The greatest ever!!!! ( )

Actual rating : 3.5/5 stars
( )

After reading 13 Reasons Why, I felt a need to read lighter books-and one that I could finish quickly. Switch by Carol Snow was my ultimate choice.

Here's a synopsis from the author's site:
Not much happens in Claire Martin’s sleepy little beach town, but that’s okay.
Let her hang out with her best friend, dream about her favorite lifeguard, and
swim on the high school team, and she’ll be happy.

Only one little problem:

Whenever Claire she gets too close to lightning, her spirit shoots into another
girl’s body. Usually she’s back to her old self in no time – but suddenly she
finds herself stuck as someone else: a breathtaking summer visitor who has
caught her crush’s eye.

Will Claire ever figure out how to get back to her old life? And, more importantly, will she want to?

Switch wasn't a book that's going to really change anyone's life or pose any earth shattering questions...but it is a fun litle book (I read it during the course of one day). As the title might suggest, most of the story transpires during Claire's big 'switch' so you dont' get a lot of her life before she switches with Larissa.

While Larissa and Claire are switched you do learn a good bit about both girl's lives-but most of it is pretty superficial. ..A lot of it was pretty predictable stuff (from the rich family Larissa's acting as nanny for to Larissa and her parents to Claire--though saying how would be spoilery).

So, while this book doesn't present anything new and some of the characters seem to be (slightly) formulaic/predictable, there were also well thought out points around the entire 'switching' events and I liked that the book centered on a longer switch but also explained why it was longer.

It would have been possible to just say that the entire switching bodies in general was strange and unpredictable so the long-term switch was just a fluke. That would have detracted from my enjoyment of the book, though, so I'm glad that Ms Snow kept up a consistent reason for why Claire wasn't switching back.

I also quite enjoyed the secondary story surrounding Claire's grandmother and the way it (and she) developed through the book.

Switch wasn't a book that's likely to change your life, but it is a book that you can read when you want to enjoy something that won't take too long to read and won't depreess you either (like I said, I read it after 13 Reasons Why). ( )

Author: Carol Snow
Pages: 224
Source: Purchased from Barnes and Noble
Series or Standalone?: Standalone

When lightning strikes and electric currents are in the air, Claire Martin temporarily switches into the body of any nearby girl born under the same moon as her. She knows she’s not normal ... but she’s dealing with it. Besides, it usually only lasts for a few hours and then she wakes up in her own body. So when she finds herself trapped in the body of the beautiful new girl in town, her whole world is turned upside down. This emotional story with a sense of humor explores the bonds between friends, crushes and family and the meaning of identity as Claire struggles to hold on to her own.

* * *

This book was different than how I thought it would be, but not in a bad way. Instead of being so focused on the fact that Claire was a body switcher, it was more focused on her relationship with her mother, and her feelings on not knowing who her father was. The whole story was more geared towards making Claire thankful for what she had- - because some people did have it worse than her, even if it didn’t seem like it.

It also sort of surprised me how her “relationship” (does it count as a relationship when it’s not your body?) between Claire and Nate never developed into anything. This story was more suited for a younger grade audience, I think. Teens from 12-14 would be the ideal audience, maybe some 15 year olds.

Overall, the concept of the book was extremely interesting. I just wish the idea of body switchers had been delved into further. It could have been a much more exhilarating story, even though it was a great story already.

As for the cover, I feel like it completely misrepresents the book. Claire is a swimmer, and as she describes it herself, she is not girly at all. She has a swimmer’s body, which is, again, not girly. The whole point is that she traded places with Larissa who is the uber-beauty. They missed the whole meaning of the book with the cover.

Other books by this author:
Getting Warmer
Been There, Done That
Just Like Me, Only Better
Snap
Here Today, Gone To Maui

Plot: 2.5/5
Cover: 1/5
Writing: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4.5/5
Characters: 4/5 ( )

There are just SO many books out there right now about switching bodies that I guess I really wasn't into reading yet another one.
(see my podcast here: http://web.me.com/janicerobertson/Site/Passionate_Podcasts/Entries/2009/6/14_Boo...
The things I liked about Switch were the idea behind why the character, Claire Martin, switched bodies in the first place. There's just enough background information for the reader to understand and appreciate the current situation which is that of Claire being in the body of a very spoiled but beautiful, slender girly girl, name Larissa. Conveniently, Claire's main crush, Nate, finds Larissa very, very attractive, and Claire, in Larissa's body, gets to enjoy his attention. The other aspect of the book which I enjoyed was Claire's obvious delight over Larissa's clothes, and how Claire looked in those clothes. If you're someone who has held up a size zero pair of pants, and wondered, "Who actually ever WEARS this?" then you could probably appreciate Claire's rapture at being able to fit into cute tiny little clothes like the bikini she first trys on.
The thing I didn't like about Switch had nothing to do with the book itself, and was just the fact that, unfortunately, this is the sixth book I've read about teens switching bodies, and it just didn't seem as good as the others. If I'd read it first, maybe I'd be writing something different. Tough luck. ( )