Review: Double by Jenny Valentine

Double

By: Jenny Valentine

Pub. Date: February 27, 2012

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Pages: 256

Source: Netgalley

When the sixteen-year-old runaway Chap is mistaken for a missing boy named Cassiel, his life changes dramatically. Chap takes on Cassiel’s identity, gaining the family and friends he’s always dreamed of having. But becoming someone else isn’t as easy as he hoped—and Chap isn’t the only one hiding a secret. As he teeters on the brink of discovery and begins to unravel the mystery behind Cassiel’s disappearance, Chap realizes that he’s in much deeper danger than he could have imagined.

After all, you can’t just steal a life and expect to get away with it.

Award-winning author Jenny Valentine delivers an explosive mystery where dark secrets, betrayal, and loss pave the way for one teen’s chance at redemption.

Chap has been living on the streets ever since his grandfather fell and was sent to live in a rehabilitation home. His life consists of getting into fights with other street kids and looking for food in dumpsters. He has no friends, no family, and no place to call home. As luck would have it, he gets mistaken for a boy named Cassiel. Except for a few minor scars and different teeth, they look exactly alike. Thinking this is his chance to have a real family, Chap goes along with everyone and says that he is the missing boy.  Once inside the walls of his new home, he soon realizes that things aren’t always as they seem and Cassiel might not have run away, he might have been murdered. Chap has to figure out the mystery before he disappears too. In the process he learns a lot more about himself as well.

I really liked Chap and felt bad for him. As horrible as it was, I understand why Chap did what he did. Every child deserves a family and Chap never wanted to hurt anyone. Chap was a very admiral character, and based on his age and what he went through before he pretended to be Cassiel, I was surprised to find out just how admiral he was. As for the other characters in Double, I never really got to know them well enough. They weren’t fully developed and I was disappointed in that.  

Double is the perfect murder mystery story for middle and high school kids. It is a very quick read and I was able to read it in one sitting. I would recommend it!