Doppelganger
Grade 9-Up–What makes someone a monster–actions or instincts? In this story, a doppelganger is a shape-shifter that kills its victims, claims their identity, and takes over their lives from a month up to a year. When high school jock Chris Parker attacks a helpless old man by the tracks, he makes a fatal error. The doppelganger that takes his place is a different person. As this Chris Parker learns about the family he is living with, he begins to ask some probing questions–does being a monster mean hitting your family, ignoring abuse, or accepting it? If such behavior is instinctual, does that make it acceptable? As the teen embraces his current form and falls for the deceased Chris's girlfriend, he chooses to do something about the monsters around him. Can love make a difference in life–even if you are a monster? Does everyone deserve a second chance? This is a compelling horror story about making choices and the difference that certain decisions can make in life.–June H. Keuhn, Corning East High School, NYCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.