Switched

by Jessica Wollman

From rags . . .
Laura Mellon has never met a fabric she couldn't soften or a stain she couldn't remove. She's tired of cleaning houses with her starry-eyed mom. But it's the only way she'll save enough $$$ for college.

To riches . . .

Willa Pogue can't enjoy being an heiress. She's too busy worrying about fitting in at Fenwick, her snooty new Connecticut boarding school. Then she meets Laura, her new maid. Laura's the spitting image of Willa!

Soon Laura is trading vacuums for Fenwick's ivy-covered campus, and Willa is sinking blissfully into the anonymity of the hired help. But then Laura begins to fall for preppy Caleb Blake, and Willa discovers a brandnew (and completely unacceptable for a Pogue) passion. Can the girls ever return to their old lives?

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Boarding School, Friendship, Family

256 pages, Hardcover

First published June 12, 2007

Reviews

[Sahilah · Rating 1 out of 5]

OH MY GOD. THIS BOOK WAS HORRIBLE.
I stopped instantly at page 44 because it was killing me of how ridiculous this book is.
OMG. I cant even explain what I don't like because Im unbelievably speechless. I thought it was a horrible book. No Questions Asked.
I switched to another book, "The extraordinary lives of April, May and June" and its really good so far. But, "Switched" really ruined my mood for reading another book today. -.-
How was it even accepted to be published?
As of rating, I give this a 1 out of 5 stars.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great perspective read. Predicable but I really enjoyed it. Lots of cleaning tips.

[John Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful take on the Prince & The Pauper. Both girls, Laura's mom, and Caleb are likable and easy people to relate to. Their switching has its moments, but both pull it off until a situation arises that blows things up. Fortunately, when the dust settles, all is good.

[Laurenleah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wanted to switch places or be in someone else’s shoes? In Switched by Jessica Wollman the two main characters, Willa and Laura, decide to switch places for four months. Willa Pogue enjoys being an heiress and goes to Fenwick, her snooty boarding school. Laura Melon is smart and cleans houses for the rich. Throughout the book Willa and Laura find out they look exactly alike and share similar interests. Wollman’s style or technique of writing is interesting because her voice speaks to the reader thirteen and fifteen years of age can easily relate to the book. The book was interesting and enjoyable but, a little confusing in some parts. Some parts are confusing because each chapter talks about a different person and rotates. The interesting scenes in the book are before the switch and after the switch. Beginners
Before the switch, Laura and Willa both live completely different lifestyles. Laura was snooping around Willa’s room when she was disrupted by Willa’s yelling. Willa yelled, “What are you doing, oh forget it, just shut up,” (35-36). Laura felt sorry for what she did and realized Willa had a problem. But, from looking around the room Laura concludes since she is rich that he is stuck-up. A few chapters later Willa apologizes to Laura and finds out that they do have numerous things in common but, live in different life styles. Since they look alike and can act like each other they decide to switch places for four months.
After the switch, Laura and Willa both find something new about themselves. Laura is in Willa’s shoes and gets to talk to a boy whom later she likes. Willa on the other hand, finds out she is interested in cars. Which no one would have even guessed she would be interested in. Willa said, “NASCAR had changed everything,” (189). Ever since she saw the race she now helps her father change the oil in his car. After the switch, Laura and Willa both find out something unique about themselves.
All in all, Jessica Wollman’s book Switched was a good book and should be a book that is considered reading. Even though the book was Fiction the reader can easily relate to the two characters in the two scenes before the switch and after the switch.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was kind of disappointing, especially since I'd put so much thought into how the story would be like ever since I read the storyline and heard of the title. But, like they all say, titles can be decieving. Originally, I thought this book would be something like The Princess and The Pauper, one my my favorite books, because the plot is similiar, but this just wasn't what I expected.

Two girls, completely unrelated, meet by chance. Willa Pogue, daughter of the rich and famous Pogues, is tired of disappointing her parents and trying to be what a Pogue should be like. Laura Mellon, who has been a cleaner all her time, is tired of not having enough money and living her miserable life. By chance, they met, and by chance, they agreed to take the place of one other. How long can they keep their switch a secret, and what happens when the cat's out of the bag?

The book was a bit more than 200 pages, and although I liked some parts of the book and the writing, I thought it lacked something. Excitement? I liked the portrayl of emotions throughout the book and felt that was the strongest part.

[Kricket · Rating 3 out of 5]

willa pogue hates her swanky boarding school and upper-crust parents. laura melon hates helping her mom clean houses and not being able to afford college. then they have a chance encounter while laura is cleaning willa's room, and conveniently realize that they are identical.

cute, fluffy retelling of "the prince and the pauper." when i was little i was obsessed with "the parent trap" and any other story i could find about lookalikes switching places. the thing about this one is that we never find out what happened. they are identical and have the same birthday but this is never explained. is one adopted? which one? how did that wind up happening? or are we just expected to believe that 2 identical girls with the same birthday live in the same town. still a fun read.

[Liralen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a retelling of the princess and the pauper, this was better than I'd expected. I think The Princess & the Pauper is a bit more satisfying (though possibly because there was an actual princess involved in that one), but I appreciated here that Willa's actually pretty low-key and Angie turns out to be more complex than she seems at first glance. There were a few too many unanswered questions for my tastes (What exactly was Laura doing for money at the school? How was Willa so blasé about cleaning? Who exactly was Willa's Internet paramour?), and I didn't really buy the resolution, but...fluffity fluff and all that.

[Jackie "the Librarian" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura cleans houses, and Willa is a rich girl who keeps getting kicked out of school. They could be twins! Of course, they meet, wish they had each other's lives, and trade places. And, unlike many of these stories, they really are happier in their new roles.
This is not a deep book, this is a fun teen girl story about following your dreams, whether they are to go to a great college, or to work on race cars for NASCAR. I read it in one quick gulp, and enjoyed the twist on a familiar story.
For teen girls ages 11-15.

[Kiersten]

'Twas okay. To echo all the other reviews on here...just okay. And yes, it was cute. But not fantastic and not a story I will probably ever think about again, or recommend. Honestly, I was kind of surprised I picked it up in the first place...thus, i can't say it was a disappointment. But I didn't hate it.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Wellman offered a completely new take on the classic story of the The Prince and the Pauper. This one was about a housekeeper and a socialite, both wanting a different life. I liked both the characters and the plot was intweresting.
A total happily ever after book.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another prince/pauper, rags-to-riches, identical strangers switching places type tale. Had enough unique bits to keep it interesting, but other than that...no earth-shattering "moral of the story" that I was really able to glean. A fluffy bit of fantasy that was easy to read.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had a string of good luck with the books I've read. I fell in love with the guy in this book. (I tend to do that with fictional characters... all of them EXCEPT THE STUPID TWILIGHT SERIES.. that's all. Just wanted to get that out)

[Liza Wiemer]

SWITCHED really choked me up at the end! I really felt for Laura - one of the girls who "Switched" - A little bit of The Parent Trap and Cinderella - though the characters are not related. I definitely found this to be an enjoyable, fast, and satisfying read!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was told I wouldn't like this book, but I did. Gentle humor. Like "The Prince and the Pauper." It's odd that this is the second book I've read lately about the adventures of a cleaning staff. You might suspect that I'm more motivated to clean than I actually am.

[Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute, quick read. Nothing earth-shattering but I enjoyed the story. I think teen girls would enjoy it as well.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two girls from different sides of the track decide to switch lives when they discover how similar they are in looks.

[Callie Yow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned that no matter how impossible things seem, there is always a way out.

[Nono · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of teenage fluff. The Prince and the Pauper only modern times and about girls. Not my normal cup of tea but a fun quick read. I was needing something light and easy and it filled the bill

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a talented author! The storytelling is effortless, and the challenges facing the characters are believable. Where is the sequel? This story deserves to be continued.

[Vasha7 · Rating 2 out of 5]

A routine but charming quick read.

[Michelle Chase · Rating 2 out of 5]

Average.. take it or leave it. Don't expect excellence though.

[Kellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it is really good right now .i like how they are a rich and poor people because normally it is only rich people

[Janelle Hackbarth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is like The Prince and the Pauper story, set with girls in modern times. Really enjoyable for a story of identical strangers switching places

[Reader Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, though unlikely story. Haven't we all wished we could live someone else's life?

[Mary]

typical teen-age girl book -

[Emma the Dork · Rating 1 out of 5]

worst. book. EVER. thats all.