Book Review – Exchanging Lives by Kathy Buchanan
Fun Youth Novel by Australian Author for Girls aged 10+
With characters and themes that many young girls will recognise and relate to, Exchanging Lives (Scholastic Australia, 2009) by Kathy Buchanan offers a fun look at friendships, peer pressure and learning to be open to new people and experiences.
Exchanging Lives
At the start of high school, Charlie and Annie were best friends, but everything changed as they moved into year 8. Annie dreams of becoming a fashion designer and wants to be part of the in crowd. Charlie cares more about recycling and environmental sustainability than high fashion.
Charlie and Annie gradually drift apart. Encouraged by the leader of the popular girls, Annie even bullies Charlie, deliberately embarrassing her at school in front of the other students.
Both girls are chosen to represent their Sydney school on a three months student exchange to the US. Annie is going to New York, the city of her dreams, while Charlie is excited to be staying with a family on their farm in Ohio. At the airport, they discover that their mothers have switched their destinations, hoping to teach the girls to rely on each other and learn about people and places outside their normal areas of interest.
Through their host families, new school friends and once again connecting with each other, both girls learn some lessons about what real friendship means.
Friendships and Peer Group Pressure
Both in Sydney and their exchange destinations, Charlie and Annie have to deal with popular girls who bully through embarrassment and exclusion. Annie particularly learns what it is like to be excluded, moving from being in the popular crowd in Sydney to being on the outside at her school in Ohio. For Charlie, the biggest lesson is learning to see beyond her passionate involvement with environmental concerns to see value in other things.
With both Annie and Charlie struggling to adjust to their new homes and host families, the turn to each other, renewing their friendship and support through a series of emails scattered throughout the book.
Australian Author Kathy Buchanan
Exchanging Lives is the first tween novel by Australian author, journalist and freelance writer Kathy Buchanan. Buchanan’s previous titles include:
- Happy Endings (Penguin Books Aust, 2005) – book and movie recommendations to suit every mood
- Charm School (Penguin Books Aust, 2003) – one-stop etiquette guide for modern women
- Quit for Chicks (Penguin Books Aust, 2003) – tips for women who want to stop smoking
Buchanan has written for a variety of popular glossy women’s magazines including Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, Elle, New Woman, Cosmopolitan, Cosmogirl, girlfriend and Total Girl. She has also appeared regularly on morning television programs such as Sunrise, Mornings With Kerrie Anne, 9am With David and Kim, Today Tonight and Current Affair. She currently lives in Sydney and writes book reviews for Marie Claire magazine.
Exchanging Lives is the first in a series of youth novels. The second book, Roman Holiday is currently in the planning stages.
Fun New YA Series
Filled with fun and humour, Exchanging Lives is a great, light-hearted novel for tweens and teens. The storyline holds few surprises, however Buchanan’s central characters of Annie and Charlie are engaging and interesting, holding the attention of readers throughout.
Exchanging Lives is ideal for throwing into a beach bag or whiling away a rainy afternoon. It will be interesting to see how Buchanan extends the series in the future.
Exchanging Lives (ISBN: 978-1-74169-389-8, 188 pages)
Exchanging Lives by Kathy Buchanan
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