July 9, 2007
Wollman turns a potentially clichéd premise—two look-alike teens from dissimilar backgrounds trade places—into an entertaining and thoughtful novel. Laura has grown up helping her single mother clean houses, hating “having to stick her hands into other people’s lives” and feeling invisible to her wealthy employers. Willa, who has just flunked out of the posh boarding school from which all her relatives graduated, is constantly being criticized by her oh-so-proper parents for her weight, dress and attitude and feels as though she is “simply leading the wrong life.” When Laura and her mother are hired by Willa’s parents to look after their mansion while they’re away (sans daughter), the girls hatch a plan to switch lives. Studious Laura will pose as Willa at her new boarding school and Willa will live in the apartment Laura shares with her mother (who conveniently has taken an extended trip with her fiancé), assuming Laura’s house-cleaning responsibilities. Laura blossoms at private school, impressing a history teacher who urges her to apply to a prestigious college and falling in love with a boy whose parents are friends of Willa’s family. And in her new life, Willa finally gains confidence and discovers her true passion and skill as a car mechanic. Although the girls’ ruse is ultimately uncovered, all ends happily for both. Despite some unlikely twists of plot, Wollman creates credible characters who should endear themselves to readers. Ages 12-up.
September 1, 2007
Gr 7 Up-Laura Mellon, 16, is smart. She graduated from high school early and is now earning money to go to college by helping her mother clean the mansions of Greenwich, CT. Willa Pogue, also 16, has been expelled from several boarding schools. One day, the teens discover that they are complete look-alikes. After their initial shock and subsequent bonding, they decide to switch lives. Laura goes off to Willa's snooty school and Willa stays in Greenwich to clean houses. In the first half of the book, the plot moves along enjoyably, and the dialogue between the two girls is strong, but once they take on the other's life, the story becomes boring. Their adventures are uninteresting, and Willa's parents' reaction to the switch is too understanding considering how uptight they were at the beginning. Also, there are several plot threads that aren't resolved, mainly the fact that Laura and Willa are identical and were born in the same hospital, on the same day. These coincidences usually mean some sort of scandal or dark family secret but the girls treat them indifferently. All of the parents are completely clueless and the rest of the supporting characters are paper thin. However, the author does manage a creative touch when Willa becomes a NASCAR fan and an ace mechanic. All in all, this take-off on "The Prince and the Pauper" is unexciting and unsatisfying."Anne Rouyer, New York Public Library"
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