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Linked
After witnessing a violent quarrel between his parents, Greg feels confused, resentful, and angry. His father accused his mother of having an affair fifteen years ago. If it's true, this man may not be Greg's father. Into this mix comes the link. Steve hates his stepfather. He has struggled for years to find out why his mother would choose to remain with a man who physically abuses her. His fear is that his stepfather is actually his real father. Frustrated and angry, Steve goes for his stepfather's gun. And then there is the link. Neither boy is able to deal with their family problems. And suddenly, help is available-they switched. Greg is now faced with Steve's family problems and Steve has Greg's. But that's not the least of ita ""Greg is black and Steve is white. Fearful that no one will believe the switch they struggle to survive.
- GenresYoung AdultRelationships
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 10, 2008
146 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 17, 2010
Linked by Olive Peart ISBN 978-0-9823077-0-0
Review by Chris Phillips
What does it feel like to be someone else? What happens if one person changed into another’s body? Peart has written a young adult novel about just that. She takes the two protagonists, Steve and Greg, through this exchange.
Greg is a sophomore in a public school. His mother is raising her two sons alone in an apartment. Steve is a sophomore in a private school. His mother is raising him with the help of his stepfather in an affluent neighborhood. One night Greg dreams of a vicious attack by Steve’s stepfather on Steve. Is it real? Does it really happen? He doesn’t know until the next time, when instead of just dreaming it he finds that he is living it.
Through a process undisclosed, Greg occupies Steve’s body and vice versa. After an adjustment by both boys, they begin to discover that they will have to live each other’s lives for at least a time. Greg’s father has left after a fight. Steve and his mother are enduring an abusive relationship. Both have problems and neither knows how to fix them. Will it help if Greg makes the tough decisions that Steve fears? Will it help if Steve resolves Greg’s problems? And does it matter that Greg is black and Steve is white? Finally, will they ever change back?
The story is consistent and wonderfully enlightening. There is glimpse after glimpse into the interactions between these two disparate but strangely similar young men trying to get by in life. The adventures are very engrossing and will keep the reader wanting to read just one more page after another.
Peart shows a gentle understanding of race issues and identity issues among adolescent males. Although the premise might seem far-fetched, the plot is consistent throughout and the characters maintain a very balanced development.
This book is highly recommended for any young adult readers, for their parents and for anyone wanting to relive the struggles of a teenager with a twist.
Published by Demarche Publishing, (www.demarchepublishing.com) ($7.95 USD SRP/Amazon $7.95 USD) Reviewer received book from the publisher.
Review by Chris Phillips
What does it feel like to be someone else? What happens if one person changed into another’s body? Peart has written a young adult novel about just that. She takes the two protagonists, Steve and Greg, through this exchange.
Greg is a sophomore in a public school. His mother is raising her two sons alone in an apartment. Steve is a sophomore in a private school. His mother is raising him with the help of his stepfather in an affluent neighborhood. One night Greg dreams of a vicious attack by Steve’s stepfather on Steve. Is it real? Does it really happen? He doesn’t know until the next time, when instead of just dreaming it he finds that he is living it.
Through a process undisclosed, Greg occupies Steve’s body and vice versa. After an adjustment by both boys, they begin to discover that they will have to live each other’s lives for at least a time. Greg’s father has left after a fight. Steve and his mother are enduring an abusive relationship. Both have problems and neither knows how to fix them. Will it help if Greg makes the tough decisions that Steve fears? Will it help if Steve resolves Greg’s problems? And does it matter that Greg is black and Steve is white? Finally, will they ever change back?
The story is consistent and wonderfully enlightening. There is glimpse after glimpse into the interactions between these two disparate but strangely similar young men trying to get by in life. The adventures are very engrossing and will keep the reader wanting to read just one more page after another.
Peart shows a gentle understanding of race issues and identity issues among adolescent males. Although the premise might seem far-fetched, the plot is consistent throughout and the characters maintain a very balanced development.
This book is highly recommended for any young adult readers, for their parents and for anyone wanting to relive the struggles of a teenager with a twist.
Published by Demarche Publishing, (www.demarchepublishing.com) ($7.95 USD SRP/Amazon $7.95 USD) Reviewer received book from the publisher.
April 12, 2010
Olive Peart certainly knows her teenagers, and she knows the segregated high school world of cliques and misunderstandings. Linked tells the tale of two teens, one black, one white, whose lives are oddly similar despite their obvious differences. Unfortunately for them (or perhaps fortunately) their lives are also linked. When family problems stretch relationships with those they love to breaking point, this curious link between two boys who’ve never even met grows suddenly strong.
The author handles the curious relationships formed when two boys switch bodies in a fun, relatively convincing, and surprisingly intricate style. Each can feel the others’ pain. Both feel betrayal. And each views his neighbor’s world through a mixture of pre-conceived ideas and the fresh eyes needed to shed light.
“I don’t want to be black,” says one. “I don’t want to be white.” With true teenage flexibility, they forge ahead and find their worlds not so different; their needs and desires almost the same.
Resolution comes when both boys learn to respect each others’ advice. Then black and white adults come to their families’ aid and show themselves in shades of pre-conceived prejudice too. The boys are left to guide and build on what they’ve learned.
Linked is a fast-moving story. There’s no long lingering thoughts and diatribes. But the thoughts that the tale inspires linger long after the telling. I’m grateful to the DeMarche Publishing for letting me read this, a fun teenage novel, with a neat mix of action, science fiction and social science, and some wise lessons to learn.
The author handles the curious relationships formed when two boys switch bodies in a fun, relatively convincing, and surprisingly intricate style. Each can feel the others’ pain. Both feel betrayal. And each views his neighbor’s world through a mixture of pre-conceived ideas and the fresh eyes needed to shed light.
“I don’t want to be black,” says one. “I don’t want to be white.” With true teenage flexibility, they forge ahead and find their worlds not so different; their needs and desires almost the same.
Resolution comes when both boys learn to respect each others’ advice. Then black and white adults come to their families’ aid and show themselves in shades of pre-conceived prejudice too. The boys are left to guide and build on what they’ve learned.
Linked is a fast-moving story. There’s no long lingering thoughts and diatribes. But the thoughts that the tale inspires linger long after the telling. I’m grateful to the DeMarche Publishing for letting me read this, a fun teenage novel, with a neat mix of action, science fiction and social science, and some wise lessons to learn.
September 3, 2016
I won a copy of Linked through the Goodreads FirstReads program.
Linked is an interesting take on the "Freaky Friday Flip" trope mixed with a look at race relations between teenagers.
In most body switch plots, the goal is to get the two characters to improve their relationship with each other. In Linked, the switch is meant to improve the relationships with their family by allowing them to see the situation from an outside perspective. I found this refreshing and it's done reasonably well.
My main issues with the book are the poor cover photo (which would actually be a very nice cover design if the picture wasn't so pixellated), the formatting errors (words hanging in one line or quotation marks hovering under the paragraph makes it look sloppy. I initally mistook this for grammar issues because it was so distracting.), somewhat stilted dialogue, and a bit of a silly conclusion (). I did like the end part about .
I was also quite surprised by the severity of racial tension that was examined, as it seems to be founded in a sad reality. I don't see any of that where I am from and I found it eye opening.
Once you get past the odd formatting, Linked proves itself to be a fine little book.
Linked is an interesting take on the "Freaky Friday Flip" trope mixed with a look at race relations between teenagers.
In most body switch plots, the goal is to get the two characters to improve their relationship with each other. In Linked, the switch is meant to improve the relationships with their family by allowing them to see the situation from an outside perspective. I found this refreshing and it's done reasonably well.
My main issues with the book are the poor cover photo (which would actually be a very nice cover design if the picture wasn't so pixellated), the formatting errors (words hanging in one line or quotation marks hovering under the paragraph makes it look sloppy. I initally mistook this for grammar issues because it was so distracting.), somewhat stilted dialogue, and a bit of a silly conclusion (). I did like the end part about .
I was also quite surprised by the severity of racial tension that was examined, as it seems to be founded in a sad reality. I don't see any of that where I am from and I found it eye opening.
Once you get past the odd formatting, Linked proves itself to be a fine little book.
September 8, 2013
I won this book for free from the Goodread's First Reads giveaway.
I feel this book can be enjoyed by many readers, ages 12 and all the way up to adulthood. I am 27 and I really enjoyed this story. This book is basically about 2 boys, one caucasian and one african american, that switch spots and end up "walking in each others shoes". Each boy is then faced with each other's family problems. This is a common idea and there have been other books and movies in regards to this but I found this book to be more unique and interesting. I really enjoyed the two main characters, Greg and Steve, and think most people would find them relatable. I loved how the boys learned what it was like to be of a different race and they were able to overcome some of their own prejudice thoughts. I think all teenagers should have to read this book in school as it teaches valuable lessons: dealing with racism, dealing with bullies, and dealing with home problems. I know I will for sure make my children read it one day! The only downfalls I would say is I wish it was a bit longer and the ending was too summed up. Also the cover is not really appealing.
Strongly recommended; a great read! I am very happy to have won this short book!
I feel this book can be enjoyed by many readers, ages 12 and all the way up to adulthood. I am 27 and I really enjoyed this story. This book is basically about 2 boys, one caucasian and one african american, that switch spots and end up "walking in each others shoes". Each boy is then faced with each other's family problems. This is a common idea and there have been other books and movies in regards to this but I found this book to be more unique and interesting. I really enjoyed the two main characters, Greg and Steve, and think most people would find them relatable. I loved how the boys learned what it was like to be of a different race and they were able to overcome some of their own prejudice thoughts. I think all teenagers should have to read this book in school as it teaches valuable lessons: dealing with racism, dealing with bullies, and dealing with home problems. I know I will for sure make my children read it one day! The only downfalls I would say is I wish it was a bit longer and the ending was too summed up. Also the cover is not really appealing.
Strongly recommended; a great read! I am very happy to have won this short book!
July 29, 2016
Olive Peart's "Linked" is a story about two teen boys, dealing with difficulties in their own families when suddenly their consciousnesses switch places. As if that wasn't challenging enough, they are of different ethnicities, with one African American and the other Caucasian.
The premise is an interesting one, especially the way they survive the culture shock of being in the bodies and homes of a boy they never met. The telepathic connection is a neat twist. However, with the addition of spousal abuse, the story is not as benign as one might think. In fact, my middle school child took offense at the use of profanity throughout the story even though the "F" word was never used.
So, although a good read, parents should read first or along with their children.
The premise is an interesting one, especially the way they survive the culture shock of being in the bodies and homes of a boy they never met. The telepathic connection is a neat twist. However, with the addition of spousal abuse, the story is not as benign as one might think. In fact, my middle school child took offense at the use of profanity throughout the story even though the "F" word was never used.
So, although a good read, parents should read first or along with their children.
March 7, 2013
A First Reads review
A fast read that covers racial issues and family problems. I wish there was a little more focus on the boys figuring out their relationship and less on the individual problems, but overall it wasn't a bad read.
A fast read that covers racial issues and family problems. I wish there was a little more focus on the boys figuring out their relationship and less on the individual problems, but overall it wasn't a bad read.
June 6, 2013
Received from Goodreads.
It was not a bad read... but I didn't find it to be anything special. It has good character development, and I liked the connection aspect (but that idea has been done far too often).
It was not a bad read... but I didn't find it to be anything special. It has good character development, and I liked the connection aspect (but that idea has been done far too often).
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews