by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Mistaken identity is a common theme in adolescent story lines, but this novel brings it to a whole new level. Best friends and lookalikes Maureen and Bridget suffer a tragic car accident, leaving them unrecognizable from their injuries. As doctors attempt to bring Bridget out of a coma, it isn't until after Maureen's funeral that they realize they have been mourning the wrong girl. Maureen deals with the tragedy of losing her best friend, the bitterness of her best friend's parents, and the recovery of a brain injury.
I recommend this novel for ninth and tenth grade students. This book was especially interesting to me because it takes place in small town Minnesota. There are frequent references to cheerleading, the Twin Cities, and high school life that make this book a page turner.
