Turnabout

by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Book Overview

In the year 2000 Melly and Anny Beth had reached the peak of old age and were ready to die. But when offered the chance to be young again by participating in a top-secret experiment called Project... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689821875
• ISBN13: 9780689821875
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
• Length: 223 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.9" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

Bravo Ms. Haddix!

Margaret Peterson Haddix never fails to deliver, it seems. This book is a perfect example of a compelling tale that has universal appeal written in Haddix's own style that draws you in until you realize that you have finished the book before you can even put it down! A group of senior citizens in a nursing home are presented the chance to participate in an experiment that may extend their life. Most of them, not knowing what they are signing agree to participate. What they don't know that the experiment is to inject them with the fountain of "un-aging," meaning that as each year passes they will physically be one year old less. Sounds good? However, like the tale of the Monkey's Paw there is a catch. For each year the person de-ages, they lose one year of their memories from the time before they began the experiment. Meaning that new memories are overwriting old memories like a video tape machine does. On top of that there is no guarantee that the process can be stopped, therefore it is possible that subjects will de-age until they become a fetus and then nothing. The book centers around two of the subjects who have reached the age that they are no longer adults and need someone to care for them. On top of that they feel they no longer can trust the agency that created the secret experiment and has sheltered them all the years that they were getting younger. I totally enjoyed the book though I felt that there were a few loose ends left in the end. However, the author may be waiting to see if there is a demand for a sequel. I for one hope so.

very exciting book!!

In this book two old ladies who live at a retirement home agree to be in an experiment where they are given something that makes them turn a year younger on their birthday, instead of a year older. Throughout the book they are getting younger and younger and are back in their late teens, and they have flashbacks about when they agreed to do this experiment. They realize that they will need someone to take care of them soon because they will be to young to take care of themselves. They have been writing diaries since when they started the un-aging process and now they have boxes of diaries. They try to find one of their relatives who might be able to take care of them, and they have to keep travelling like they have been doing for years, in order to keep their secret, because if they stay in one place too long someone will notice they are looking more childish. Back when they agreed to take the injection, they had no idea that they would soon need someone to help them, and no idea that they wouldnt be able to lead normal lives like they had the first time they were young. Now they are in trouble because people that they have lived around are becoming suspicious and they have to find a way to get out of this whole mess. To find out what happens to them, read the book! It is really good!!

14 year old reader

Turnabout was a great book. It was about this group of elderly people who are in this experiment to reverse aging. They have to start new lives and leave their old behind. Two woman, Melly and Anny Beth leave the agency and live normal lives (with the exception of running away from the truth). The project is supposed to be secret but someone knows too much. The girls eventually get into thier teens and they have to find someone to take care of them when they get younger. This person has to keep the secret. Read the book to find out what happens next. This is a REALLY good book. I read it in 2 days and couldn't put it down. I highly reccommend this book to people of all ages!

A Freaky Story

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading science fiction. Though may be confusing for younger kids. It was interesting and freaky to see what was happening in Amelia and Anny Beth's futuristic world. I also thought it was exciting to find out how the book ended. I wondered what decisions Melly and Anny Beth would have to make next, and how they would find purpose in their second life. It was a clever interesting and well written book.

Growing Younger

One injection and you begin to grow younger, year by year. What a great idea for a book! (It may, however, not be a topic of great interest to youngsters, but give it to anyone over 21 and it should find a huge audience.) The author thinks of everything including losing the memories you had when you were older, as you continue to grow younger. Can anyone stop this "unaging" process and what will happen when the protagonists are back to diapers? A fascinating idea, a very easy read and one that will surely make a great motion picture! A definite recommendation!