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Body Swap
A fatal collision — who’s to blame? Two bodies, two souls switch in search of justice.
When fifteen-year-old Hallie gets knocked flying by a Hurricane SUV, her life ends without her ever having kissed a boy. At an otherworldly carnival, she meets and argues with the eighty-two-year-old driver, Susan. Both return to life, only with one catch — they’ve swapped bodies.
Now Hallie has wrinkled skin and achy joints while Susan deals with a forehead zit and a crush on a guy who’s a player. Hallie faces a life in a long-term care residence. Susan gets picked up for shoplifting.
As they struggle with technology, medications, and each other’s fashion foibles, they start to understand and maybe even like each other. But can they work together to prove that a defect in the Hurricane caused the deadly crash? Or will their time run out?
When fifteen-year-old Hallie gets knocked flying by a Hurricane SUV, her life ends without her ever having kissed a boy. At an otherworldly carnival, she meets and argues with the eighty-two-year-old driver, Susan. Both return to life, only with one catch — they’ve swapped bodies.
Now Hallie has wrinkled skin and achy joints while Susan deals with a forehead zit and a crush on a guy who’s a player. Hallie faces a life in a long-term care residence. Susan gets picked up for shoplifting.
As they struggle with technology, medications, and each other’s fashion foibles, they start to understand and maybe even like each other. But can they work together to prove that a defect in the Hurricane caused the deadly crash? Or will their time run out?
248 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2018
2 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Sylvia McNicoll
38 books84 followersBorn in Ajax, Sylvia McNicoll (pseudonym Genna Dare ) grew up in Montreal, Quebec where she received her BA in English with a minor in Economics from Concordia University. She began her writing career with adult short stories and household tips that were published in women's magazines, and moved on to freelance articles for Burlington local newspapers. Her friend and published author, Gisela Sherman, convinced her to take a children's writing course by Paul Kropp at Sheridan College. It was under his guidance that she wrote her first book "Blueberries and Whipped Cream" as a class project. Nine published books later she returned to Sheridan College to teach creative writing for a decade. She also edited "Today's Parent Toronto" for eight years.
Among her award winning published works are:
Project disaster, illustrated by Brian Boyd (Scholastic Canada, 1990) – Winner of Our Choice, 1990-91
The big race! Illustrated by Susan Gardos (Scholastic Canada, 1996) – winner of Our Choice, 1996-97
Jump Start, illustrated by Janet Wilson (Collier Macmillan Canada, 1989) – winner of Our Choice, 1989-90
Bringing Up Beauty (Maxwell Macmillan Canada, 1994) – winner of Our choice, 1995-96; Silver Birch Award, 1996; Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award, 1997
Caught in a Lie (Scholastic Canada, 2000) – winner of Explora-Toy award, 2001
Among her award winning published works are:
Project disaster, illustrated by Brian Boyd (Scholastic Canada, 1990) – Winner of Our Choice, 1990-91
The big race! Illustrated by Susan Gardos (Scholastic Canada, 1996) – winner of Our Choice, 1996-97
Jump Start, illustrated by Janet Wilson (Collier Macmillan Canada, 1989) – winner of Our Choice, 1989-90
Bringing Up Beauty (Maxwell Macmillan Canada, 1994) – winner of Our choice, 1995-96; Silver Birch Award, 1996; Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice Award, 1997
Caught in a Lie (Scholastic Canada, 2000) – winner of Explora-Toy award, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 13, 2018
Body Swap was a nice little treat for me! I like the concept of "swap" stories of any sort where the idea is that each character comes away with a new appreciation for the other after having (quite literally) walked a mile in their shoes.
It doesn't matter to me if they're the type where someone disguises themselves, or a husband and wife who switch roles for the day, or the magical-mystical-wake-up-in-someone-else's-body sort. Unfortunately, though, these types of stories often aren't well-written (which can lead to confusing messes) or interesting enough to be worth reading.
Happily, Body Swap is unique enough to be really interesting (an elderly woman and a teen switch bodies), and is also very nicely written. The chapters alternate between teenager Hallie and and 82-year-old Susan, but there is never any doubt about whose voice was represented by each chapter. Author Sylvia McNicoll does a really great job of showing how both a teen girl and an elderly woman can struggle to have their voices heard.
While trying to figure out how to live in each other's bodies and navigate the pitfalls associated with the other's age group (zits and young love vs. wrinkles and health conditions), the two must work together to find a way to prove that a car manufacturer is aware of (but hiding) a potentially life-threatening defect in its cars. It's a challenge for the two to get anyone to believe them that something is seriously wrong.
This was a quick, fun book to read and I was really delighted to read something Canadian that wasn't also dreary and depressing. This was a good blend of sweet with just a hint of more grown-up ideas to make it a perfect book for a reader transitioning from the middle grade to YA reading levels. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for providing me with a DRC of this book.
It doesn't matter to me if they're the type where someone disguises themselves, or a husband and wife who switch roles for the day, or the magical-mystical-wake-up-in-someone-else's-body sort. Unfortunately, though, these types of stories often aren't well-written (which can lead to confusing messes) or interesting enough to be worth reading.
Happily, Body Swap is unique enough to be really interesting (an elderly woman and a teen switch bodies), and is also very nicely written. The chapters alternate between teenager Hallie and and 82-year-old Susan, but there is never any doubt about whose voice was represented by each chapter. Author Sylvia McNicoll does a really great job of showing how both a teen girl and an elderly woman can struggle to have their voices heard.
While trying to figure out how to live in each other's bodies and navigate the pitfalls associated with the other's age group (zits and young love vs. wrinkles and health conditions), the two must work together to find a way to prove that a car manufacturer is aware of (but hiding) a potentially life-threatening defect in its cars. It's a challenge for the two to get anyone to believe them that something is seriously wrong.
This was a quick, fun book to read and I was really delighted to read something Canadian that wasn't also dreary and depressing. This was a good blend of sweet with just a hint of more grown-up ideas to make it a perfect book for a reader transitioning from the middle grade to YA reading levels. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5
Thank you very much to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for providing me with a DRC of this book.
November 10, 2022
“Carpe Diem” … Seize the day! You never know if it’s your last one!
The accelerator on the van stuck. Both the elderly driver and the victim struck by the runaway vehicle, a young teenage girl distracted as always by a message on her cell phone, are killed instantly. But when they both protest to the God who meets them at the pearly gates that the reason for their demise just wasn’t fair, God has second thoughts and sends them back for another chance. Well, second thoughts … kinda! Perhaps in a fit of capricious pique, perhaps with a view to offering both victims a chance to learn and grow, God returns them to earth with their minds and bodies switched – a teenage mind in an 80 year old arguably rather decrepit shell, and a cynical, well-experienced senior mind in a fresh, new, and very attractive nubile female bawd! They are also charged with a time-limited task or the deal’s off!
A light-hearted humorous God in the fashion of BRUCE ALMIGHTY makes for a short and sweet, easy-going young adult read. Lots of life lessons and food for thought for young, old, and middle-aged alike are on offer. The only place that BODY SWAP comes up wanting is those few brief moments where Sylvia McNicoll slips into the deeper waters of theological considerations such as free will or whether a loving god would cause pain and death. As an atheist, I’m up for debate on those issues, to be sure, but they were completely out of place in a novel like this one.
Paul Weiss
The accelerator on the van stuck. Both the elderly driver and the victim struck by the runaway vehicle, a young teenage girl distracted as always by a message on her cell phone, are killed instantly. But when they both protest to the God who meets them at the pearly gates that the reason for their demise just wasn’t fair, God has second thoughts and sends them back for another chance. Well, second thoughts … kinda! Perhaps in a fit of capricious pique, perhaps with a view to offering both victims a chance to learn and grow, God returns them to earth with their minds and bodies switched – a teenage mind in an 80 year old arguably rather decrepit shell, and a cynical, well-experienced senior mind in a fresh, new, and very attractive nubile female bawd! They are also charged with a time-limited task or the deal’s off!
A light-hearted humorous God in the fashion of BRUCE ALMIGHTY makes for a short and sweet, easy-going young adult read. Lots of life lessons and food for thought for young, old, and middle-aged alike are on offer. The only place that BODY SWAP comes up wanting is those few brief moments where Sylvia McNicoll slips into the deeper waters of theological considerations such as free will or whether a loving god would cause pain and death. As an atheist, I’m up for debate on those issues, to be sure, but they were completely out of place in a novel like this one.
Paul Weiss
November 29, 2018
What a fresh take on the whole Freaky Friday story with a delightful cast of characters!
This is a really easy and addictive read.
The characters are welcoming and fun to get to know.
I especially liked that the body swap happened between a teenager and an 82 year old woman.
Really puts things in perspective seeing the life swap in such extreme opposites.
Carpe Diem indeed!!!
Bonus: It takes place in Ontario.
This is a really easy and addictive read.
The characters are welcoming and fun to get to know.
I especially liked that the body swap happened between a teenager and an 82 year old woman.
Really puts things in perspective seeing the life swap in such extreme opposites.
Carpe Diem indeed!!!
Bonus: It takes place in Ontario.
July 31, 2018
This book is a new twist on body swaps – not played for laughs – but really a quite a serious and rather moving tale. It is a bit like Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” – That you don’t know what you’ve got Till it’s gone. Not to say that there is not some humour here (much of it connected to Eli) – just that humour is not the driving force.
The book starts with Hallie being an obnoxious self-centred teenager, too consumed with her umbilical connection to her mobile phone, to have any care for other people about her, or to take any notice of the wider world outside of her current texting mission. Still obliviously texting while hurrying to the mall to catch sight of the object of her latest crush, Hallie walks in front of an accelerating car, and is killed. So is the elderly woman, Susan, who was driving the car.
The next scene is in a carnival, where rides will transport the dead to the hereafter. Neither Susan nor Hallie are ready to let go of life yet. Hallie because she has not yet been kissed by a boy (in particular, Chael), and Susan, because she does not want to be blamed for killing Hallie, when her defective new car is to blame. They are brought together by the mysterious Eli, whom they persuade to give them another chance by promising to use their extra time to expose the defects in Susan’s SUV – before anyone else is killed. Eli assures them, that they are “both going to have your different ending. More different than you can ever imagine”
They wake up back in the carpark. Hallie’s body is pale with “brown spots and blue, bulgy veins”, and knobbly throbbing knees. “Not only am I white, I’m ancient!”. Eli is at pains to point out to her that “Growing old is a privilege – one you may not even earn”. Meanwhile, Susan is very happy with her new body: “My skin is lovely, young and smooth. And the extra pigment is so practical and protective”.
Unfortunately, Hallie’s phone is not so lucky. She manages to convince Susan to replace it with the latest model smart phone (at great expense – “This young girl doesn’t understand anything about money. About making it last till the end of your life because you won’t ever earn anything more”), and to buy Susan herself one too. Thus, they are able to communicate when apart, and somehow pull off the body swap without any of their friends or relations finding out.
Hallie invents an “adoptive Grandmother” scenario to explain why they are spending so much time together. From the initial – very antagonistic – meeting, Hallie and Susan grow into becoming very close – if unlikely – friends. Both are on a very sharp learning curve, and need each other’s support. First thing is to get Susan using the new smart phone with its internet connection and up and running on Facebook.
In their old bodies, neither was particularly confident, and they were used to being underestimated and overlooked. Hallie because she was a black, female teenager (so often thought poor, possibly criminal and stupid), Susan because she was old and female (so considered ignorant of any modern technology, incapable of driving safely, possibly with dementia). Hallie comments: “Cuteness gets attention power; I had power before. I never knew that. Now, in Susan’s body, it’s like I am invisible”. In their new bodies – partly because they do not want to let the other person down – they become confident, creative and capable. They draw other friends, young and old, into their orbit, and together they are quite formidable. Their missions are (1) to expose the dangers of Saji dealership cars and their sticking accelerators (2) get Hallie her first boyfriend (preferably Chael) and (3) sort out Susan’s future living arrangements so that she keeps her independence, and her son happy.
Many years ago, people of all ages worked, lived and socialised together. They learned from each other, and their skills complemented each other. Nowadays, society (at least in first world countries) is stratified by age. Teenagers and the elderly have little contact, and civilisation is the poorer for it. This life-affirming story shows how beneficial such contact between the age groups can be. Hopefully, it won’t always require body swaps to make it work.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The book starts with Hallie being an obnoxious self-centred teenager, too consumed with her umbilical connection to her mobile phone, to have any care for other people about her, or to take any notice of the wider world outside of her current texting mission. Still obliviously texting while hurrying to the mall to catch sight of the object of her latest crush, Hallie walks in front of an accelerating car, and is killed. So is the elderly woman, Susan, who was driving the car.
The next scene is in a carnival, where rides will transport the dead to the hereafter. Neither Susan nor Hallie are ready to let go of life yet. Hallie because she has not yet been kissed by a boy (in particular, Chael), and Susan, because she does not want to be blamed for killing Hallie, when her defective new car is to blame. They are brought together by the mysterious Eli, whom they persuade to give them another chance by promising to use their extra time to expose the defects in Susan’s SUV – before anyone else is killed. Eli assures them, that they are “both going to have your different ending. More different than you can ever imagine”
They wake up back in the carpark. Hallie’s body is pale with “brown spots and blue, bulgy veins”, and knobbly throbbing knees. “Not only am I white, I’m ancient!”. Eli is at pains to point out to her that “Growing old is a privilege – one you may not even earn”. Meanwhile, Susan is very happy with her new body: “My skin is lovely, young and smooth. And the extra pigment is so practical and protective”.
Unfortunately, Hallie’s phone is not so lucky. She manages to convince Susan to replace it with the latest model smart phone (at great expense – “This young girl doesn’t understand anything about money. About making it last till the end of your life because you won’t ever earn anything more”), and to buy Susan herself one too. Thus, they are able to communicate when apart, and somehow pull off the body swap without any of their friends or relations finding out.
Hallie invents an “adoptive Grandmother” scenario to explain why they are spending so much time together. From the initial – very antagonistic – meeting, Hallie and Susan grow into becoming very close – if unlikely – friends. Both are on a very sharp learning curve, and need each other’s support. First thing is to get Susan using the new smart phone with its internet connection and up and running on Facebook.
In their old bodies, neither was particularly confident, and they were used to being underestimated and overlooked. Hallie because she was a black, female teenager (so often thought poor, possibly criminal and stupid), Susan because she was old and female (so considered ignorant of any modern technology, incapable of driving safely, possibly with dementia). Hallie comments: “Cuteness gets attention power; I had power before. I never knew that. Now, in Susan’s body, it’s like I am invisible”. In their new bodies – partly because they do not want to let the other person down – they become confident, creative and capable. They draw other friends, young and old, into their orbit, and together they are quite formidable. Their missions are (1) to expose the dangers of Saji dealership cars and their sticking accelerators (2) get Hallie her first boyfriend (preferably Chael) and (3) sort out Susan’s future living arrangements so that she keeps her independence, and her son happy.
Many years ago, people of all ages worked, lived and socialised together. They learned from each other, and their skills complemented each other. Nowadays, society (at least in first world countries) is stratified by age. Teenagers and the elderly have little contact, and civilisation is the poorer for it. This life-affirming story shows how beneficial such contact between the age groups can be. Hopefully, it won’t always require body swaps to make it work.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 4, 2018
This book was a real treat. It's a comedic contemporary with a heartfelt emotional relationship between an elderly woman and a teenager. It has some great lessons in humility, respecting the elderly, the positives and negatives of technology and even crossing racial divides. I highly recommend this novel for a good emotional read!
Hallie is completely nervous. The guy she has been crushing on is at the mall. She and her friend Addy just arrived and she's discover a huge zit on her forehead. All she can think about is finding out what Chael said about her while texting her friend when she gets hit by a car in the parking deck and dies. She finds herself at a wonderful carnival and Eli leads her to the rollercoaster. She knows once she rides this there is no coming back and she's never even been kissed! She says she doesn't want to ride alone and waits.
Susan appears along side Hallie to ride the rollercoaster and she's excited. She notices the girls next to her is the one she accidentally hit with her new car. Eli ushers them towards the ride and Hallie protests. Susan explains the problem with the Hurricane vehicle's accelerator sticking and that many more people will die unless the problem is fixed. Eli considers this and tells them they can go back but they have to prove this and convince the dealership to fix the problem. But who is going to believe a little old lady and not assume she's lost her mind or got the pedals confused?
They go back in time to just as the accident happens only this time they don't die and the are in each other's bodies! This is not what Hallie had in mind but Susan is enjoying the perks of youth again. Susan (in Hallie's young mid-teen beautiful black body) convinces Addy that she is okay and Hallie (in Susan's over eighty wrinkled white body) offers to buy her a new phone, with Susan's credit card. This is where everything gets hilarious. They wind up having several mishaps but wind up with two cell phones and go to lunch. Eli appears as their waitress and announces they only have a few days left to prove the vehicle's issue. How can they prove the vehicle is faulty in such a short amount of time? Will they swap bodies back or go back to the carnival in the sky after this is over?
Thank you to Edelweiss, Dundurn, and Ingram Publishing Services for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Hallie is completely nervous. The guy she has been crushing on is at the mall. She and her friend Addy just arrived and she's discover a huge zit on her forehead. All she can think about is finding out what Chael said about her while texting her friend when she gets hit by a car in the parking deck and dies. She finds herself at a wonderful carnival and Eli leads her to the rollercoaster. She knows once she rides this there is no coming back and she's never even been kissed! She says she doesn't want to ride alone and waits.
Susan appears along side Hallie to ride the rollercoaster and she's excited. She notices the girls next to her is the one she accidentally hit with her new car. Eli ushers them towards the ride and Hallie protests. Susan explains the problem with the Hurricane vehicle's accelerator sticking and that many more people will die unless the problem is fixed. Eli considers this and tells them they can go back but they have to prove this and convince the dealership to fix the problem. But who is going to believe a little old lady and not assume she's lost her mind or got the pedals confused?
They go back in time to just as the accident happens only this time they don't die and the are in each other's bodies! This is not what Hallie had in mind but Susan is enjoying the perks of youth again. Susan (in Hallie's young mid-teen beautiful black body) convinces Addy that she is okay and Hallie (in Susan's over eighty wrinkled white body) offers to buy her a new phone, with Susan's credit card. This is where everything gets hilarious. They wind up having several mishaps but wind up with two cell phones and go to lunch. Eli appears as their waitress and announces they only have a few days left to prove the vehicle's issue. How can they prove the vehicle is faulty in such a short amount of time? Will they swap bodies back or go back to the carnival in the sky after this is over?
Thank you to Edelweiss, Dundurn, and Ingram Publishing Services for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 10, 2018
★★★✬☆ 3.5 stars
Hallie and Susan meet in strange circumstances. Susan hits Hallie with a car. They die. The end? No, that's actually just the beginning. Because they find themselves with a whimsical god who is willing to let them go back to life, but switches their bodies. But they also have to do something together in order to keep the status quo…
I like how this story teaches empathy and understanding: our society focuses on the young, the successful – the loud. But there are so many people who are left on the outskirts and silenced – the old, the teens. This is what the book focuses on. By using a body swap as a tool, the author gets to show the old person's world through a teenager's eyes, and the teenager's world through the eyes of a person with years and years of life experience. That teaches understanding that there is no such thing as a common life experience – everyone is at the own place in their lives, everything is individual. And one should never judge a person based on their age.
One passage especially really stuck with me. Susan and Hallie are trying to get people to listen to them about a malfunctioning and dangerous car model, but nobody believes them – because one is too old to make sense, and the other one is too young to make sense. When does someone start or finish being a person? Barring babies or people with severe dementia, this shouldn't be something that we assume about people – that they're of the wrong age to make sense or to make rational decisions.
It’s also a story about how both people manage to find new wisdom by being in the other’s shoes. Naturally, the teen gets a lot of valuable life lessons by living a day (well, several) in the life of an old person. That appearances are not everything, and that one shouldn't take their own young body for granted and worry about the tiny things. But it's not just Hallie that learns things from Susan – Susan also needs Hallie to make all the people that are babying the 82-year-old back off and just let her breathe.
To sum it up, this was a light, although emotional book about helping each other out and developing more empathy. I enjoyed it! The drawbacks would include that perhaps this is not a life changing or world shattering story – but it’s still one with a good moral and pleasant to read.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the book in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
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Hallie and Susan meet in strange circumstances. Susan hits Hallie with a car. They die. The end? No, that's actually just the beginning. Because they find themselves with a whimsical god who is willing to let them go back to life, but switches their bodies. But they also have to do something together in order to keep the status quo…
I like how this story teaches empathy and understanding: our society focuses on the young, the successful – the loud. But there are so many people who are left on the outskirts and silenced – the old, the teens. This is what the book focuses on. By using a body swap as a tool, the author gets to show the old person's world through a teenager's eyes, and the teenager's world through the eyes of a person with years and years of life experience. That teaches understanding that there is no such thing as a common life experience – everyone is at the own place in their lives, everything is individual. And one should never judge a person based on their age.
One passage especially really stuck with me. Susan and Hallie are trying to get people to listen to them about a malfunctioning and dangerous car model, but nobody believes them – because one is too old to make sense, and the other one is too young to make sense. When does someone start or finish being a person? Barring babies or people with severe dementia, this shouldn't be something that we assume about people – that they're of the wrong age to make sense or to make rational decisions.
It’s also a story about how both people manage to find new wisdom by being in the other’s shoes. Naturally, the teen gets a lot of valuable life lessons by living a day (well, several) in the life of an old person. That appearances are not everything, and that one shouldn't take their own young body for granted and worry about the tiny things. But it's not just Hallie that learns things from Susan – Susan also needs Hallie to make all the people that are babying the 82-year-old back off and just let her breathe.
To sum it up, this was a light, although emotional book about helping each other out and developing more empathy. I enjoyed it! The drawbacks would include that perhaps this is not a life changing or world shattering story – but it’s still one with a good moral and pleasant to read.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the book in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Read Post On My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
September 14, 2018
To date I have read six books by Canadian author Sylvia McNicoll. The theme of this book has been done before, in numerous variations in movies. But this book is one of the best variations on that theme.
In this story fifteen-year-old Hallie is hit by eighty-two-year-old Susan's SUV. They both go to the gates of heaven. But heaven looks and smells like a carnival. And they wake up in line for the ride. The god like figure, the coaster operator gives them the option of a second chance, but to do so they must go back in swapped bodies. Picture Morgan Freeman in Evan Almighty, at least the personality and interaction, his name is Eli. And this begins our adventure.
Hallie is not handling her wrinkled skin and achy joints. And Susan needs to deal with a forehead zit and a crush on a guy who's a player. Hallie faces a life in a long-term care residence and giving up the vehicle. Susan is accused of shoplifting. Susan and Hallie need to find a way to work together. They need to live each others lives, and they need to prove Susan innocent of the crash. Oh, and by the way they are on the clock, they only have a set number of days is all they have. Susan needs to let go of some of her anger and frustration. Hallie needs to learn to appreciate and respect the wealth of knowledge the elderly.
The story is written in alternating chapters. And both our main characters are learning to find their voice. They are learning to find a way to be heard. And they are learning a lot about each other. There are times where this book will really pull at your heart strings.
This is another wonderfully written book by Sylvia McNicoll. I think it will challenge the thinking of tweens, teen, and even retirees. It is very well written and a great new spin on an old type of story. McNicoll executes masterfully in telling this story.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Sylvia McNicoll. As well as an author profile and interview with Sylvia.
In this story fifteen-year-old Hallie is hit by eighty-two-year-old Susan's SUV. They both go to the gates of heaven. But heaven looks and smells like a carnival. And they wake up in line for the ride. The god like figure, the coaster operator gives them the option of a second chance, but to do so they must go back in swapped bodies. Picture Morgan Freeman in Evan Almighty, at least the personality and interaction, his name is Eli. And this begins our adventure.
Hallie is not handling her wrinkled skin and achy joints. And Susan needs to deal with a forehead zit and a crush on a guy who's a player. Hallie faces a life in a long-term care residence and giving up the vehicle. Susan is accused of shoplifting. Susan and Hallie need to find a way to work together. They need to live each others lives, and they need to prove Susan innocent of the crash. Oh, and by the way they are on the clock, they only have a set number of days is all they have. Susan needs to let go of some of her anger and frustration. Hallie needs to learn to appreciate and respect the wealth of knowledge the elderly.
The story is written in alternating chapters. And both our main characters are learning to find their voice. They are learning to find a way to be heard. And they are learning a lot about each other. There are times where this book will really pull at your heart strings.
This is another wonderfully written book by Sylvia McNicoll. I think it will challenge the thinking of tweens, teen, and even retirees. It is very well written and a great new spin on an old type of story. McNicoll executes masterfully in telling this story.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Sylvia McNicoll. As well as an author profile and interview with Sylvia.
September 24, 2018
When a twist of fate causes 15-year-old Hallie and 82-year-old Susan to switch bodies, how will they return to their own bodies? When I first read the plot description for Sylvia McNicoll's Body Swap, I was immediately intrigued! For many of you, the plot might bring to mind something along the lines of Freaky Friday, but my first thought was actually a Chinese movie called 20 Once Again. It's about a grandmother who becomes a teen again and experiences love and family from a new perspective. The movie was funny and sweet, and I'd hoped Body Swap could evoke those same feelings.
And it sure did! Hilarious and heartwarming, Sylvia McNicoll's Body Swap is an unforgettable story of life and death, a very unlikely friendship, and an engaging look at how technology can both help and harm us. Hallie's reaction when she finds herself an old lady were laugh-out-loud funny. Wrinkly skin! Bulging blue veins! Aching joints! And then there's Susan, who's absolutely enjoying feeling young and athletic again, who doesn't need to worry about arthritis or taking her daily pills.
To get their bodies back, Hallie and Susan must team up to prove there's a brake defect in Hurricane SUVs, the vehicle which struck Hallie and killed her, and caused Susan to have a heart attack... and basically got them all into this mess. But before they can begin their investigation, Hallie and Susan must convince their families that everything is normal. They immediately buy the latest smartphone to help them text/call/video chat each other (thanks Susan's Visa card!) and invent a reason for the pair to be together in front of their friends and family.
I really enjoyed seeing Hallie mature over the course of the book. This little adventure is sort of blessing for Susan because she's already experienced life and raised her children; feeling young again for a few days is a joy. But for Hallie, it feels like the end of the world. She's never even kissed a boy! She's much more indignant about being in an old body, and it gives her a deeper sense of appreciation for her own body, one she felt was always a little too short and thighs too big. And by pretending to be Susan, Hallie realizes it's actually hard to be elderly. Your body is slowly failing you, people don't trust your memory or judgement, and you can feel lonely. Susan's son also keeps encouraging her to live in a nursing home.
I absolutely enjoyed reading Syvia McNicoll's Body Swap! It had compassion. It had heart. It brought the laughs. I just had all the feels by the time I finished reading it. I really wanted Hallie and Susan to get their bodies back, to find a happy peace with their lives. And with the novel set in Burlington, Ontario, I loved catching all the Canadian references like Alice Munro, the Blue Jays baseball team, and the QEW. A story set in a Canadian city and written by a Canadian author. Yes! So. Awesome.
** I received an eARC from Dundurn in exchange for an honest review. **
And it sure did! Hilarious and heartwarming, Sylvia McNicoll's Body Swap is an unforgettable story of life and death, a very unlikely friendship, and an engaging look at how technology can both help and harm us. Hallie's reaction when she finds herself an old lady were laugh-out-loud funny. Wrinkly skin! Bulging blue veins! Aching joints! And then there's Susan, who's absolutely enjoying feeling young and athletic again, who doesn't need to worry about arthritis or taking her daily pills.
To get their bodies back, Hallie and Susan must team up to prove there's a brake defect in Hurricane SUVs, the vehicle which struck Hallie and killed her, and caused Susan to have a heart attack... and basically got them all into this mess. But before they can begin their investigation, Hallie and Susan must convince their families that everything is normal. They immediately buy the latest smartphone to help them text/call/video chat each other (thanks Susan's Visa card!) and invent a reason for the pair to be together in front of their friends and family.
I really enjoyed seeing Hallie mature over the course of the book. This little adventure is sort of blessing for Susan because she's already experienced life and raised her children; feeling young again for a few days is a joy. But for Hallie, it feels like the end of the world. She's never even kissed a boy! She's much more indignant about being in an old body, and it gives her a deeper sense of appreciation for her own body, one she felt was always a little too short and thighs too big. And by pretending to be Susan, Hallie realizes it's actually hard to be elderly. Your body is slowly failing you, people don't trust your memory or judgement, and you can feel lonely. Susan's son also keeps encouraging her to live in a nursing home.
I absolutely enjoyed reading Syvia McNicoll's Body Swap! It had compassion. It had heart. It brought the laughs. I just had all the feels by the time I finished reading it. I really wanted Hallie and Susan to get their bodies back, to find a happy peace with their lives. And with the novel set in Burlington, Ontario, I loved catching all the Canadian references like Alice Munro, the Blue Jays baseball team, and the QEW. A story set in a Canadian city and written by a Canadian author. Yes! So. Awesome.
** I received an eARC from Dundurn in exchange for an honest review. **
May 20, 2018
**Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in advance for my honest opinion!**
This was one of the cutest books I have ever read and I've never read a story like this before. Hallie is your typical teenager whereas Susan is an elderly woman fighting her daily battles of growing old. They are forced to swap bodies in order to fight Saji Motors and their sticky business. It is wonderfully written from the perspectives of Hallie as an old woman and Susan enjoying her second chance at life. Great read!
To view the rest of my review please visit my blog!
https://wordpress.com/post/bookishbar...
This was one of the cutest books I have ever read and I've never read a story like this before. Hallie is your typical teenager whereas Susan is an elderly woman fighting her daily battles of growing old. They are forced to swap bodies in order to fight Saji Motors and their sticky business. It is wonderfully written from the perspectives of Hallie as an old woman and Susan enjoying her second chance at life. Great read!
To view the rest of my review please visit my blog!
https://wordpress.com/post/bookishbar...
August 8, 2018
This was the best throwback to Freaky Friday that I could ask for. In fact, this was better. Much, much better!
As the author herself says in her author's note, her book really goes where other Young Adult books don't. When do we properly get to understand the perspective of a grandparent or elderly person? I'll give you a hint: never.
Body Swap gave me so much to think about. My whole life I've thought about how cool it would be to have a large family and be around your elders all the time. It feels like we as people in the Western world now don't respect that, and it's so incredibly sad!
That's not to say Body Swap was a very dark book - it wasn't! It was super fun like a Disney family movie, but Young Adult. I was genuinely intrigued by the storyline the whole book, and it was so quick, cute and hilarious.
This was such a different book to my usual contemporary reads, and I'm disappointed that I haven't heard anyone else talking about this book, because I feel like it'd be one that people will absolutely LOVE.
My recommendation: The day this comes out, you get yourself a copy!
As the author herself says in her author's note, her book really goes where other Young Adult books don't. When do we properly get to understand the perspective of a grandparent or elderly person? I'll give you a hint: never.
Body Swap gave me so much to think about. My whole life I've thought about how cool it would be to have a large family and be around your elders all the time. It feels like we as people in the Western world now don't respect that, and it's so incredibly sad!
That's not to say Body Swap was a very dark book - it wasn't! It was super fun like a Disney family movie, but Young Adult. I was genuinely intrigued by the storyline the whole book, and it was so quick, cute and hilarious.
This was such a different book to my usual contemporary reads, and I'm disappointed that I haven't heard anyone else talking about this book, because I feel like it'd be one that people will absolutely LOVE.
My recommendation: The day this comes out, you get yourself a copy!
June 15, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest Review!
A collision resulted, Hallie a teenager and Susan an 82 years, found their bodies swap. I really love the concept of the book, it focused on lack of relationship between today's generation with old citizens.
It had the potential to turned out a really good book with all those interesting characters, unique story where 2 people of different age is helping each other to change their lives, but sadly it lost somewhere and it turned into an EL-Q and Saji motors extended commercial, well Saji motors were villain, but seriously EL-Q, so much publicity of non-existing phone, I can understand the necessity of the story but things really feel like forced. I don't think there was the need of dragging this story much.
For EL-Q
I really enjoyed the first half but the second half was a Meh.
A collision resulted, Hallie a teenager and Susan an 82 years, found their bodies swap. I really love the concept of the book, it focused on lack of relationship between today's generation with old citizens.
It had the potential to turned out a really good book with all those interesting characters, unique story where 2 people of different age is helping each other to change their lives, but sadly it lost somewhere and it turned into an EL-Q and Saji motors extended commercial, well Saji motors were villain, but seriously EL-Q, so much publicity of non-existing phone, I can understand the necessity of the story but things really feel like forced. I don't think there was the need of dragging this story much.
For EL-Q
I really enjoyed the first half but the second half was a Meh.
October 15, 2018
Hallie dies in the first chapter and is sent back to earth in the body of the 82 year old driver, Susan who hit her. They swap bodies and together, they are tasked with discovering the mechanical issue with the vehicle that was involved in the accident.
As the ladies adjust to being on the opposite end of the age spectrum, the novel becomes a page turner. Susan is enjoying being young again and is determined to find a boyfriend for Hallie. Hallie is horrified at her sagging body and frequently forgets to take her meds.
It makes for some humorous situations, particularly when they are interacting with each other's families.
Teen readers will come away with more empathy towards older people and the struggles that they have. There is also a positive message about standing up for yourself when boys demean your looks. Recommended for fans of Freaky Friday.
As the ladies adjust to being on the opposite end of the age spectrum, the novel becomes a page turner. Susan is enjoying being young again and is determined to find a boyfriend for Hallie. Hallie is horrified at her sagging body and frequently forgets to take her meds.
It makes for some humorous situations, particularly when they are interacting with each other's families.
Teen readers will come away with more empathy towards older people and the struggles that they have. There is also a positive message about standing up for yourself when boys demean your looks. Recommended for fans of Freaky Friday.
June 3, 2018
Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Body Swap was a ton fun. It's very much Freaky Friday meets a Kasie West book. Hallie and Susan have an accident which caused them to switch bodies. They have find away to mange being in each others lives without completely messing it up. The writing was fun and light. I think the dialogue was my favorite part. The dynamic between Susan and Hallie was wonderful, a pure delight to read. I loved that this story was centered on a different type of relationship than normal contemporaries.
The Body Swap was a ton fun. It's very much Freaky Friday meets a Kasie West book. Hallie and Susan have an accident which caused them to switch bodies. They have find away to mange being in each others lives without completely messing it up. The writing was fun and light. I think the dialogue was my favorite part. The dynamic between Susan and Hallie was wonderful, a pure delight to read. I loved that this story was centered on a different type of relationship than normal contemporaries.
September 19, 2018
I loved this book SO much. Nightly, when my eyes would start getting heavy I'd wish that I could swap bodies with someone who wasn't tired just so I could read another chapter. I love how the characters are so different but learn quickly how to adapt, relate and empathize with each other. I love how they work together to solve a problem much bigger than themselves. The book was funny, emotional and enlightening.
November 29, 2017
A darkly comic YA story, where the generation gap challenges the two protagonists
September 6, 2018
Loved everything about it. Highly recommend. I interview the author Sept. 20.
June 12, 2018
“Growing old is a privilege…” -Eli (God), in Body Swap
Body Swap by Sylvia McNicoll is a cute story about a teenage girl, Hallie, and an eighty-two year old woman, Susan, who change bodies. In this new altered reality, Hallie still thinks like a teenager, but her body is now 82 years old; likewise, Susan has all the wisdom of an 82 year old, but her body is now young and agile.
Hallie has to deal with the realities of an old age she’s never even dreamed of: daily medications, aching bones, and a son who wants to put her in a nursing home. Susan gets to relive her youth, but in Hallie’s body: thinking about boys, helping with chores around the house, and navigating technology.
Hallie learns some valuable lessons about how her real teenage attitude can come across: “…in my other body, I am the queen of the eye roll. It’s my favourite form of self-expression. Now that I’m an old biddy, I don’t find it so cute.”
And, Susan remembers what it felt like to be a young girl with her parents still living: “For just one moment, I find myself leaning into [Hallie’s mother’s] hand, smiling. It’s nice to have a mother’s touch; I haven’t had that for thirty years.”
Fighting many challenges together, the ladies become unlikely but fierce friends, taking care of one another. The book becomes a lesson in selflessness as each main character evolves from thinking about what she wants for herself, and instead begins making decisions that would be best for the body she now inhabits.
As a reader, I found it a little challenging to picture the correct character throughout the narrative. For example, in Hallie’s mind, Hallie refers to Susan as Susan, even though Susan looks like Hallie. Susan’s friends and family, however, refer to Susan as Hallie, because they don’t realize Susan is now dwelling in the teenager’s body. This gets a bit confusing on paper; on screen, it would play out just fine. After a bit of reading, I did get used to making the switch in my head. The book is appropriate for young readers and adults.
I received an advanced electronic copy of Body Swap in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to publisher Dundurn and author Sylvia McNicoll for this opportunity.
Body Swap by Sylvia McNicoll is a cute story about a teenage girl, Hallie, and an eighty-two year old woman, Susan, who change bodies. In this new altered reality, Hallie still thinks like a teenager, but her body is now 82 years old; likewise, Susan has all the wisdom of an 82 year old, but her body is now young and agile.
Hallie has to deal with the realities of an old age she’s never even dreamed of: daily medications, aching bones, and a son who wants to put her in a nursing home. Susan gets to relive her youth, but in Hallie’s body: thinking about boys, helping with chores around the house, and navigating technology.
Hallie learns some valuable lessons about how her real teenage attitude can come across: “…in my other body, I am the queen of the eye roll. It’s my favourite form of self-expression. Now that I’m an old biddy, I don’t find it so cute.”
And, Susan remembers what it felt like to be a young girl with her parents still living: “For just one moment, I find myself leaning into [Hallie’s mother’s] hand, smiling. It’s nice to have a mother’s touch; I haven’t had that for thirty years.”
Fighting many challenges together, the ladies become unlikely but fierce friends, taking care of one another. The book becomes a lesson in selflessness as each main character evolves from thinking about what she wants for herself, and instead begins making decisions that would be best for the body she now inhabits.
As a reader, I found it a little challenging to picture the correct character throughout the narrative. For example, in Hallie’s mind, Hallie refers to Susan as Susan, even though Susan looks like Hallie. Susan’s friends and family, however, refer to Susan as Hallie, because they don’t realize Susan is now dwelling in the teenager’s body. This gets a bit confusing on paper; on screen, it would play out just fine. After a bit of reading, I did get used to making the switch in my head. The book is appropriate for young readers and adults.
I received an advanced electronic copy of Body Swap in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to publisher Dundurn and author Sylvia McNicoll for this opportunity.
September 8, 2018
#Body Swap
The story starts out with a fatal car accident when Susan, an 82-year-old woman, runs over 15-year-old Hallie with her Hurricane SUV. They both awake at some sort of otherworldly carnival where Hallie accuses the older woman of carelessly running her over. Susan claims her gas pedal stuck and that the accident wasn’t her fault. They manage to persuade “the powers that be” to give them another chance. They are both then sent back to earth to discover the true cause of the accident. The kicker is that they awake in each other’s bodies - 15-year-old Hallie is now in the body of an 82-year-old woman and Susan now has the youthful body of a 15-year-old.
I’ve always enjoyed the body switching trope in which each person views life from the perspective of the other. Movies such as Freaky Friday, Big and 18 Again come to mind. In this book, I enjoyed how the two main characters had to figure out how to live in each other’s bodies and deal with all the challenges that come with it. Up until now, Hallie was a self-obsessed phone-addicted teenager whose primary focus was attracting the attention of the boy she was crushing on. Susan, on the other hand, was dealing with her son who not only treated her as though she were a child but was also intent on placing her in a nursing home. They were two people who couldn’t have been more different.
It’s also worth mentioning that there is also a race against the clock theme — Hallie and Susan must work together to determine the real cause of the accident before time runs out. What I especially enjoyed, is how the two of them became devoted and fierce friends, each looking out for the other and evolved as characters. In this way, the story is a lesson in empathy and selflessness — and what’s it like to walk in someone else’s shoes. I think that putting a teen in a senior’s body is an excellent way of illustrating the challenges that older people face in today’s world and perhaps bring awareness to how senior citizens are treated in our society.
That being said, the character development in this story was phenomenal, as both women learn the importance of respecting and understanding others who are different than themselves. They also discover that there is plenty to learn from each other and both attain a new level of wisdom by walking in the other’s shoes.
Though there was a serious undertone to the story, there were also plenty of hilarious moments, like their interactions with their friends and families. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud mishaps and misadventures as they try to navigate life in their new body, which is of course, what makes body swap stories so much fun.
The only problem I had with the novel was that it wasn’t always easy to picture the correct character during the narrative. For example, Susan refers to Hallie as Susan, even though Hallie looks like Susan. Likewise, Susan’s friends and family refer to Susan as Hallie, and when they are in the presence of each other, Susan refers to Hallie as Susan and Susan refers to Hallie as Susan. Confused? From time to time, I was too. Because of this, I feel that that body swap trope works much better on the screen than it does in a novel. Though I did get the hang of it as the story progressed, it was a tad confusing and disconcerting initially.
All in all, it was an enjoyable and meaningful read with interesting characters. To be honest, I was expecting more fluff, but there was a delightful substance to this story, and I adore being surprised. Not to mention, the ending is satisfying, and I loved the full-circle nature of the story.
I thought the author did an excellent job of telling the story from each character’s perspective and I really enjoyed the witty banter between Hallie and Susan. The dynamic between the main characters was believable and relevant. Body Swap ended up being a beautifully written, fascinating, insightful, and well-wrought book from two very different perspectives and is well worth the read.
A big thank you to EdelWeiss Plus for providing a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review originally posted on my book review blog at rogersreads.com.
The story starts out with a fatal car accident when Susan, an 82-year-old woman, runs over 15-year-old Hallie with her Hurricane SUV. They both awake at some sort of otherworldly carnival where Hallie accuses the older woman of carelessly running her over. Susan claims her gas pedal stuck and that the accident wasn’t her fault. They manage to persuade “the powers that be” to give them another chance. They are both then sent back to earth to discover the true cause of the accident. The kicker is that they awake in each other’s bodies - 15-year-old Hallie is now in the body of an 82-year-old woman and Susan now has the youthful body of a 15-year-old.
I’ve always enjoyed the body switching trope in which each person views life from the perspective of the other. Movies such as Freaky Friday, Big and 18 Again come to mind. In this book, I enjoyed how the two main characters had to figure out how to live in each other’s bodies and deal with all the challenges that come with it. Up until now, Hallie was a self-obsessed phone-addicted teenager whose primary focus was attracting the attention of the boy she was crushing on. Susan, on the other hand, was dealing with her son who not only treated her as though she were a child but was also intent on placing her in a nursing home. They were two people who couldn’t have been more different.
It’s also worth mentioning that there is also a race against the clock theme — Hallie and Susan must work together to determine the real cause of the accident before time runs out. What I especially enjoyed, is how the two of them became devoted and fierce friends, each looking out for the other and evolved as characters. In this way, the story is a lesson in empathy and selflessness — and what’s it like to walk in someone else’s shoes. I think that putting a teen in a senior’s body is an excellent way of illustrating the challenges that older people face in today’s world and perhaps bring awareness to how senior citizens are treated in our society.
That being said, the character development in this story was phenomenal, as both women learn the importance of respecting and understanding others who are different than themselves. They also discover that there is plenty to learn from each other and both attain a new level of wisdom by walking in the other’s shoes.
Though there was a serious undertone to the story, there were also plenty of hilarious moments, like their interactions with their friends and families. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud mishaps and misadventures as they try to navigate life in their new body, which is of course, what makes body swap stories so much fun.
The only problem I had with the novel was that it wasn’t always easy to picture the correct character during the narrative. For example, Susan refers to Hallie as Susan, even though Hallie looks like Susan. Likewise, Susan’s friends and family refer to Susan as Hallie, and when they are in the presence of each other, Susan refers to Hallie as Susan and Susan refers to Hallie as Susan. Confused? From time to time, I was too. Because of this, I feel that that body swap trope works much better on the screen than it does in a novel. Though I did get the hang of it as the story progressed, it was a tad confusing and disconcerting initially.
All in all, it was an enjoyable and meaningful read with interesting characters. To be honest, I was expecting more fluff, but there was a delightful substance to this story, and I adore being surprised. Not to mention, the ending is satisfying, and I loved the full-circle nature of the story.
I thought the author did an excellent job of telling the story from each character’s perspective and I really enjoyed the witty banter between Hallie and Susan. The dynamic between the main characters was believable and relevant. Body Swap ended up being a beautifully written, fascinating, insightful, and well-wrought book from two very different perspectives and is well worth the read.
A big thank you to EdelWeiss Plus for providing a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review originally posted on my book review blog at rogersreads.com.
June 14, 2018
My full review can be found on the Epilie Aspie Chick blog!
Thank you to Dundurn Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I inhaled this book in the time span of about 4 hours. Although it definitely has its flaws, the banter and chemistry between our two leading ladies really keeps the story moving so quickly that I quite literally didn't realize how much time had passed.
That's right - this is Freaky Friday, extreme ages version. May I say so myself, the story is done very well from start to finish when it comes to these two learning to listen to each other. While they each had their own problems and issues with each other, they eventually learn to put that aside in order to survive their new situations without getting caught. In the process, they learn something new about what its like living the other person's life and appreciating what they had to begin with. Hallie and Susan even start making an effort of protecting each other's best interests before the halfway mark!
There are plenty of flaws in the story too though. Hallie and Susan really are fairly stereotypical versions of the teenager and older woman. Hallie is self centered, only interested in boys, and ignores anyone who isn't her own age without any care for anyone else. Susan is an older woman who is brittle, being harassed by family to move into an old age community, and feels like young people are the problem. These characters could've been diversified a little bit from the social stereotype here. Plus, the SUV storyline gets fairly hard to believe by the end. Although its a perfect way to get our characters together with one goal, it also seemed too far fetched to happen in real life. A company wouldn't cover up like that if they were that wide scale of an organization without being bankrupt overnight.
Even with all its issues, this book is a quick read well worth the chemistry and banter between the two leads.
Thank you to Dundurn Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I inhaled this book in the time span of about 4 hours. Although it definitely has its flaws, the banter and chemistry between our two leading ladies really keeps the story moving so quickly that I quite literally didn't realize how much time had passed.
That's right - this is Freaky Friday, extreme ages version. May I say so myself, the story is done very well from start to finish when it comes to these two learning to listen to each other. While they each had their own problems and issues with each other, they eventually learn to put that aside in order to survive their new situations without getting caught. In the process, they learn something new about what its like living the other person's life and appreciating what they had to begin with. Hallie and Susan even start making an effort of protecting each other's best interests before the halfway mark!
There are plenty of flaws in the story too though. Hallie and Susan really are fairly stereotypical versions of the teenager and older woman. Hallie is self centered, only interested in boys, and ignores anyone who isn't her own age without any care for anyone else. Susan is an older woman who is brittle, being harassed by family to move into an old age community, and feels like young people are the problem. These characters could've been diversified a little bit from the social stereotype here. Plus, the SUV storyline gets fairly hard to believe by the end. Although its a perfect way to get our characters together with one goal, it also seemed too far fetched to happen in real life. A company wouldn't cover up like that if they were that wide scale of an organization without being bankrupt overnight.
Even with all its issues, this book is a quick read well worth the chemistry and banter between the two leads.
June 8, 2018
3.5 rounded up to 4
I received an ARC of this novel via NetGalley and Dundurn in exchange for an honest review.
A fatal accident involving Susan, an 82 year old woman and Hallie, a 14 year old girl results in Eli/aka God allowing them to both return to the land of the living to prove who was at fault. In return for allowing them a second chance he swaps their souls, an empathy experiment, allowing them to see both sides from a new angle. The two must work together to determine the true cause of the accident before their time runs out. Hallie, unappreciative of her body and addicted to technology, finds herself dealing with the complications and stereotypes that come from aging Susan's families desire to place her in a home. Susan, always complaining about getting older finds herself with a new lease on life but quickly realizes that being a teenager comes with its own difficulties. Together they form a new friendship and learn what it's like to be in someone else's shoes.
Body Swap is a really cute YA contemporary fiction novel geared towards ages 12-15. I really enjoyed the positive messages about body appreciation, relationships, and empathy that the author incorporated into the novel. The writing style is geared more towards the younger end of the YA spectrum but as an adult I still found it enjoyable to read. This book discussed several stereotypical ideals that come with both being a teenager, racial and cultural differences, ageism, while teaching about appreciating the little things in life. Eli's character also God has a great sense of humor showing up throughout the novel in different bodies including an elderly man, a young woman and a dog. Although the novel does discuss God and an afterlife it keeps the subject matter fairly impartial to religion/religious beliefs. If you are looking for a fun novel for a young reader that has a positive message then I would recommend this novel.
I received an ARC of this novel via NetGalley and Dundurn in exchange for an honest review.
A fatal accident involving Susan, an 82 year old woman and Hallie, a 14 year old girl results in Eli/aka God allowing them to both return to the land of the living to prove who was at fault. In return for allowing them a second chance he swaps their souls, an empathy experiment, allowing them to see both sides from a new angle. The two must work together to determine the true cause of the accident before their time runs out. Hallie, unappreciative of her body and addicted to technology, finds herself dealing with the complications and stereotypes that come from aging Susan's families desire to place her in a home. Susan, always complaining about getting older finds herself with a new lease on life but quickly realizes that being a teenager comes with its own difficulties. Together they form a new friendship and learn what it's like to be in someone else's shoes.
Body Swap is a really cute YA contemporary fiction novel geared towards ages 12-15. I really enjoyed the positive messages about body appreciation, relationships, and empathy that the author incorporated into the novel. The writing style is geared more towards the younger end of the YA spectrum but as an adult I still found it enjoyable to read. This book discussed several stereotypical ideals that come with both being a teenager, racial and cultural differences, ageism, while teaching about appreciating the little things in life. Eli's character also God has a great sense of humor showing up throughout the novel in different bodies including an elderly man, a young woman and a dog. Although the novel does discuss God and an afterlife it keeps the subject matter fairly impartial to religion/religious beliefs. If you are looking for a fun novel for a young reader that has a positive message then I would recommend this novel.
July 25, 2018
Book Review
Body Swap by Sylvia McNicoll
Read courtesy of netgalley.com
Publication date: 09 Oct 2018
I think that Sylvia McNicoll and Dundurn are selling themselves short: This is not just a YA Middle School novel. While it's appropriate for middle schoolers (i.e., no cursing), I'm sure it would be appealing to high schoolers and adults, too. It reminded me of a seamless mash-up of the stories behind Cocoon, Big, and Lovely Bones (the book, not the movie 😝). Magical realism at its best.
At first I was confused by both the swapping of bodies and the alternating chapters. It took me a while to make the mental switches back-and-forth while I read. I do wonder if some readers will find the double switching confusing. I thought that might detract from my enjoyment of the story, but I got used to the seesawing. I'm glad I did.
The characters were believable and played both of their parts really well. Their duality offered the introspection we often can only assume occurs within characters; McNicoll allowed the reader inside of the characters' heads, which allowed the readers to contemplate what their own reactions might have been under similar circumstances. This provided a very powerful way to get absorbed into a story.
McNicoll provided a means of exploring one's own preconceived notions (in this case about ageism) without being preachy, which is hugely important for our YA readers. I'm looking forward to getting Body Swap for my high school library and will recommend it for my middle school library, as well.
Body Swap by Sylvia McNicoll
Read courtesy of netgalley.com
Publication date: 09 Oct 2018
I think that Sylvia McNicoll and Dundurn are selling themselves short: This is not just a YA Middle School novel. While it's appropriate for middle schoolers (i.e., no cursing), I'm sure it would be appealing to high schoolers and adults, too. It reminded me of a seamless mash-up of the stories behind Cocoon, Big, and Lovely Bones (the book, not the movie 😝). Magical realism at its best.
At first I was confused by both the swapping of bodies and the alternating chapters. It took me a while to make the mental switches back-and-forth while I read. I do wonder if some readers will find the double switching confusing. I thought that might detract from my enjoyment of the story, but I got used to the seesawing. I'm glad I did.
The characters were believable and played both of their parts really well. Their duality offered the introspection we often can only assume occurs within characters; McNicoll allowed the reader inside of the characters' heads, which allowed the readers to contemplate what their own reactions might have been under similar circumstances. This provided a very powerful way to get absorbed into a story.
McNicoll provided a means of exploring one's own preconceived notions (in this case about ageism) without being preachy, which is hugely important for our YA readers. I'm looking forward to getting Body Swap for my high school library and will recommend it for my middle school library, as well.
July 5, 2018
Susan, an 82 year old woman, backs her car into a 15 year old girl, Hallie. Hallie hurls into the air and then slams onto the pavement. She wakes to what seems to be an old-fashioned carnival. She joins up with Susan at a wooden roller coaster. This leads to Eli (an angel?) causing their bodies to be exchanged, however, their souls remain with them. It is difficult and takes some time for both of them to acclimate to this situation. Imagine! Mishaps occur; the two get mistakenly accused of shoplifting cell phones, get senior menus for the teen's., etc. The angel appears as a waitress at the mall (carpe diem tattoo is proof) who tells Hallie that she must "look outside herself to find what the world wants from you". Hallie has 4 days (until Christmas Eve) to find direction in her life (or death). Susan swears that a faulty gas pedal in her car caused her to back-up over Hallie. Hallie is highly skeptical - that is, until she drives the SUV, herself. They now pursue this car defect and are unable to get concrete evidence. The brilliant conclusion is surprising!!! An excellent, fast read. Many thanks to Dundurn Press and NetGallery for the opportunity to read this thought-provoking novel.
November 3, 2018
Get off the phone. Carpe Diem!
This is a unique story of how young adults should think of more important issues than focusing on themselves and what other people would think of them. We’ve all been there and we made a lot of mistakes. We have a lot of insecurities – mostly physical attributes, but we tend to forget the real issues of people who are struggling with heart failure, old age, longing for a company from a loved one or family, illness, emotional distress, medications, and others.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest book review.
This is a unique story of how young adults should think of more important issues than focusing on themselves and what other people would think of them. We’ve all been there and we made a lot of mistakes. We have a lot of insecurities – mostly physical attributes, but we tend to forget the real issues of people who are struggling with heart failure, old age, longing for a company from a loved one or family, illness, emotional distress, medications, and others.
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October 31, 2018
Fun with a twist!
Thanks to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for the opportunity to read and review Body Swap by Sylvia McNicoll!
Hallie, a teenager, focuses on her cell phone so much that she walks in front of a car and gets hit. An elderly woman, Susan, was driving the car and she blames the car’s mechanical problems for the accident. Both of them are badly injured and unconscious and while they’re in that state, they involuntarily switch places. This story reminds me of Freaky Friday except the switchers aren’t family members and ageism is prevalent. Hallie is a spunky, self-absorbed teenage girl that’s slightly boy crazy and Susan is an octogenarian that’s feeling smothered by her son and daughter-in-law. They want to take away her independence, her car and her condo and make her move into a retirement home. When Hallie and Susan trade places, they gradually grow to truly care for each other and gain a great deal of compassion. I like how the author brought ageism to light and built empathy towards both young and old. Endearing realistic fiction with a twist, 4 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for the opportunity to read and review Body Swap by Sylvia McNicoll!
Hallie, a teenager, focuses on her cell phone so much that she walks in front of a car and gets hit. An elderly woman, Susan, was driving the car and she blames the car’s mechanical problems for the accident. Both of them are badly injured and unconscious and while they’re in that state, they involuntarily switch places. This story reminds me of Freaky Friday except the switchers aren’t family members and ageism is prevalent. Hallie is a spunky, self-absorbed teenage girl that’s slightly boy crazy and Susan is an octogenarian that’s feeling smothered by her son and daughter-in-law. They want to take away her independence, her car and her condo and make her move into a retirement home. When Hallie and Susan trade places, they gradually grow to truly care for each other and gain a great deal of compassion. I like how the author brought ageism to light and built empathy towards both young and old. Endearing realistic fiction with a twist, 4 stars!
July 12, 2018
I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. This book had me laughing and wanting to scream all at once. I am assuming that is a good things. All Hallie is worried about is getting her crush to notice her and she is hit by a car by an old lady. They end up at a carnival together. Eli tells them they can go back if they can prove that the car was at fault. The only thing is when they get back the accident does not happen but they are each other bodies. This is giving them some insight to what each go through in their lives but they have limited time to prove their point. Will they get switched back or will they end up back at the carnival? I will not tell. You will have to read it for yourself.
July 23, 2018
A take on the typical “Freaky Friday” plot, Hallie and Susan, a 15 year old and an 82 year old are both killed in a car accident. In the afterlife, they meet with Eli, “God”, and he decides to allow them back on Earth with one stipulation. They must go back in each other’s bodies in order to work together to bring light to a widespread issue with a specific brand of cars that are causing accidents all over.
This is exactly as you would expect: cute, quick, and entertaining! My only complaints are that the ending seemed very rushed in comparison to the rest of the story, and it got a little confusing sometimes when Susan’s body was referenced as Hallie- due to Hallie actually being the person inside it- and vice versa.
This is exactly as you would expect: cute, quick, and entertaining! My only complaints are that the ending seemed very rushed in comparison to the rest of the story, and it got a little confusing sometimes when Susan’s body was referenced as Hallie- due to Hallie actually being the person inside it- and vice versa.
June 16, 2018
This was a fast YA read about a teenage girl, Hallie, and an elderly lady, Susan, who swap bodies after getting in a car accident. I liked the premise of the story which is what can senior citizens teach teenagers and vice versa. However, I don't think it was executed very well. Both characters were so stereotypical that it made the story seem too simplistic and predictable. There were some great moments between Hallie and Susan and their friends though and some funny parts when they are both dealing with technology and boys.
October 14, 2018
very interesting book with a familiar trope. This one touches on the story of Hallie and Susan, a technology obsessed teen and an older lady that wishes her family listened to her more.
The novel stresses the importance of putting yourself in the shoes of others and although the ending was guessable, the cast if characters allowed this book to be a cute read.
Thanks Edelweiss+ for an ARC of this book!
The novel stresses the importance of putting yourself in the shoes of others and although the ending was guessable, the cast if characters allowed this book to be a cute read.
Thanks Edelweiss+ for an ARC of this book!
June 5, 2018
Quirky storyline but quite entertaining. There were definitely some laugh out loud moments in this. This is kind of like freaky friday with a touch of realism to it. Good effort.
May 8, 2018
I originally requested this book on netgalley because the idea of a body swap to learn understand the differences en difficulties of life in different stages sounded very interesting. I started reading and withing the first chapter both the main characters had already died and met God. He promised them a chance at a new ending if they would manage to prove that the car was faulty and it wasn’t 82 year old Susan’s fault she ran over 15 year old Hallie, killing them both. I felt like the start was a bit rushed. I had barely gotten to know Hallie, who was the most stereotyped teenager I’ve read about so far, or she had already died and swapped bodies with Susan, who was barely introduced. I would’ve liked some more introduction of the characters and a little more time to read about the setting of the book.
The middle part of the book I enjoyed, I read trough it in no-time because the writing was pleasant and not to difficult. I felt like I got to understand Susan a bit more, learning about her son and daughter-in-law wanting to put her in a home and not believing her stories about her car. Hallie’s life, on the other hand, remains more of a mystery. I barely got to know her family, her dad is the first one she described to Susan yet is only in one scene, there was no getting to know Hallie and understanding her. This was really Susan’s story and Hallie was just puppet to tell it trough. God, or Eli as he is called in this story, promised but of them different endings if they could better their life’s but only Susan, or Hallie in Susan’s body, really had a quest to fulfill and all the characters were there for Susan. Susan seemed to meddle in and have an impact on Hallie’s life, choosing not to pursue Chael but instead Hardeep to hang out with, while Hallie tried not to mess things up for Susan. Now I realize the synopsis already says that they need to prove the faulty car and that there is nothing really to fix in Hallie’s life but the story would’ve been more rounded if Susan had to face more challenges in her body swap since the growing point for Hallie comes from learning about the challenges other people face.
The ending came very sudden, I was at page 230 and thinking how it was never gonna reach an end before page 255 and then all of a sudden there was an ending. It felt kind of forced, like all of a sudden the writer noticed she only had 25 pages left and quickly ended it without really letting it make sense. I had no idea I was reading the ending as I did and all of a sudden they were back at the carnival with Eli and they had suddenly proved the car to be faulty. I liked the idea of making Susan’s son, Ron, drive while the car malfunctioned because he didn’t believe his mother at all when she told him but the way they proved it didn’t make a lot of sense to me. They filmed the driver while he was driving and the car malfunctioned but there is, in my opinion, little prove of an accelerator ‘sticking’ if a person says it does, you can’t see it happening. This was a little disappointing for me.
As I mentioned at the beginning, Hallie was the most stereotypical teenager I’ve ever read about. She was constantly texting and in love with someone who insulted her and ended up being a player. When she switched bodies with Susan she started out as the same bratty teenager but all of a sudden, she wasn’t anymore. There was not really a development as it just happened all of a sudden, one chapter she was stereotypical and the next she was a sweetheart who wanted nothing but to keep Susan out of a nursing home. The reason she kept trying to prove the car faulty was because she really wanted to go back to her own body so in that case she didn’t really change.
Susan did have some character development. She started out not caring about phones and computers and not really liking her life and she ended up realizing what good friends she had and that the relationship with her son could be saved. She had the least challenges thrown her way, she had two run-ins with Hallie’s family in 5 days and just had to hang out with Hardeep, who barely hung out with Hallie as it was, so her development only came from watching Hallie life her life. I feel like I got a pretty good idea of the life Susan lived an the people in it but I have no idea about Hallie’s, more time with her friends, parents and sister would’ve improved this.
All in all, this book has it’s flaws but I did enjoy reading it. I liked the idea behind it and the two different people getting some understanding for each other and becoming friends. It’s a quick and fun read and for the most part it’s right paced, except for the beginning and ending as I mentioned. I would recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun read but not so much if you’re a critical reader.
The middle part of the book I enjoyed, I read trough it in no-time because the writing was pleasant and not to difficult. I felt like I got to understand Susan a bit more, learning about her son and daughter-in-law wanting to put her in a home and not believing her stories about her car. Hallie’s life, on the other hand, remains more of a mystery. I barely got to know her family, her dad is the first one she described to Susan yet is only in one scene, there was no getting to know Hallie and understanding her. This was really Susan’s story and Hallie was just puppet to tell it trough. God, or Eli as he is called in this story, promised but of them different endings if they could better their life’s but only Susan, or Hallie in Susan’s body, really had a quest to fulfill and all the characters were there for Susan. Susan seemed to meddle in and have an impact on Hallie’s life, choosing not to pursue Chael but instead Hardeep to hang out with, while Hallie tried not to mess things up for Susan. Now I realize the synopsis already says that they need to prove the faulty car and that there is nothing really to fix in Hallie’s life but the story would’ve been more rounded if Susan had to face more challenges in her body swap since the growing point for Hallie comes from learning about the challenges other people face.
The ending came very sudden, I was at page 230 and thinking how it was never gonna reach an end before page 255 and then all of a sudden there was an ending. It felt kind of forced, like all of a sudden the writer noticed she only had 25 pages left and quickly ended it without really letting it make sense. I had no idea I was reading the ending as I did and all of a sudden they were back at the carnival with Eli and they had suddenly proved the car to be faulty. I liked the idea of making Susan’s son, Ron, drive while the car malfunctioned because he didn’t believe his mother at all when she told him but the way they proved it didn’t make a lot of sense to me. They filmed the driver while he was driving and the car malfunctioned but there is, in my opinion, little prove of an accelerator ‘sticking’ if a person says it does, you can’t see it happening. This was a little disappointing for me.
As I mentioned at the beginning, Hallie was the most stereotypical teenager I’ve ever read about. She was constantly texting and in love with someone who insulted her and ended up being a player. When she switched bodies with Susan she started out as the same bratty teenager but all of a sudden, she wasn’t anymore. There was not really a development as it just happened all of a sudden, one chapter she was stereotypical and the next she was a sweetheart who wanted nothing but to keep Susan out of a nursing home. The reason she kept trying to prove the car faulty was because she really wanted to go back to her own body so in that case she didn’t really change.
Susan did have some character development. She started out not caring about phones and computers and not really liking her life and she ended up realizing what good friends she had and that the relationship with her son could be saved. She had the least challenges thrown her way, she had two run-ins with Hallie’s family in 5 days and just had to hang out with Hardeep, who barely hung out with Hallie as it was, so her development only came from watching Hallie life her life. I feel like I got a pretty good idea of the life Susan lived an the people in it but I have no idea about Hallie’s, more time with her friends, parents and sister would’ve improved this.
All in all, this book has it’s flaws but I did enjoy reading it. I liked the idea behind it and the two different people getting some understanding for each other and becoming friends. It’s a quick and fun read and for the most part it’s right paced, except for the beginning and ending as I mentioned. I would recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun read but not so much if you’re a critical reader.
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