Identical Book Summary

Kaeleigh and Raeanee are 16-year-old identical twins, the daughters of a district court judge father and politician mother running for US Congress. Everything on the surface seems fine, but underneath run very deep and disturbing secrets. When the girls were 9, Daddy started becoming involved with Kaeleigh in ways a father never should, and has been sexually abusing her for years. For Raeanne, she needs to numb the pain of not being Daddy's favorite; so she chooses drugs, alcohol, and sex. For Kaeleigh, she wants to do everything she can to escape the life she's living, even if it means cutting herself and vomiting after every binge. Raeanne only wants to know her fathers love, the love he's been giving to her twin sister Kaeleigh since she was young. While Kaeleigh, who is just the opposite, only wants to be acknowledged by her mother who is rarely home. Reading about the things that have happened to these girls makes me feel bad for both of them, and anyone else in that situation. I have learned that Raeanne is constantly having sexual relations with guys just because she feels like she's been neglected sexually by her father. Raeanne later learns that the reason behind his abuse; when their father was a boy he was sent off to a babysitters sense his mother was never home and his father was always working. Their father was forced to do sexual acts at the age of 10 while his babysitter filmed it. Her fathers constant abuse towards Kaeleigh has toubled her when it comes to relationships since the only relationship she's had is with her father. Kaeleigh thinks she might of found love with a close friend Ian, although Ian loves Kaeleigh, she doesn't feel worthy of his love or that she'll ever be his. Kaeleigh believes she'll never be freed from her father. I have also read that Kaeleigh tries to escape from home by going to work at a home for the elderly. Kaeleigh has become close with an elderly woman named Greta and learns Greta was also abused in the same way by her father. Kaeleigh has come close to telling her about her own problems with her father and family, but has never been able to share this dark secret with anybody, not even Ian. Raeanne is constantly seeking sexual relations as a rebellion to her drastic home life, with multiple guys. While Kaeleigh lashes out by trying to commit suicide and escape her life, because she feels now that her mother won the election she will never be home, and the only thing she has to live for is Ian, and she doesn't think she deserves him. Raeanne decides to get away from the house and hook up with Tyler since things with Mr. Lawler and Mick haven't worked out lately. While with Tyler Ian barges in and demands to know why she would do this. Raeanne is confused and tries to explain to Ian that she isn't Kaeleigh, and Ian tells Kaeleigh that when they were seven Raeanne died in the car crash caused by their father. Kaeleigh wakes up in the hospital confused about everything, Kaeleigh meets with a therapist as a way to help her and learns she has something called split personality disorder. Kaeleigh learns that when she and her twin sister Raeanne were in the car accident only Kaeleigh survived. Kaeleigh has been living as her and her twin sister since the accident with no way of knowing. Kaeleigh asks her therapist how this could be possible and he tells her its a brain disorder and over time it can be cured and she can learn to control which girl takes her over. Kaeleigh moves on to live with her grandmother and is now able to control her multiply personalities for the most part. She comes to forgive her mother for her neglate, and her father is put away. Although Kaeleigh is relieved her father will get the help he needs, deep down Kaeleigh doesn't believe he can be cured of his sick obsession. The ending to this book was very original and nothing I could of ever predicted. Ellen Hopkins is a very original and interesting author to read, and I highly recomend her.