Holly and Marilyn are teenage girls with different home lives. When something weird happens and they find that they've swapped bodies, there's an additional complication: they live in the same house, but Holly lives in 2010... and Marilyn lives in 1962. Now their lives have completely changed and the people around them are strangers who act like they know them. How will either girl cope in such an unfamiliar decade?
I love body swap stories, and I was excited about reading one with a time-travel twist. I thought 1962 was a very interesting choice of year to set half of the story. I always think of the sixties as being a time of great social change, but of course this all starts after 1962. For example, the Beatles released their first album in 1963, and the "summer of love" was in 1967. Maxine Linnell's website links to a great article with more details about this time period and its significance.
I really liked the character of Marilyn, the girl from 1962, and I admired the way she threw herself into Holly's life even if the adjustments seemed huge to her initially. She was sweet but she also had real spirit, and I enjoyed seeing 2010 from her point of view. I also loved Kyle, Holly's 2010 best friend, a boy who's not afraid to be himself. The girl from 2010, Holly, was a lively character and her tough, impatient qualities provided an interesting contrast with the meeker Marilyn. The plot developments in both alternating sides of the story were always entertaining. I also enjoyed the way certain minor characters took on greater role as the novel progressed.
There are some brilliant descriptions in this book of the way that both worlds look to an outsider. I particularly enjoyed the scenes where the two girls have nights out, and the way that 'going to a club' means something entirely different in the two decades.
A fascinating story of two very different teen lives.
Review by Luisa
Maxine Linnell's website
That sounds good! It reminds me of the book I read last week called Gimme A Call. Great review!
Posted by: Amber Kirk | 09 June 2010 at 09:10 AM
Sounds interesting - it would be good to connect the music I've heard of the period with the time.
Posted by: Jesse Owen | 09 June 2010 at 11:37 AM
This seems like a pretty different takeon body-swapping. I like it! Great review as always, Luisa.
Posted by: Sophie | 09 June 2010 at 12:28 PM
Oh wow - want to read this even more than I want to have written it! Sounds a fantastic twist. Lovely cover too (even if it does look a little more punky 70s than Quant 60s to me?). On the TBR pile!
Posted by: Susie | 09 June 2010 at 03:12 PM
So glad you reviewed this - I saw it in a bookstore the other weekend and I really wanted to know more about it. I love the idea of a time travel body swap, that's just two of my favourite things in one right there. It actually sounds a little like a modernised Charlotte Sometimes. Thanks for the heads up!
Posted by: Lauren | 09 June 2010 at 11:07 PM
This book sounds so much fun, but how weird would that be to go to 2010 if you are from the sixties. So much have changed. :)
Posted by: Nina | 12 June 2010 at 12:54 PM
Body swap AND time travel! OOH. It's just been added to my wish list.
Posted by: Clover | 16 June 2010 at 12:15 PM
I finished reading this yesterday, it took me just over two days, I was stopping to read it whenever I could and being really anti-social!
Now my mum has snatched it off me and is as obsessed with it as I am! I really enjoyed it :)
Posted by: Kate | 25 November 2010 at 09:10 PM
I'm really glad you enjoyed it too, Kate!
Thanks to everyone for the lovely comments. :)
Posted by: Luisa | 25 November 2010 at 09:39 PM