Help! I'm Trapped in My Sister's Body

Help! I'm Trapped...

by Todd Strasser

With his on-line pal Sumi coming for a visit, Jake Sherman, worried because he has led her to believe that he is a star athlete, exchanges bodies with the only ahtlete in the family, his sister, Jessica

Genres: Childrens, Science Fiction, Humor, Middle Grade, Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult

136 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Todd Strasser is an American author of more than 130 novels for adults, young-adults, and middle graders.

His most recent novel is Summer of '69

Booklist review: "Drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll, those hallmarks of the summer of 1969, are all here, but there's so much more. In this loosely autobiographical novel, Strasser introduces 18-year-old Lucas, who is bright and sensitive but also a screw up…. The picture painted of the Woodstock music festival shows the dark side of peace and love, and the prevalence of drugs is on almost every page…The best part of the book, however, is the one that transcends eras: Lucas' introspection as he contemplates his place in the world."

Kirkus review: "Strasser perfectly captures the golden haze of youth and life on the cusp of adulthood. Readers fascinated with this time period will find much to enjoy... Vietnam, Woodstock, road trips, and acid trips: a sweetly bittersweet, surprising, even melancholy bildungsroman set against a world in flux. Groovy, man."

His most recent young adult novel is Price of Duty:
2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
“Compact and suspenseful, the novel raises important questions about war.” – Kirkus 
“This thought-provoking book is both welcome and imperative.” – Booklist * (starred review).
"Rather than attempting to sway the reader, it offers awareness." - VOYA 
“Tightly wound and compelling ... appropriate for an older middle school and high school audience. VERDICT: Highly recommended.” – School Library Journal 

Bio: Todd was born in New York City. When he was young his parents moved to Roslyn Heights, New York (Long Island). Todd went to the I.U. Willets Elementary school and then attended the Wheatley School for junior high and high school. His best subjects were math and science. He also liked to read, but he had trouble with spelling and grammar, and didn't do well in English. His favorite sports were tennis, skiing and fishing. Todd went to college at New York University for a few years, and then dropped out. He lived on a commune, then lived in Europe where he was a street musician.

All the while, Todd wrote songs and poems and lots of letters to his friends back home. Finally he decided to try being a writer. He returned to the United States and went to Beloit College where he studied literature and writing.

After college, Todd worked at the Middletown Times Herald-Record newspaper in Middletown, New York, and later at Compton Advertising in New York City. In 1978, Todd sold his first novel, Angel Dust Blues. He used the money to start the Dr. Wing Tip Shoo fortune cookie company. For the next 12 years, Todd sold more fortune cookies than books.

Todd now divides his time between writing books and speaking at schools and conferences. When he's at home, he likes to spend time with his children and dog, Cooper. He still likes to play tennis and ski, but his favorite new sport is surfing.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything is going well for Jake and his pen pal, until he realizes she is coming to visit. Now he must switch bodies with his big sister, Jessica, who does not like him at all, so that he can cover up a lie that he told his pen pal. Learn what the lie is, how they covered it up, and how the siblings worked together, ending with them actually getting along. This book is a great way to encourage teamwork and finding people's strengths and using them for good.

[readwithmi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Visiting home and found this laying around. Couldn’t remember reading it as a kid so I gave it a quick read and it was the worst, outdated story ever. From “big fat woman” to outdated gender roles, I hated every second of this.

[ginger329 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!it was funny and it always kept me reading it because it was so good!

[Zev · Rating 3 out of 5]

This made me smile more than I expected. This did something for little me when I was twelve and realizing I was a boy in a body that wasn't me. I especially liked the cover and couldn't explain why. I returned to it twenty years later, curious and thinking it would have aged terribly and be awful. It wasn't! There was a touch of plot contrivance, but it was retracted later. Believable, I thought. There was an extended...thing...with Jake making noises like a drill because he can't speak clearly due to Novocain. Just carry a pen and paper, silly. Some interactions between him and Sumi could have been cut, but others...they both didn't age well but were also super current. Sumi herself was definitely a stereotype, and: you're telling me her English is shaky, yet she can understand someone who's slurring their words and having trouble speaking? No, Strasser. And she knows what an American carnival--okay, she could have seen it on TV. But--it didn't fit with how she talked and I call plot contrivance. The gender stuff, some of it is outdated but some, in some regions of the US, could definitely still happen today. Back in the 90s, this was probably intended as the height of comedy and not to be taken seriously, but I super did. Even now..

[Melissa Namba · Rating 3 out of 5]

A basic middle school book. Nothing exceptional. I like that he learns to empathize with his sister. I'm a little confused why a 14 yo boy, who lies to his 17 yo girl pen pal about his age because he likes gear, would be worried about girl cooties at the girl clothing store. Cultural note, a Japanese girl would never ask a boy that she had just met to win her a gigantic bunny at such great cost.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. They storyline is not really amazing, but it would get your attention. the writing was not all that I thought it would be. Overall it would be a good book for third grade, but do not go further than that.

[Ivy K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being autogynephilic, I HIGHLY enjoyed this book as a 12-year-old.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book over and over as a kid growing up basically a body switching ,freaky Friday fun book .I really enjoyed it

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually like body switch stories, but this one was forgettable and pretty throwaway.

[Benjamin Vena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Loved every chapter.

Childhood favorite and it didn’t disappoint.

Its so cool that this author mentions a previous book in the series without going into too much detail.

I also love how Jake Sherman and all the characters are all well developed and fleshed out.

Could honestly RE read again and again.

Highly recommend for everyone of all ages.

[Taylor Morlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

4rd grade me needed this book so I can’t give it less than 4* even though it deserves 2

[Justin Felder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always been a fan of this kind of story. Very cute.

[gilli · Rating 3 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WAS A RANDOM READ BUT IT WAS PRETTY GOOD. IT WAS REALLY FUNNY AT PARTS AND I READ IT IN A BOOKCLUB WHICH MADE IT BETTER. WHEN THE AUTHOR WAS EXPLAINING WHOS BODY WAS IN WHOS I THINK THEY WORDED IT WEIRDLY BUT IT WAS STILL GOOD👍👍👍

[hedgehog · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was part of a series where there was a body-swapping machine and the characters would then switch bodies with presidents, a dog, etc. In this one, Jake switches bodies with his sister Jessica. Just to be clear, this is not a good book on so many levels. It's dated, full of awful gender stereotypes, and there's a truly unfunny scene that makes fun of a fat person.

Also, because it's 2019 and existence is a curse, there's a Donald Trump reference in here. Truly, time did this book no favors.

But also, you know when you look back at a book and you realize exactly why your clueless younger self was so fascinated by it? I'm sure there was no reason whatsoever that I would reread this crappy book about someone bodyhopping into someone of the opposite gender. No reason at all. Ha ha ha, totally innocent interest! Doesn't have any psychological implications at all! Nothing to see here! Doesn't everyone think about these things?? Ah, younger self. Don't worry, twenty-two years later, you may have become more self-aware, but you're still a dumbass.