The Isabel Factor

by Gayle Friesen

When the fearless Zoe breaks her arm in a fall, Anna must brave summer camp -- and her debut as a Counselor In Training -- without her best friend. Going it alone is not something Anna is ready for. Cruising along in Zoe's shadow had been comfortable, but now Anna is out in the full glare of the sun. There's no hiding from harsh truths and plenty of people to point them out. Take Karim, the swim instructor, who has suddenly turned gorgeous but obviously hates Anna. And Anna's new friend and cabinmate Isabel -- rainbow hair, sharp tongue and no boundaries. Sooner or later Anna will have to face another hard truth: things have changed between her and Zoe and there's no going back into the shadows. But where can Anna hide when just being herself isn't nearly enough?

Genres: Young Adult, Summer, Friendship, Read For School, Contemporary, Fiction, Teen

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2005

About the author

Gayle Friesen lives in Delta, British Columbia.

Reviews

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute book, terrible cover

[Emma Kruyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally picked up The Isabel Factor because I needed a quick read that I could suffer through and finish, but that wasn’t the case. The author, Gayle Friesen, had a way of drawing you into the life and mind of Anna, the protagonist. The book was about how Anna, who always stood in her friend’s shadow, was going to survive camp by herself. When Anna meets Isabel, a girl who is wild and free, she begins to know the real her and what it is like to be yourself. As the book went along, I felt Anna struggles and could see bits of myself in her. It was all mostly due to the author and her way of writing. I suggest you read this book if you feel like you live in their friend’s shadow and want to know what good it can do to step out into the Sun.

[Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay but why did Anna have better chemistry w Isabel than she did w Karim??

Overall this felt incredibly formulaic and not the most well-written. I also think it could've been a bit longer to give some scenes more room to develop. The narrator's voice read younger than 15, and the author could've easily aged the characters down to make the story more believable.

guess I'm still on the hunt for the perfect summer camp book😌

[Stephi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had potential for more stars but there was parts that were only a one star. I do realise however I am not the target audience age.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

    I rate The Isabel Factor by Gayle Frissen 2 out of 5 stars. I give this book a low rating because of the way the author physically describes the characters is not very descriptive. For example on page 12 it says “Zoe was daring, restless and hardly afraid. There was excitement around her, even if you weren't exactly the type of person who liked to do daring things. (Me) She wasn’t afraid to live life; I wasn’t afraid to take notes. That quote shows you a good description of Zoe, but not Anna, herself. When I pictured the characters all I could picture was a white blank in the shape of a human. One thing I do like is the theme which is individuality. Anna goes from basically a conjoined twin to a free standing person. For example on page 11 it says “We were the flipside of the same coin. Yin and yang. Peanut butter and jelly. As the story progresses the tight friendship changes so on page 177 it says “You’re always at the pool” she said. “We never spend any time together lately.”  “ Well, if you came to my swimming practices, we’d be spending lots of time together...” These two quotes show that Anna is breaking free. Another thing I like about this book is the genre which is realistic fiction. I personally like books I can relate to, for me it's easier to understand and have a connection to the character(s).

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the beginning i was hooked on this book.Friesen does a good job putting you into the situation that Anna is in with her best friend, Zoe. I personally would recommend this book to anybody, its a heartwarming story about two best friends getting separated that were together forever to learn to be without one another.

The first impression i got of Zoe was that she was wild and willing to anything and not afraid at all..on the other hand Anna seemed to be on the other side of the spectrum. Throughout the book, Anna's real self was coming out and not just living in the shadow of her best friend. I noticed while reading the book that when Anna and Isabel met that Anna really wanted nothing to do with her, and just wanted to be by Zoe again.When she would do stuff at the camp with Isabel all she thought of was Zoe and how much MORE fun they'd be having.

Overall, I would recommend this book to everyone it shows a great story of two best friends growing up and learning about life. I would definitely read this book again.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. That's what I thought of this book. It was just eh. I read it in a few days, not because I couldn't put it down, but because I just wanted to finish it so I could get onto my next book. I liked the plot, and how it was set at summer camp. And I do think that the book had a good message, but I just couldn't get into it. Anna seemed a little annoying, and Isabel seemed just like her best friend Zoe, except a little more outgoing. There wasn't any romance in this novel, which was probably one of the reasons why I didn't enjoy it so much. Overall it was... eh.

[Suzanne Montigny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great teen novel by Gayle Friesen, though I have to admit I wasn't as entranced by it as I was with Janey's Girl, largely because I'm not a teen who goes to summer camp. However, teen girls will love it. It's well written as is to be expected by Ms. Friesen's high standards. There are also some good moral lessons here that are not presented in a pendantic manner, just the main character's evolution as the story progresses. I really enjoy Gayle's novels and am so glad to have found such an extraordinary writer. I've already begun reading her next novel.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the sweet story, that was surprisingly fairly original, though very predictable. (Summer camp, really?) I sat down and read it in one sitting, and didn't ever really feel obligated to stop, I just wasn't very taken with it.

But, I will say that main reason I even picked up the book was the descriptive and well written chapters, so that did make up a little for the average story.

[Katerina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I originally checked out this book to read to my little sister with the same name. I was very disappointed to see all the swear words in the text. This was hardly an appropriate book for her. The story was very bland, and kind of predictable. All in All, I was very disappointed in the quality of this book.

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so maybe I'm a little biased since my name is Isabel and my sister's name is Anna, but I really liked this book. A lot.

I thought it was a fun book but I don't remember a lot about it, I read it a year ago--don't know why I'm doing a review just now! It was really good though.

I suggest reading it.

[Danielle Lura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing. This book was really cool because it talks and tells the story of a girl who follows in Her best friends shadow and now she can't. She has to learn to be herself and stop hiding. She makes a new friend who isn't afraid to be herself and put herself out there. I really do recommend you read this book. It was fabulous.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good, about a girl and her friend (zoe) who are CIT's at a camp, and zoe can't go for the first couple weeks, and then anna (the main character) meets isabel, and zoe and anna's friendship changes. READ

[Edriam]

this book really taught me alot about friendship, it actuali hhelped me identify my real self. i see myself as anna because i am always trying to please others and i never want anything bad to be said about me. i guess this book talks about majurity.

[Bekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the realization that isabel brings with her, her blunt attitude, just how real she is compared to the pretend attitude of the main character and her best friend. I loved the lessen isabel tought to the main character... i enjoyed reading this book.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some language. So be warned.
It was a cute book about friends -- one always has to win and then finally that's not enough for the loser. It's about being okay with who you are and learning the group doesn't have to rule and isn't necessarily right.

[Tlewis]

this is such a funny book! i love te writting style!

[Jc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honour Book for the CLA Young Adult Book Award in 2006.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!!!!!!

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book. I didn't piick it out my friend did!

Thank You Lisa!!!!!

[Sutthida Vonn]

I thought that this was a good book. It teaches you about friendship.

[Buckeyeroo18 iluvbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that is really touching. A book definately for tweens. It's about girls going to a camp. A perfect book about friendship, keeping the old but making new.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great summer


read. Makes me wish I was at camp.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a great book to see how friends can work through difficult situations.

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was pretty bland and predictable. Stereotypical summer camp, over-used friendship story situation.

[Ceci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great!

[T-rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just amazing! I loved it... and got REALLY sad when I finished it!

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite books I read over and over again in middle school