The Swap by Megan Shull - Katie Vanko EDRL 524 Fall 2014

Read The Swap  by Megan Shull!       Katie Vanko EDRL 524 Fall 2014

            If you are a fan of Freaky Friday and imagining life as someone else, then The Swap is the new young adult fiction book for you!  Author Megan Shull takes the concept of body swapping to a whole new level in her funny and honest novel for teens.  Instead of the parent and child swapping, two seventh grade students wake up as each other!  The best part is that they are different genders.  Jack and Ellie are normal middle school students, facing the everyday awkward moments as twelve year olds.  Now, Ellie must survive intense football practices and a strict military father.  Jack has to endure shopping for bras and talking about crushes at sleep- overs! 

            Built on relatable, humorous dialogue, this novel tackles some important issues that middle school students need to talk about.  The novel contains themes about difficult family dynamics, bullying, gossip, friendship, confidence, and individuality.  Megan Shull’s purpose is to help young people feel less alone in puberty and growing up.  Both genders are represented quite well through dialogue and thoughts between Ellie and Jack.  Audiences will be entertained while reading because Shull is a combination of playful, sarcastic, and completely honest.  She is unafraid to write about embarrassing moments that teens have while becoming men and women.  Readers can identify with Jack and Ellie as they overcome challenges to become the best versions of themselves. 

            Many of my own 8^th grade students rave about this novel, saying that the author writes in a unique way because she just “says it.”  They are shocked by how fearless she is in her descriptions.  Megan Shull also came to my school in Petaluma to talk to my students, and she read them chapters from the novel.  It was a spectacular experience to hear from her about the intention of her novel.  She is a lovely person who wants to reach young people through storytelling.  I recommend this novel for middle school aged students.  There are some sections that describe puberty from both a male/female perspective; so younger students may not fully be able to connect!  My 8^th graders definitely giggled a little, but enjoyed every moment.