Identical by Ellen Hopkins

On the outside, Kaeleigh and Raeanne look exactly the same but their appearances are as far as their similarities go. Although their family may seem perfect, it is in reality the definition of dysfunction. The twins’ politician mother is constantly away from home to campaign, and in the absence of his wife, their district-court judge father transfers his love to Kaeleigh. In turn, Raeanne is jealous in a sick way, because she feels Daddy is favoring Kaeleigh over her, and so she turns to drugs, alcohol, and sex. Each twin harbors her own demons, but neither can handle the pressure on her own. Will the secrets force their way out or will they destroy the twins from the inside out?

Identical is a truly disturbing, impossibly real, and extremely difficult to put down no matter how sick and creepy the story may be. It deals with all facets of dysfunction: abuse, cutting, addiction, disorders, and their effects in teens’ lives. Though the story told isn’t by any means a “good” story, Hopkins is a fantastic storyteller and I have to say I love her writing style. The twins are surprisingly easy to relate to even in their extreme situations, and I think my shock over how horribly wrong Kaeleigh’s and Raeanne’s lives were and a slim hope that they would improve is what kept me reading. Hopkins’characters are just so compelling, and this makes their stories so unforgettable no matter how hard I try to forget the major creep factor.

The authenticity of this story will appeal to all teens, even the ones who don’t normally read. Identical will also gain a similar audience to that of Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott. I look forward to reading Hopkins’ other novels, Crank, Burned, Impulse, and Glass.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from Amazon Vine