- Paperback: 208 pages
- Publisher: Red Fox; New edition edition (7 May 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0099256126
- ISBN-13: 978-0099256120
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.9 x 1.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,051,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
This first children's book by Kate Thompson was an immediate success in bookshops, and made it's way onto many top reviewers' lists, not to mention the short list for the Smarties Book Award in 1998.
A dark, mystical tale, it is the story of Tess, a girl who discovers she has the power to change shape to become any other creature. She thinks she is alone with this charmed power until she meets Kevin, another "switcher". Together they realize that their combined powers are awesome enough to save the Earth from the freezing winds of the heat- hating, ice-spewing krools. This is a charming novel, best suited to strong readers, but written with an ease and pace that children will find compelling. The film rights to this book were immediately snapped-up and the sequel, Midnight's Choice, is also available, taking up where Switchers leaves off. (Ages 10 to 12) EN
Product Description
Tess is a Switcher, meaning that she can change shape to become any animal she chooses. She always thought she was unique, but not any more. Tess meets Kevin, another Switcher, and together they turn out to have powers they never, ever dreamed of.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
Switchers is a book about a girl who has the ability to change into the form of any animal - living or imagined. She keeps her gift secret until the day that she meets a boy who tells her he knows her secret. Not just that, but he is a switcher too.
Feeling the call of sa greater destiny, she runs away with the boy and they meet a batty old woman living alone in an old farm house. She too, it seems, was a switcher - but as everyone loses the ability to switch on their 15th birthday, she can no longer perform this feat.
Meanwhile curious and uncommon cold weather threatens the world, and the US military discover something unusual and potentially extremely dangerous in the arctic.
All in all, the concept here is very appealing - children with special abilities usually makes for a good tale. Unfortunately this was not one such tale - for me at least. Older readers will find the concept to be poorly thought through, the characters are wooden (except Lizzie, the old woman - but even she is a little stereotyped). The tie in with a threat to the world is all very well but it it is presented in a way that must surely only appeal to younger readers. There is very little tension, and the story is very light.
But I would hesitate to give the book to the 7+ age group that I think would enjoy the story most because it seems to be trying for an older readership. Some of the language is a little strong (event though one word is "bleeped" out), and I can't imagine my 8 year old daughter really getting into these characters. All in all, there are books I think she would enjoy more so this one will probably go straight to the attic.
That is not to say everyone will hate this book. It is written for children and children will like it. I just think there are better stories out there.
Feeling the call of sa greater destiny, she runs away with the boy and they meet a batty old woman living alone in an old farm house. She too, it seems, was a switcher - but as everyone loses the ability to switch on their 15th birthday, she can no longer perform this feat.
Meanwhile curious and uncommon cold weather threatens the world, and the US military discover something unusual and potentially extremely dangerous in the arctic.
All in all, the concept here is very appealing - children with special abilities usually makes for a good tale. Unfortunately this was not one such tale - for me at least. Older readers will find the concept to be poorly thought through, the characters are wooden (except Lizzie, the old woman - but even she is a little stereotyped). The tie in with a threat to the world is all very well but it it is presented in a way that must surely only appeal to younger readers. There is very little tension, and the story is very light.
But I would hesitate to give the book to the 7+ age group that I think would enjoy the story most because it seems to be trying for an older readership. Some of the language is a little strong (event though one word is "bleeped" out), and I can't imagine my 8 year old daughter really getting into these characters. All in all, there are books I think she would enjoy more so this one will probably go straight to the attic.
That is not to say everyone will hate this book. It is written for children and children will like it. I just think there are better stories out there.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A clever plot and a heart pounding tale.Kate Thompson definatly
has a way with words,one of the best books I have read this season.And the best thing about it is its a trilogy!
has a way with words,one of the best books I have read this season.And the best thing about it is its a trilogy!
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Switchers is an amazing book. My mum picked it up for me in a sale and I started to read it but put it down after a while. Then there was a book readathon for children in need at my school and finished it off. It was Fantastic! It goes slowly at parts but has something in there for everyone! For the parents- A good family moment every now and again For the little boy who likes the army- Plenty of Action and Adventure. For the little girl who likes animals- Kids that turn into animals? Enough said For the one with a big imagination-(Thats me!) the whole book Switchers you have to keep with and when you do you won't be dissapointed. You won't be able to put it down!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
An unbelievable book
This was a brilliant read - I couldn't put it down from start to finish!
Published on 30 Nov 2000
a very different exciting book that you can't put down
I really enjoyed the book Switchers and I hope I can buy Switchers 2 and 3. At the very begining of the book it can be quite slow but after the first few chapters you really... Read more
Published on 13 Jun 1999
A very good book. Superb, even.
This is a very good novel by Kate Thompson. Once I'd read it, my sister wanted me to read it to her!
Published on 14 Nov 1998
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