Where I End and You Begin

Gr 9 Up–Ezra Slevin’s had a sleeping disorder since fourth grade. Sometimes he’s up for three days straight. He spends that time fantasizing about a date with the girl of his dreams, Imogen. The problem is that Wynonna Jones, Imogen’s best friend, is fiercely protective of her and hates Ezra. When an eclipse occurs and Ezra and Wynonna wake up in each other’s bodies, they make a pact: Wynonna will help Ezra get a date with Imogen to prom, and Ezra will do the same for Wynonna’s crush Holden, his spastic best friend. As Ezra and Wynonna begin living each day literally in each other’s shoes, they develop a begrudging camaraderie and respect for one another. As they learn more about the circumstances that connect them, can they eventually find a way to stay out of each other’s bodies? The story’s Freaky Friday–inspired plot isn’t especially inventive or original. It misses an opportunity to take the idea of gender swapping seriously, and instead plays the situation mostly for comedy. The novel relies heavily on pop culture from the 80s, 90s, and today, and teens may not get all the references. As a character, Ezra can occasionally be off-putting due to his intense vulgarity and immaturity. The book’s true strength relies on several subplot mysteries, which readers may become more invested in, rather than whether either couple ends up going to prom.