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Switch

by Tish Cohen (Goodreads Author)

3.36 of 5 stars 3.36 · rating details · 83 ratings · 17 reviews

Good girl, honour-roll lifer, Berkeley-bound, mildly neurotic, high strung twelfth grader Andrea Birch just wants a bit of privacy. Oh, and perhaps a bit more of a social life. Or just a life in general. But when your mom and dad are foster parents who can’t turn away a child, trying to carve out a little space for yourself while tending to the needs of everyone from twin...more

Paperback, 288 pages

Published May 9th 2011 by HarperTrophy Canada

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Jan 15, 2012 Barbara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ncbla

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Aug 21, 2011 Kyle rated it 3 of 5 stars

If you've watched Freaky Friday before, then it's pretty much the same idea with this novel; two girls switching bodies and living each other's lives.

For Andrea Birch, her life couldn't be anymore unexciting that it was. She didn't have designer clothing or a rock star parent, or more importantly, a cute boyfriend named Will Sherwood, whom she had a crush on since third grade.
No, Andrea was just biological child number one out of thirty-seven temporary foster children. She was used to helping o...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Audrey (holes In My brain) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

full review on my blog, holes In My brain

Switch was a book that surprised me, I went in thinking it would be… how do I say this… like Disney (which is a hit or miss for me) with the cheesy plots and the clichéd dialogue. However, I was totally wrong as Tish Cohen managed to refresh the Freaky Friday plot.

I really liked the fact that Andrea narrated the book from start to finish, I was worried that it would be alternating narration which, since the two girls who switched bodies were the same age,...more

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Jul 16, 2011 Cathy/The Crazy Bookworm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

When I first came across Switch my interest was immediately peeked by it's simple yet alluring cover and intriguing premise. What I didn't know was the awesomeness that was waiting for me inside those paperback covers.

Tish Cohen's captivating writing style had me flying through the pages. It was simple and flowed beautifully. She also crafted the story flawlessly. I never had a confusing moment when it came to the characters. With "body switching" novels that can be quite difficult but Cohen de...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Martha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have to admit that part of the reason I really liked this book is because it took me back to my old stomping grounds in Fullerton, California and particularly right around CSUF where I spent years running.
I've read and seen stories about girls trading places, and boys for that matter and always enjoy the genre. Somehow it seems to be that "peeping Tom" sort of thing where you wonder about someone else's life.
Given that the reader has to accept the premise that changing places is possible, I f...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Helen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I originally reviewed this on my blog at http://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogs...

Although the title and the front cover are fairly explicit about the book's general plot, specific elements and Tish Cohen's skill at effectively providing her teen characters with convincing voices take Switch from just another Freaky Friday (Mary Rodgers, 1972) wannabe to an unnerving tale corroborating the "be-careful-what-you-wish-for" truism.

The two teen girls involved in the Switch are Andrea Birch and Joules...more I originally reviewed this on my blog at http://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogs...

Although the title and the front cover are fairly explicit about the book's general plot, specific elements and Tish Cohen's skill at effectively providing her teen characters with convincing voices take Switch from just another Freaky Friday (Mary Rodgers, 1972) wannabe to an unnerving tale corroborating the "be-careful-what-you-wish-for" truism.

The two teen girls involved in the Switch are Andrea Birch and Joules Adams who attend the same high school in Orange County, California. Except for a passing acquaintance with each other, the girls' lives don't really cross until the day Andrea is forced by Joules to help rescue her when she's been fooling around with a boy other than her boyfriend, Will. The simple physical switch of changing shirts and seats in Andrea's mother's new car gets Andrea into a lot of trouble, including from her mom whose focus is the foster kids who are staying with them. Currently, between 14-year-old Brayden (who is always annoying her), two twelve-year-old girls (who always take stuff from her room), a set of adorable infant twins, and another young girl, Michaela, whose parents were critically injured in a hit-and-run, Andrea is feeling neglected. As such, Joules' unbelievable life as a rock star's daughter is especially alluring to Andrea. When overwhelmed by her Mom's perceived lack of interest and high expectations coupled with her long-time crush on Will, Andrea offhandedly wishes (while wearing a pair of funky dishwashing gloves from an African psychic) that she had Joules' life and, ta-da, she does.

Andrea as Joules isn't keen on Joules' wardrobe and body, but learns pretty quickly how cool it is to have Will as a boyfriend (even if he had been planning to break-up) and that rocker Nigel Adams adores his daughter, sometimes making poor choices to win her love. Joules as Andrea, on the other hand, spends much of her time chagrined by the innumerable chores expected of her, furious with Andrea for getting closer to Will, and making choices to discredit real Andrea. Several subplots, including one regarding Michaela's parents' hit-and-run, continue to fuel Andrea's determination to return to her old self, while saving her own reputation, enjoying Will's affections, and enlightening Joules about Nigel.

As the narrator, Andrea shares the girls' experiences as she perceives them, reacting and responding as a responsible young woman looking towards her future might. She even berates herself for being too selfish not to see her parents as those who help make things right for children. However, I felt that Andrea didn't give herself enough credit, often focusing on how exceptional her mom, Lise, is, without recognizing her own caring, compassion and sense of responsibility. But, I don't think Andrea realizes that abuse can take many forms, not just those in evidence in the homes from which some foster children come. In reading Switch, I was cognizant of the emotional abuse that Andrea suffers from her mother's emphasis on the needs of her foster children above those of Andrea. She uses guilt regularly to ensure Andrea's compliance: with sharing her room, with persevering taunts, with accepting her mother's inattention. Andrea would have every right to shout, "It isn't fair." I wonder how well Lise would have fared if the switch had been between mother and daughter. I suspect that she'd be far less successful as Andrea than Andrea would be as her mom, and perhaps she'd be a little more sympathetic to the heavy responsibilities and lack of teen life faced by her daughter. (Hey, wait. Isn't that the switch in Freaky Friday or even in Vice Versa (Anstey, 1882), its precursor?)

Still, Tish Cohen capably gets into the heads of two very different young women with very different lives whose needs are not very different at all. Any switch would certainly be a worthwhile opportunity for most of us, especially with a person we admire. There's a reason there are so many sayings, about walking a mile in my shoes, the grass being greener on the other side and not reading a book by its cover, that suggest how ignorant we are about the lives of others. Luckily (or not), Andrea and Joules had a remarkable learning opportunity and both were able to benefit from it. Guess Andrea should have listened to her mom when she was told, "Your life looks pretty good from where I'm standing" (pg. 25). Do I sense a sequel?(less)

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Jun 20, 2011 Jackie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-s, 2011, ya, owned-and-read, canadian-authors

Likened to the movie Freaky Friday, Switch has two girls switching lives based on a wish (with an imaginative conduit, I might add). Having seen both versions of the movie, I had a good idea what I was in for.

Immediately, I felt that Tish Cohen seemed on the money, giving the main character, Andrea, the right type of "voice" for a teenage girl. The vernacular was not too old for someone in high school, nor was it too young. What irked me though was her (Andrea's) constant wallowing in self pity....more Likened to the movie Freaky Friday, Switch has two girls switching lives based on a wish (with an imaginative conduit, I might add). Having seen both versions of the movie, I had a good idea what I was in for.

Immediately, I felt that Tish Cohen seemed on the money, giving the main character, Andrea, the right type of "voice" for a teenage girl. The vernacular was not too old for someone in high school, nor was it too young. What irked me though was her (Andrea's) constant wallowing in self pity. But this actually turned out to be an important factor in why I ended up really liking the book.

I think we can all appreciate the desire to live life in someone else's shoes; we've probably made a passing wish ourselves at some point in our lives. Of course, fiction always comes around to prove that the grass is indeed greener on the other side. It was the real life situations that initially made Andrea make her wish, but it's the other girl, Joules', reality that really opens her eyes. Joules was also the biggest mystery for me; what were her motivations, how would her part of the story end?

Again, it all comes down Cohen's portrayal of the girls. Andrea is on that precipice between the still selfish teen years and becoming an independent adult. In the end, the character growth in both girls was what really struck a chord for me. But there are also these moments, these scenes, where you think finally Joules gets it, only to lose it again. You can easily imagine throwing your arms out in the rain and spinning. I was completely frustrated each time Joules reversed any progress, and really the same could be said about Andrea, though this was just a further part of the growing process.

There are other moments, I'll call them background moments, that Andrea recalls a former foster child that are heart wrenching. I think Cohen does a fantastic job of blending the elements of real teen situations and real life heartaches, all the while maintaining a fairly light tone, that made this book a total page turner for me. Though, initially irritated by the main character's neediness, I ended up loving what she stood for and where her live was headed.(less)

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Jun 19, 2011 Alyssa rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who loved Freaky Friday.

Shelves: own, arc-2011, 2011-read, great-realistic-fiction, only-okay, ya-romance, contemporary, confused-feelings

Twelfth grader Andrea Birch is the first of thirty-seven siblings. She’s a Stanford-bound, slightly unpopular student, and all she’s ever wanted was just a little more attention and a few siblings less. When she and rockstar Nigel Adams’ daughter, Joules, collide, Andrea starts the ride of a lifetime with just one wish.

In another charming novel by Miss Cohen, not only do teens have the chance to reflect on their own lives, but they also get quite the laugh. The conversation and description in SW...more Twelfth grader Andrea Birch is the first of thirty-seven siblings. She’s a Stanford-bound, slightly unpopular student, and all she’s ever wanted was just a little more attention and a few siblings less. When she and rockstar Nigel Adams’ daughter, Joules, collide, Andrea starts the ride of a lifetime with just one wish.

In another charming novel by Miss Cohen, not only do teens have the chance to reflect on their own lives, but they also get quite the laugh. The conversation and description in SWITCH is entertaining and had a sort of realistic quality that kept me interested. I loved the movie FREAKY FRIDAY and quite enjoyed this remix of it.

Andrea was quite the character – the growth of her character over the novel was astounding and reflective, giving readers the chance to understand that sometimes in order to comprehend something, you need to take another look at the problem, which in Andrea’s case, was her life. Andrea was sassy, smart and strong – no matter if she was in Joules’ body or her own, the dialogue with this girl was exciting and it kinda had me snorting in laughter out loud. Although she was incredibly naïve and a little boring in the beginning, as she began to grow as a person, I couldn’t help but flip the pages until I had none left to turn.

Joules was an…interesting character. I never really liked her, although I could understand why the characters in the book held a sort of appeal towards her. I felt like she should have been more fleshed out, just the same as I thought Will. There was one point in the story where Andrea said something along the lines of this phrase: Between Joules and him [Will] there was something missing, but he and I had something deeper. I couldn’t understand what “depth” was going on between Andrea and Will because every time they were together, they were either thinking about making-out or were talking about “Joules” making-out with Shane, Will’s best friend.

Overall though, this book was a pleasant contemporary. Although the ending was rushed and implausible to me, I enjoyed the care Cohen took in understanding the background of an adoptive family.

SWTICH by Tish Cohen
Audience: 12+
Rating: 3/5
Recommend?: Do you remember FREAKY FRIDAY? Tish Cohen takes the classic story and twists it into a hilarious contemporary for readers of all ages!(less)

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Apr 06, 2013 Cynthia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: funny

Good read for switch. I can understand why I hate teen fiction though. The plot is way too predictable and it's easy to place the blame (or many the antagonist) the one we would least suspect it.

As for the characters...Andrea's character development seemed a little forced and Joules did practically no development at all.

I guess the idea of paranormal switches are pretty used up. It's nice to look for a read where the character is changed into someone they're not, but the school environment doe...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Jenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read, magical-realism, young-adult

What happens when your wish ends up coming true? That’s what happens to Andrea Birch after making a wish and waking up in the body of Joules Adams, daughter of famous rock star Nigel Adams. To one another it seems like the other person has a better life. In Andrea’s case, looking in at Joules life it seems pretty great. Joules has a great boyfriend, a loving father, and is able to talk her way out of trouble. But the more time that Andrea spends as Joules the more she realizes that maybe what sh...more

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Jul 13, 2011 Midnight Bloom rated it 4 of 5 stars

Have you ever heard that saying, "Be careful what you wish for..."? I'm sure you have. It's the immediate tagline that entered my head the first time I heard about Switch, the latest YA novel by Canadian author Tish Cohen. We've all had the time when we wished we could switch lives with someone else... and that's exactly what happens in Switch when Andrea and Joules, two very different teenage girls, switch bodies (thanks to a rather unexpected source!) after wishing to be each other.

Andrea real...more Have you ever heard that saying, "Be careful what you wish for..."? I'm sure you have. It's the immediate tagline that entered my head the first time I heard about Switch, the latest YA novel by Canadian author Tish Cohen. We've all had the time when we wished we could switch lives with someone else... and that's exactly what happens in Switch when Andrea and Joules, two very different teenage girls, switch bodies (thanks to a rather unexpected source!) after wishing to be each other.

Andrea really did draw me to her side right away. I could understand her frustrations with her parents for their lack of attention in a household filled with many foster children and one in which she has always been expected to lend a helping hand without very much time (or attention!) for herself. I felt really bad for her, and it was easy to see why she would wish to be Joules, the beautiful daughter of a rock star and girlfriend of Andrea's longtime crush, Will. So when she switches bodies with Joules, you'd think she was catching a break, but Joules' life is less than perfect too and it's only with some time that Andrea will realize just how lucky she's been all along...

The novel is told solely through Andrea's point of view, but a part of myself was definitely curious to see how the perspective would have changed if we had the chance to view some of the events through Joules' shoes. My first impression of her was a teenage girl who was used to getting everything she wanted but she did eventually show some depth in her personality. I would have loved to have seen how her personal thoughts compared to how she carried herself around others. Don't get me wrong, Andrea's narration perfectly pulls off the novel... but I think seeing the effects of the switch on Joules through her point of view could have been great too.

The only other novel I've read by Tish Cohen is Little Black Lies but I would definitely say I enjoyed Switch a whole lot more. It was nice to see Andrea grow as a character as she gained an appreciation for her own life and family. Heartwarming and full of laugh out loud moments, yet still touching on more serious topics, Switch will prove to be a wonderful contemporary read.(less)

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Oct 27, 2011 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teen

Andrea feels like the unpaid nanny for her mother and foster siblings. She makes a wish to trade places with Joules, who she thinks has it all - great boyfriend and famous rock star father. Then the wish comes true.

It was a good read but I thought Andrea's wanting to return to her old life was a little too soon - there was no moment of wanting to enjoy the life she wished for.

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Aug 27, 2012 Girl Guides of Canada added it · review of another edition

We reviewed and recommended this book for our girls in Pathfinders and Rangers, ages 13 – 17.

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Jul 02, 2012 Helen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Wasn't that bad. Such an easy, fast read. Wasn't memorable really.

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Jul 15, 2012 Maegan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book! I have read it so many times.

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Sep 14, 2011 Molly rated it 4 of 5 stars

great! a modern freaky friday

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Feb 10, 2012 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: review-books

I liked this book. I liked both of the characters and I liked the plot. This is a likable book. Nothing about it blew me away, but nothing bothered me either. I think teens would find it engaging. Another succinct review. The end.

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May 18, 2013 Jenna S. added it · review of another edition

May 06, 2013 Emma rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

May 01, 2013 Chris Arnstead marked it as to-read

Shelves: fiction

Apr 28, 2013 Yvette marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Apr 23, 2013 Justine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mar 31, 2013 Kelsey Munro rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mar 29, 2013 Keara Mcdermott rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mar 27, 2013 Carly marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Mar 22, 2013 Alex Regular rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mar 08, 2013 Aeshatou rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Mar 06, 2013 Cecilia is currently reading it

Shelves: books-i-own

Mar 08, 2013 Kayla rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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About Tish Cohen

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
Anais Nin quote from Oprah's website inspired Tish Cohen to write her first adult novel.

Tish Cohen is the author of TOWN HOUSE, a 2008 finalist for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize – Best First Book Award (Canada and Caribbean region), and in development as a feature film with Fox 2000. Ridl...more

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