Double Identity

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Book Overview

So my only protection is a kindergarten teacher and a ninety-eight-pound female minister....And they don't even believe I'm in danger.

As Bethany approaches her thirteenth birthday, her parents act more oddly than usual. Her mother cries constantly, and her father barely lets Bethany out of his sight. Then one morning he hustles the entire family into the car, drives across several state lines -- and leaves Bethany with an aunt she...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689873794
• ISBN13: 9780689873799
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.8" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 10 to 14 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 9

Customer Reviews

A Fast Paced-Thrilling Adventure

Enter Bethany Cole, a seemingly avarage teen girl. Her peaceful, quiet lifestyle is quickly demolished when her parents whisk her away from her home, and to her aunt's house. An Aunt she never knew existed. As Bethany is dropped off with no way to contact her parents about the strange situation, Bethany must wait. Soon, a strange trip turns into a fast paced and exciting mystery, as Bethany hurries to discover the intention behind her parent's behavior. She is left with no clues other than her father saying, 'getting help for her (bethany's) mother.) and the name of young woman whom Bethany does not know. The plot thickens when Bethany is sent a mysterious package by her parents, containing four bith certificates. Bethany then proceeds to, slowly, discover the remaining facts, and, with the help of her Aunt, discovers that the mystery woman is none other than, her sister! Once again, another mystery unfolds. Why did she never hear of her sister? Who are their parents hiding from? And when her mother begins speaking strangely, believing Bethany is her sister, the final plot twist begins to unfold. The answers to these questions and more can only be found in Margaret Peterson Haddix's thrilling story of Double Identity. Haddix weaves a brilliant tale in this book. The characters each have well thought out, realistic personalities: No stereotypes or paper-thin characters here. The characters are all deep, and never are out of character. The final twist at the ending (which I will not reveal.) was brilliant, and I was certainly not expecting it. As you read this book, you too will find yourself trying to piece together the mystery, just as Bethany Cole tries. The ending was fitting, and not rushed. Very satisfactory. The story is incrediblle, as the mystery is finally solved in the end. Fortunately, the story is not open ended, but leaves you the room to wonder how the lives of Bethnay Cole and her family proceed into the future. Which reminds me, the story is set in the near future, around 2011/12 Shocking and surprising, the final twist was...it was wonderful! And, then, you begin to realize why the book was titled the way it was. The book is in the first person view, which truly brings out the full impact of this book. Well, that's all I'll reveal. This is a wonderful book for anyone about Grade 5 and up. (Around 11 years old plus) Trust me, anyone looking for a great mystery story will find relief in this awesome book. So, basically, read this book!!

a breathtaking story! A must read!

I have to say, this is one of the best Margaret Peterson Haddix books I have ever read. Bethany is an average, girl, that is, until both her parents seem to go under some sort of manic depression. This is serious, not at all a funny situation. Bethany's parents have always acted slightly odd around her, seeming to be able to predict things, such as when she needs glasses. Also, always being overprotective over her safety, as when Bethany rides her bike without a helmet. Her dad shouts, screams, and yells at her, saying she could have been killed. Bethany never thought of it as odd, until her parents leave her alone with an aunt and cousin she's never known. Bethany's parents are crying, and leave no explanation as to why she is being sent to a different part of the country. The mystery deepens even more and the plot twisted and knotted until it may be too much for you to bear. However, a very surprising ending will have you smiling as you read the last lines of this great novel.

What is going on?

Her parents are gone! Bethany Cole was like any normal child, and now, her parents are leaving her at some aunt she never even knew she had!Her mom has been crying for the past few months too. What is going on, she wonders, and who in the world is this Elizabeth she keeps hearing about? All she knows is about her is she is someone or something that she over heard her father talking about to her so called "aunt". In this book, Double Identity, Margaret Peterson Haddix packs in suspense, mystery, and excitement. This book has a lot of connections too. Every chapter, every page, every word will keep you reading!

Thrilling As It Is!

Double Identity By: Margaret Peterson Haddix Reviewed by: S. Sok Period 1 Bethany is now a thirteen year old, and her mother and father begin to act more strangely than usual. She sees her mom cry constantly, and her father never lets Bethany out of his sight. Then one day, her parents cross seven states by car and end up at Bethany's aunt's house, of whom she never even heard of her entire life. Bethany is left with her so-called Aunt Myrlie and her parents leave her at Myrlie's house for safety and ends Bethany on a string. Bethany believes that her parents are running away from trouble, but who knows? All she hears from eavesdropping is, "She doesn't know anything about Elizabeth." Bethany's life gets odder and odder: the people in the town react to Bethany as if they had seen ghost, she receives a package from her father containing four different birth certificates and last names and thousands of dollars in cash, and a strange and scary man appears up at Aunt Myrlies's house and asks confidential family questions,. Then, Bethany slowly uncovers the secret and finds out that she is a clone of her sister Elizabeth, who died years ago, Double Identity is truly a thriller. I liked Double Identity because it was very mysterious. However, I come to love mystery books, one of my favorite genres. As it is said in the book, "But Aunt Myrlie won't explain who Elizabeth is, and she won't explain why people in her small town react to Bethany as if they've seen a ghost. This sentence left me off the hook and made me want to read on, also, it was really intensifying when Bethany received four different birth certificates from four different states with four different last names. However, there was not only mystery in this book, but it contained much self perseverance. There was a lot of self perseverance in the book. Out of the characters, Bethany had the most self perseverance because she kept her head high, even though it was though being in a town with relatives she never even heard of before. It says, "Oh Elizabeth," Joss says, "it's so nice having you back! I've missed"- she gets a stricken look on her face-"you" she finishes lamely. Even though Bethany didn't want to be and look like Elizabeth, she tried her hardest to keep up with it. My favorite part of Double Identity is when Bethany sums up everything; she is able to answer all of the mysterious questions she had been having. It gave my insides a great, enormous, banana smile because I could feel Bethany's happiness. I also like it when Bethany answers her questions since she had put up with and through a lot of tragedies. It really makes you feel "proud" of her. Double Identity is an awesome and thrilling book!

Awesome YA Thriller

For almost thirteen-year-old Bethany, life has suddenly and unexplicably taken a strange turn. For a girl who has never spent a night away from her parents, she's suddenly hustled into the car by her sad-looking father, subjected to listening to her sobbing mother, and unceremoniously dropped off in the middle of the night in a town she's never heard of, at the home of a woman claiming to be her Aunt Myrlie. Her parents are a lot older than her friend's parents, and Bethany is sure that her parent's siblings are all dead. So who is this woman claiming to be her Aunt, and why has she never heard of her before? Why won't her mother stop crying? Why does her dad seem so eager to get away from the house in Sanderfield? And who the heck is Elizabeth, the name she overheard her father and Myrlie discussing? All these questions and more are only the tip of the iceberg in Margaret Peterson Haddix's newest novel, a wonderful young adult thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. The twists and turns are unpredictable and unexpected--the conclusion one I never saw coming. Overall, a great suspensful read for teens and adults alike!