The Switch - Softcover

Anthony Horowitz is the creator of the phenomenal Alex Rider books and the bestselling Power of Five series and was recently voted the 2007 BA/Nielsen Author of the Year. He won the 2006 British Book Awards Red House Children's Book of the Year for Ark Angel and the 2003 Red House Children's Book of the Year Award for Skeleton Key. Anthony, who wrote the script for the Alex Rider movie Stormbreaker, also writes extensively for TV, with credits including Midsomer Murders and Foyle's War. He lives in Clerkenwell, London.

Horowitz’s full-scale assault on the attentions of middle-grade boys continues with this tale of swapped identity. Tad Spencer, a rich kid with little to complain about, one night wishes he was someone else. When he awakes the next morning, he finds his wish has come true. Much to his dismay, though, he’s switched places with Bob Snarby, the son of two slovenly carnival workers, and soon falls into the life of an uneducated miscreant. He eventually discovers that his old family’s wealth is built on the abhorrent practices of his father’s so-called “charity,” and sets out to take down the empire. There’s a knowing wink at one point in case readers happen to be familiar with the classic film Trading Places. While Horowitz won’t be accused of subtlety in either character or plot here, like that film there are a few underhanded elements of social satire that creep in alongside the more obvious condemnation of rampant greed. Mostly, though, Horowitz’s name-brand promise of cartoonish action will attract his audience, and they’ll be mostly pleased with this foray. Grades 5-8. --Ian Chipman