mirrored poems that switch the narrative from one twin to the other lends another layer of psychological suspense to an already pulse-pounding narrative.

Jimena Vázquez Oliver

@ Goodreads PLEASE let me do half-stars!!! This one is a 4.5 for me. I read it years ago and wanted to see if I could see hints for the twist now that I’m older. Found some, but I dunno that I would’ve if I hadn’t been looking.

Teagan

I use to hate the way Ellen Hopkins' book were written in versus, but now I kind of like it. All her books I've read are always so deep and intimate. This book portrays sexual, alcohol, and drug abuse along with eating disorders and self harm beautifully, they are spot on and never glorified or glamorized. Everything the happened in this story was rather disturbing and uncomfortable. I got attached to Kaeleigh and Raeanne and their story all while screaming at the father. I loved getting into each other their heads and learning why they ticked. The twist at the end had me shocked, but once you find out the truth everything pieces itself together.

ashley hopkins

This is...wow. I'm going have to think a bit on this.

This was my first go at reading an Ellen Hopkins Versus Book, and let me just say wow. It was amazing. Now that I've finally been able to read a few different versus books from other authors. I can definitely say that hers (and Lisa Schroeder) are by far my favorite. I can not tell you how many times I had to set this book down. Not because it was bad, but because I had to stop and think about it. Let it sink in. Let myself feel (or try) to feel what these girls must have been going through. I wanted to jump in the book and save them. How many awful, hurtful things can a girl take before it's just to much. Before that voice says just give up. 

I've never experienced anything like they have personally, but I do know of someone who has had that kind of abuse. Although, she never sat down and talked to me about it. It's really kind of an odd situation I guess what with these people being related to me. Anyways, I wanted to cry for Kaeleigh. I wanted to be able to tell her that she has to take control of her own life. Ian the way that boy stuck by her through everything it was amazing. I have to say the ending caught me off guard I wouldn't have thought it was the case. What's great about this book is it deals with a lot of different issues not just one. Cutting, abuse (both physically and mentally), sex, drugs, eating problems. It had it all and it wove it all nicely together (if that's even possible). I have to say this though it's definitely not for a younger audience.

It is one of those books that I think people should read though when the time is right.

Huge trigger warnings for sexual abuse, child abuse, rape, peadophilia, and toxic relationships.

But a fantastic, heart-breaking book.

Yanni Wilson

I was going to give it a 4.5 but, I have to give it 5 stars because the last 50 pages had my mind BLOWN.

Identical

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