Ellen hopkins s identical is a verse novel which tells the stories of identical twins kaeleigh and raeanne gardella, the 16yearold daughters of a district court judge, and a candidate for the united states house of representatives. It is narrated very well by laura flanagan who portrays both sisters with distinctly different personalities. As readers tick off behaviors bulimia check, cutting check, more cynical readers might wonder why she didnt make the girls triplets so she could toss in a few more. As daughters of a districtcourt judge father and a politician mother, they are an allamerican family. Being a fiction writer, i can spot a breadcrumb trail a mile away. In the end, it is revealed that raeanne died in the accident. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. The third book of the series, fallout, was published in 2010. Aug 26, 2008 identical ebook written by ellen hopkins. Everything on the surface of their lives seems norman rockwell perfect, but underneath run deep and damaging secrets. She is able to capture the heartache and struggles of each different character. She is always able to suck you into her books and you can never put them down. Glass is the second novel in the verse novel series crank by ellen hopkins, published in hardcover in august 2007 and in softcover on april 7, 2009. Their father is a wellknown district court judge and their mother a politician.
It is very contemporary and the sisters are dealing with issues faced by todays high schoolers as well as facing challenges which have been around since time began. Nov 14, 2009 the end of identical by ellen hopkins. Identical is one of ellen s best books because of all of the different personalities and actions of the characters. As daughters of a districtcourt judge father and a politician mother, they are an allamerican familyon the surface. Identical is the story of kaeleigh and raeanne, 16 yearold identical twins. Be sure to follow the buzzfeed community on facebook and twitter for your chance to be featured in future. Jul 25, 2015 its definitely better as a gateway into hopkins books. Aug 27, 2008 listen to identical audiobook by ellen hopkins. I get that raeanne died and that kaeleigh has a disorder, but was she both kaeleigh and raeanne at. Identical is written from the alternating viewpoint of the twins, raeanne and kaeleigh gardella, with chapters. I finished this book and thought as i do many other times.
Ellen hopkins is a talented writer, but this is a slow, dark story. Hopkins s gift with free verse reaches new heights in this portrait of splintered identical twins. Ive read several of them so far, but unfortunately id rank identical at the bottom of my enjoyment list overall. Ellen hopkins is by far one of my favorite writers, and this book does not disappoint. Aug 27, 2008 identical audiobook written by ellen hopkins. Everything on the surface seems fine, but underneath run very deep and damaging secrets. Their father is a district court judge and their mother is running for congress. Identical, impulse and burn are likewise amongst the top ten bestselling lists but are completely about diverse subjects. Kaeleigh and raeanne are 16yearold identical twins, the daughters of a district court judge father and politician mother running for congress. The book released in august 2008 and was hit the new york times bestsellers list.
Hopkins has stated that some of the material for the book came from friends, friends who are now strong successful women and you would never guess that abuse is in their past. Even though, it was still an appropriate and powerful ending. Upperclass australian mothers duke it out in this pithy domestic drama that will leave you full slackjawed by the end. Written in her usual verse form, ellen takes you into the minds of the twins.
Her second adult novel, collateral, came out in the fall of 2012. The ending of this book was a complete shock to me. In the end of the book there is a surprise twist that i was not expecting at all. Oct 10, 2016 identical by ellen hopkins published august 26th 2008 by margaret k. I liked this book a lot becuase it took you in depth with the characters and it was like you actully knew them. Usually the shape of the words matches is being talked about.
Identical is one of many books ive read from author ellen hopkins. She lives with her family in carson city, nevada, where she has founded ventana sierra, a nonprofit youth housing and resource initiative. I didnt see the ending of identical coming, just as i didnt see the ending of the fault in our stars coming. Hopkins felt they needed their own story after the release of triangles. It is sure to keep you reading till you have finished it there are lots of twists and turns to keep you wanting more the ending to identical is extraordinary unpredictable. Check out her amazon author page here or find identical and her other works at your local library. But would it be an ellen hopkins novel if it didnt haunt you a little after it was finished. Hopkins employs a vast array of techniques to convey a connected theme in her novels impulse, burned, and identical that in a harsh and unloving environment emerge those bold enough to survive in a harsh and unloving world. Id started with crank if you havent yet read an ellen hopkins book, i highly suggest you start there, and was so eager to get my hands on more. The book is so powerful and disturbing, that it made me addicted to reading it just like all of the other addictions in this book. Ellen hopkins s book, tilt, was released september 11, 2012, and is a companion from the point of view of the teens mentioned in triangles. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read identical. With identical, hopkins sticks with her successful formula, writing a thick book of free verse poetry about abused, selfdestructive teens.
Apr 11, 20 from the honest story to shock ending, if you are a fan of ellen hopkins, youll love identical, and if youve never been exposed to the wonder that is ellen hopkins, identical is the perfect book to do just that. Not only is this book absolutely horrifying, but its very real in a very scary way. A reading group guide to identical by ellen hopkins about the book kaeleigh and raeanne gardella, identical twins, live in a posh california neighborhood. While their mother campaigns for the house position, kaeleigh and raeanne are left in the care of their. Identical is an amazing book written my ellen hopkins. Identical book by ellen hopkins official publisher. Sexual abuse, a fatal car accident and violent alcoholism have wrecked their family. Award winning author ellen hopkins spins a sticky web of tragedy, comedy, and shock with each pageturner she writes. Raeanne acts out with bulimia and rough sex, willingly trading sex for drugs. Even though they may look the same, they are very different. She is an astonishing author that is truly talented. This is not my first ellen hopkins book so i know by now not to expect fluffy bunnies and happily ever after endings. Behind the facade each sister has her own dark secret, and thats where their differences begin. Identical by ellen hopkins 2008, hardcover for sale online.
Burned, impulse, and identical narrative and stylistic techniques are the marrow of any well written piece of literature, the spine of a works essence. Crank was the first novel that ellen hopkins wrote and was published in october of 2004 with the help of julia richardson, her editor. If your unfamiliar with hopkins writing style the book may see huge however, hopkins writes in what looks like and could be considered poetry. Let me know your thoughts in the comments or any requests you may have. Just like ellen hopkins other books, this one has raw emotion in good ways and bad.
Kaeleigh and raeanne are identical down to the dimple. It is discovered that she has dissociative identity disorder. So everything about the twins was just in her head then what about the tons of. This study guide consists of approximately 55 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of identical. Childrens bookshelf talks with ellen hopkins by kate pavao, childrens bookshelf. As daughters of a districtcourt judge father and a politician mother, they are an allamerican family on the surface.
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