Identical by Ellen Hopkins

Do twins begin in the womb? Or in a better place? Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical twins 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 big picture each sister has her own dark secret and that's where the differences begin. But ever since a catastrophe occurred, "Mom doesn't love anyone. She is marble. Beautiful. Frigid. Easily strained by her family. What's left of us, anyway. We are corpses."

For Kaeleigh, she's the misplaced focus of Daddy's love, intended for a mother whose presence on the campaign trial means absence at home. All that Raeanne sees is Daddy playing a game of favorites – and she is losing. If she has to lose, she will lose on her own terms so she chooses drugs, alcohol and sex. Secrets like the ones the twins are harboring are not meant to be kept – from each other or anyone else. Pretty soon it's obvious neither sister can handle it alone and one sister must step up to save the other, but the question is – who?

I like this book because Ellen Hopkins gives lots of detail and uses free verse as her writing style making her books into short poems. It is very good and has an unexpected ending. I think a lot of people would really enjoy this book and should consider reading it. Once you start reading Identical it is hard to set down. If I were to rate this book, I would give it four and half stars out of five.

Samantha M.