Wow. I am seriously delighted and impressed with this book. While it has some concepts in it that weren't exactly aligned with my own thought processes, and while it introduced some other concepts that were surprising, even when they made perfect sense once you had them introduced to you, it was a book that was overall wonderful with fantasy and imagination! It's so great to pick up a book and read about things that are so creative and wonderful. I love being able to experience a story that says, "Well, why can't we do that? Why can't we do this? We can do the impossible. Who's to say that we can't?"That's what reading this book was like. It was like picking up a book that had been the very echo of my feelings and dreams and desires ever since I was a child and finding for the first time that I was not the only one who thought these things. There was a lot that went into the actual finding of one's self when you're able to use the abilities of a "Switcher" as they were called in this story, and I think for anyone who hasn't been too involved in this type of fantasy before, that this would be a perfect book to start you off on a well-grounded introduction of what it means to be able to shapeshift.Now for some personal rambling. No need to read this part if you'd like. This is my own critique concerning Shapeshifting and Shapeshifters as a species. It has no bearing on the book or its enjoyability, so you can feel free to skip past this part to the next bolded section where I continue on after my own musings. If you're interested in more thoughts on Shapeshifters themselves though, feel free to read below.On another note, I feel that they made this magical ability also too commonplace. Perhaps that is only my own viewpoint from this preference-- and in all actuality, I'm getting into my own rambling thoughts and not critiquing the book whatsoever at this point-- it made the point of saying that you were given this gift and could choose to be whatever you wanted, up until a certain age. They made it rare, but also made it easily accessible. And while it eases the responsibility of having shapeshifters come off as an entire race-- instead claiming that everyone could potentially unlock that ability-- it makes things feel incomplete. It doesn't separate shapeshifting itself from an Ability or a Gift. It remains simply as that.Mind, there is nothing wrong with that whatsoever, but it ruins the rarity of a gift like this, and of the responsibility that comes with this ability. I suppose that was why the age-limit was placed into the storyline as well, to check those freedoms. But in the end, while the details of shifting in this book are so akin to the freedom and wonder of what this ability means, it still has a long way to go before it measures up to the thoughts that I've had of it.End personal musings.Altogether the book was really a fun read. It had the excitement and wonder that all fantasy books should contain at least a fraction of, in my opinion. It also dealt with the reality of things as opposed to the magical abilities that the two main characters were bestowed with, and I was glad of that. Likewise, I enjoyed the way that the author took the time to change the writing to suit the varying thought and speech patterns of the different animals that our main characters turned into. I even like the fact that she made a point of alerting us when traits from the animals that our two main characters liked to change into the most, began to be conveyed even in their human forms. I found it a very keen inclusion in a story that handled the ability to shapeshift and take on the forms of different animals very well altogether.The funniest thing about this book is that, for its length, you'd think it would feel short. But I felt that the book ran just as long as was necessary and ended quite well. It was decisive in the way it handled important decisions that our main characters needed to make, and that rounded off the end quite smoothly for a story that just barely surpassed 200 pages.Even if you're not big on shapeshifters themselves, if you like adventure and animals, some mythological creatures and moments of well-written excitement, I think you'd quite love this book. It's definitely one of those books that any fantasy lover should look into and even consider adding into their library. If nothing else, it feels like a very good book to me if you want a solid example of what Shapeshifters should be like and want a reliable source to point anyone's questions to.My recommendation: Fantasy and animals lovers should definitely check this one out and even risk buying it right off the bat, because you'll find it has enough a mix of both to satisfy for the short read that it is. For all others that have their interest sparked a little by this review, definitely give it a shot! I found this one at my library, so I'm sure that you could track it down without too much difficulty yourself. And if not, ask the librarians to order it for you. I've never seen this book outside of the library though, so other than that, I'll have to point you eBay or the like to try to find it there for a fair price. But definitely give it a run if you see it around and these things are up your alley! Otherwise, if you want just an adventure, give it a go and see!Hope some of you will like it as much as I did!
I read the book "Switchers" by Kate Thompson for an honest review. I wanted to give it 3 1/2 stars but the rating system didn't allow for that. By Mousehead standards this book received 4 $ $ $ $ and $0.50 ( 4 1/2 ). Just for the cover alone this book earned points. It caught my eye immediately. It's defiantly a head turner IMO. The book itself is another matter. It was put in the genre YA/ fantasy/sci-fi. I'm a fan of all those categories so I jumped at the chance to read it. It is defiantly meant for the younger side of the young adult category, 12/14 yr. olds max. In my estimation . That didn't stop me from getting wrapped up in the story anyways. It has some great character's & was very different from most supernatural shape-shifter themed books. One of the major differences was the types of animals the main characters in the story changed into. From rats,deer,goats,polar bears, dragons, dolphins, whales and more! With each switch you were also given insight into each creatures way of communication , travel, fears, and instincts. It was educational as well as entertaining . This can be a rarity in literature lately. There was no swearing, love triangles, steamy sex scenes. Just friendship. This was a change of pace from the current popularity of love between humans & "other" that is strictly against the rules. This was the first of a trilogy and ended with a little teaser into the next book. It snagged me. I'll be reading book 2 after I get through a heaping stack of tbr books I've made commitments to. In all this talking about the beautiful cover and age appropriate readers I haven't given you much of a review. Here's the synopsis ...Tess a 13 yr. old has the ability to "Switch" into whatever type of animal , alive, fabled, or extinct. The only catch being that she loses the ability at the age of 15 & can choose to turn into anything she wants at that point, but no longer can switch back. A boy named Kevin has spotted Tess as a fellow "Switcher" and asks her to help him on a monumental task that he's not even sure what it is. Tess is the main pov in the story and as an only child in a very well to do family, what Kevin; a scrubby, loner, with seemingly no family is a puzzle to Tess. Kevin is a year and a bit more than a half older than Tess. The streets & Switching lifestyle has made him older than his years, but not to old to be nervous to make the journey alone. Meanwhile the world is facing very unusual weather that has everyone from the government to the local meteorologist baffled. Most people & animals are heading for warmer climates that are becoming nearly impossible to find. This is where Tess & Kevin come into play. With their "Switcher" abilities they might be able to succeed where everyone else has failed. Through a network of rodents, cat collecting lonely old spinsters and each other Tess and Kevin head directly into the storm to find out what is causing what might be an ice age. The book "Switchers" had it's high points as well as a few low points that I honestly think were not flawed writing but more a bit to clean cut for my personal taste. It would be a great book for that in between age bracket that is still innocent to the more suggestive and less clean cut books I'm used to reading. It's a quick fun read meant for tweens. Look to your local book store for this trilogy and more by Kate Thompson. You'll defiantly notice them because even outside this trilogy the covers of her novels are pure art! Keep turning those pages!
What do You think about Switchers (1999)?
I remember this being a beloved book of mine in junior high. I loved the adventure and the possibility of being whatever animal I wanted, whether real or myth. I'm sure I read it in one sitting and related to the awkward loneliness that comes with adolescence. This time around, I expected a bit more. I still held my childhood reverence for the book, but it didn't really have everything I hoped for or remembered. I mean, rats? You have all the animals in the whole kingdom and you choose rats to stand above all other animals? I just can't believe that, or the sections about goats. I did, however, quite enjoy the short passages about dolphins and whales. I just wished there was more magic or more fantasy involved. I wanted there to be a grander adventure, but I did read The Hobbit not too long ago...Anyway, I enjoyed reading this book again and remembering my past, but I probably won't read it again for quite a while.
—Janelle
This is one of seven books I picked up the other day. Unlike the other books, I had no idea what to expect. The back cover gave nothing away. I took a chance, and I'm happy to have done so. Switchers was a very easy read. Flew through this in two days. There are definitely some crazy scenarios that are difficult to buy, but it was still fun. I especially loved the rats. With these scenes, it seemed like the author just let it rip. Overall, I'd recommend it, but it's not going to be for everyone. The title refers to kids having the ability to switch into different types of animals. So, if you need something to be 100% realistic, you might want to look elsewhere. Otherwise, give it a go.
—Danm
I decided to amuse myself on the round trip to my folks' for Easter with an audio book instead of my usual selection of mixes. I give this a big thumbs up, even having been deprived of tape #1 (dunno what happened to it, but it came out sounding so garbled it was like an alien language). It's got your typical YA situation: preteen with special powers is called upon to save the world; they reluctantly accept and succeed in the quest, along the way making new friends and finding out about themselves. you all know the drill. in this case the special power is being able to turn into whatever kind of animal you please. this does lead to a few places where the author tries to build suspense, while you the adult reader realizes from the get-go what the perfect animal for this situation would be. but aside from that, it's all written very well, the characters are believeable and enjoyable, and the interludes with the American military are quite amusing. yes, really. :)
—Maura
