Spotlight on: Identical

"Identical tackles perhaps 
the most difficult subject matter 
of all. It is about identical twins whose father is sexually abusing one of them. I chose this subject matter because the issue touched the lives of three of my friends. Today, they are successful, beautiful women who you would never believe this mighthave happened to. I want readers to know it is possible to find a way beyond this terrible place, into a brighter future." -Ellen Hopkins










Excerpt:

Raeanne
Mirror, Mirror






                      When I look into a
mirror,
                      it is her face I see.
                      Her right is my left, double
                      moles, dimple and all.
                      My right is her left,
                      unblemished.


                      We are exact
opposites,
                      Kaeleigh and me.
                      Mirror-image identical
                      twins. One egg, one sperm,
                      one zygote, divided,
                      sharing one complete
                      set of genetic markers.


                      On the outside
                       we are the same. But not
                       inside. I think
                       she is the egg, so
                       much like our mother
                       it makes me want to scream.
Cold.
Controlled.             
                      That makes me the sperm,
                       I guess. I take completely
                       after our father.
           
                      All Daddy, that’s me.
Codependent.  
Cowardly.


                      Good, bad. Left, right.
                      Kaeleigh and Raeanne.
                      One egg, one sperm.
                      One being, split in two.


                       And how many
souls?

If you have ever read an Ellen Hopkins book then you know she writes entirely in verse (as displayed above). 

After I read the page as it was meant to be read, I always went back and read the words on one side. For instance

in the sample above, it would read "Mirror opposites, cold, controlled, codependent, cowardly, souls." Ellen loves to 

hide special meaning in her books that way. That is one reason why they are so unique and interesting. 

This was my first Ellen Hopkins book and I absolutely loved it! Her books have always been those books I see in the

bookstore, possibly flip through and then always put back on the shelf in favor of something else. I don't remember

why the day I bought this was different, but I am so thankful it was. 

There is a twist at the end of this book that will make your head spin. After I read it I literally shut the book and stared

into space for about ten minutes just blinking and processing. I usually see plot twists in books before they happen

but this one caught me completely off guard! It made me want to reread the book with this twist in mind.

Such a good book and a very unique style of writing that goes really quickly.

If you have read Identical let me know your thoughts in the comments below but NO SPOILERS.
 Be respectful of the people that haven't read the book yet.

Happy reading!!

xoxo,

Michelle