Double Trouble

by Barthe DeClements, Christopher Greimes

The salvation of twins Faith and Phillip, separated and in grave danger, may lie in their ability to establish a mental link through telepathic powers

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Paranormal, Childrens

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 1988

Reviews

[Cheryl]

Probably would have been a better read back in 1988, when cults were a headline issue, and when it was easier to suspend disbelief in ESP-y stuff. Still, I very much enjoyed the hour & a half I spent with Faith and Phillip, and Jake and Roxanne (the almost too-good-to-be-true new friends) and Mrs. Thompson, Linda and Cynthia (the caregivers who tried). I did pick up more by the author at this tiny rural library and look forward to reading them.

(Goldfield-not-permitted.)

[Rose]

Bathre DeClements "Double Trouble" (co-written with her son Christopher Greimes) is a very well written story about twins that were separated in the aftermath of the tragic death of their parents and older sister. But Phillip and Faith are closer than what most people think, not simply for the fact that they're twins, but because they share secret abilities that allow them to sense the other. Faith can pick up on cues with her limited mindreading (ESP) abilities, while Phillip can be in two places at once by separating from his body in astral form.

The story is written in a series of letters between Phillip and Faith, accounting their experiences living away from each other. Things become complicated for the two of them - Phillip has a tough time living under his foster parents care, especially with his foster father. Faith's troubles come in the form of suspecting a popular teacher at her school of criminal activity, and he seems to be catching on to her suspicions. The twins have to use their abilities to make sense of the things going on around them, and to help each other when they hit the wall.

I found it to be a convincing, imaginative read. The prose flows smoothly, the dynamic and character chemistries are vivid and kept me turning the pages to see what happens next, even if the story itself is rather simple and doesn't quite expand on the twins abilities as much as it could've. It's a short read, so some might think it ends sooner than it begins, but for 168 pages, I was drawn to both Phillip and Faith's trials, and I rooted for them as events fell into place.

I would say it's more of a story appreciated by younger teens/juvenile readers, but for the story told, it was charming and one I would definitely recommend.

Overall score: 3.5/5

[Maryann Fläsch]

I read this in the 5th grade and the reviews about the way all adults are hostile and harmful nature of cults seemed highly accurate and the only people 'offended' by the language are people that find it hits too close to home. A great read for children and adults that do not have a theistic stick up their bum.

[Katy Schram]

This was a re-read fueled by childhood nostalgia and it was not quite as good as I remembered

[Kate Stark]

This is a weird book and I really enjoyed it. The author also wrote books like "Sixth Grade Can Really Kill You," and this one is in the same vein...except the two protagonists are "into out of body," as one of their friends puts it. In some passages it's a normal school story, in others a highly implausible mystery about a teacher who is also a jewel thief, and in others a somewhat dry explanation of how astral projection works.

[Matt Kratz]

Excellent book told in correspondence between two twins. They have special "gifts." They use them to help them get themselves out of jams, on of which is that Phillp has made an enemy of his stepfather. This is an outstanding thriller!

[Hope Broadway]

Good story, good mystery. Really sad that these traumatized kids were separated like that. Sadly, sometimes that still happens today.
The esoteric elements of the story were interesting.
I read this as a kid and again this week.

[Catherine Mustread]

14-year-old twins, Faith & Phillip, are separated after their parents die but form a mental link through telepathic powers.

[Katrina Sutton]

It wasn't a bad read...I was pretty much intrigued the whole time and was really hoping that there was going to be a happy ending for the twins. :)