Parents' Guide to

Impostor

By Mary Eisenhart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Someone sees through Vee's eyes in taut thriller sequel.

Book Jill Hathaway Fantasy 2013
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What's the Story?

Six months after the conclusion of Slide, life has settled down a bit for Iowa City teen Vee Bell, though she's still troubled by nightmares of the horrific car crash that killed a friend in Slide and still coming to terms with her ability to \"slide\" into the bodies of other people and see things through their eyes. Then one night, someone apparently \"slides\" into her and makes her wreck her dad's car, raising new and scary possibilities -- along with the question of the IMPOSTOR's identity. Things only get worse when her long-lost aunt, who looks just like Vee's dead mother, suddenly shows up on the doorstep and makes herself at home. And a gray-haired lady in town seems to know way too much about Vee and her family. Meanwhile, Vee's still dealing with cliques, predatory jocks, and other hazards of high school, while realizing she's in love with her longtime best friend, Rollins.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Impostor is fast-paced and insightful, with a narrative voice that's snarky, funny, and utterly vulnerable. It spends less time than Slide on the nasty, vicious culture that infests Vee's high school (and ultimately results in a notable body count and assorted tawdry revelations by story's end).

Much of the narrative is Vee's internal monologue as she tries to make sense of inexplicable events from a state of near-Hitchcockian tension and paranoia, not to mention an emotional roller-coaster of romantic and family issues. As such, it may be a bit claustrophobically fraught for some readers. But Vee is worth knowing and is an appealing narrator as she takes us on her journey.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the appeal of the idea of being able to telepathically link with other people and see things through their eyes. What other stories with this theme do you know, and how does Impostor compare?

  • Do you think the revenge that the girls plot on the predatory Scotch is appropriate or over the top? What influences your opinion/reaction?

  • Vee and Rollins love "Everlong" by Foo Fighters. Have you heard that song? What do you think?

Book Details

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