Amazon Demarche Publishing Amazon B&N Category:  Young Adult/Teen Publisher: Demarche Publishing ISBN-10:  0982307705 Type: Fiction Pages: 192 Copyright: Feb 10, 2009 ISBN-13: 9780982307700 They were so similar and they lived in the same imperfect world with overwhelming family problems. Each boy, in his own way, was begging for help. One was black and the other was white and they had switched! Same age, same height, same grade—they could have been identical twins, but they were not.  Yet they lived in the same imperfect world with overwhelming family problems. Greg’s father had walked out after striking his mother. Steve’s father refused to leave after repeatedly abusing his mother. Each boy, in his own way, was begging for help. They lived in different homes. They had different personalities.  One was black and the other was white and they had switched! www.demarchepublishing.com Excerpt One was black and the other was white and they had switched! After witnessing a violent quarrel between his parents, Greg feels confused, resentful and angry. His father accused his mother of having an affair fifteen years ago, and if the details of the affair are true, then the man that Greg had always called father is not his real father. Even worse is the fact that after striking his mother, Greg’s “father” walks out. Meanwhile, Greg has only his mother’s word that his father is really his father. Into this mix comes the link. Steve hates his stepfather. He has struggled for years to find out why his mother would choose to remain with a man who physically abuses her. Steve’s secret fear is that his stepfather is actually his real father. Frustrated and angry, Steve goes for his stepfather’s gun. And then there is the link. Neither boy is able to deal with his family’s problems; each needs help. And suddenly, help is available! They switched! Greg is now faced with Steve’s family’s problems and Steve has Greg’s. But that’s not all. Suddenly, family matters are no longer the biggest problem. Because Greg is black and Steve is white, each boy now faces the question of race from a different perspective. Fearful that no one will believe the switch-- and even more fearful of becoming experimental subjects-- they struggle on their own to survive. They are forced to share information, communicate and–even worse in their eyes¬–get along with each other.

Jennifer Manente
‘Linked is an enticing story about a bond between two young teens from different backgrounds.
I was immediately hooked when their strange connection began and loved following their stories...’
-Jennifer Manente, NYC Public School Teacher


Judge's commentary
‘This book about a black and a white kid switching bodies handles race very well. This is a brave thing to do and done successfully…. Great character development….’
-Judge's commentary, Writer's Digest Awards Contest

Chris Phillips
What does it feel like to be someone else? What happens if one person changed into another’s body? Peart has written a young adult novel about just that. She takes the two protagonists, Steve and Greg, through this exchange.
Greg is a sophomore in a public school. His mother is raising her two sons alone in an apartment. Steve is a sophomore in a private school. His mother is raising him with the help of his stepfather in an affluent neighborhood. One night Greg dreams of a vicious attack by Steve’s stepfather on Steve. Is it real? Does it really happen? He doesn’t know until the next time, when instead of just dreaming it he finds that he is living it.
Through a process undisclosed, Greg occupies Steve’s body and vice versa. After an adjustment by both boys, they begin to discover that they will have to live each other’s lives for at least a time. Greg’s father has left after a fight. Steve and his mother are enduring an abusive relationship. Both have problems and neither knows how to fix them. Will it help if Greg makes the tough decisions that Steve fears? Will it help if Steve resolves Greg’s problems? And does it matter that Greg is black and Steve is white? Finally, will they ever change back?
The story is consistent and wonderfully enlightening. There is glimpse after glimpse into the interactions between these two disparate but strangely similar young men trying to get by in life. The adventures are very engrossing and will keep the reader wanting to read just one more page after another.
Peart shows a gentle understanding of race issues and identity issues among adolescent males. Although the basis might seem far-fetched, the plot is consistent throughout and the characters maintain a very balanced development.
This book is highly recommended for any young adult readers, for their parents and for anyone wanting to relive the struggles of a teenager with a twist.