Double Trouble

Tori, who is 12, is missing her best friend, Anna, who has recently moved to another town. When Tori’s neighbours, the Patels, have their granddaughter, Jazzy, visiting with them for two weeks before she moves to Australia, Tori sees the opportunity for a new best friend. However, it gets complicated when Jazzy sees Tori dressed up and coming from the synagogue with her dad and grandmother, Bubby, and then doesn’t recognize Tori when she sees her later in her gardening clothes. Tori wants to impress Jazzy with her fashion sense, and so she makes up her fictitious twin sister, Vicky.

Tori and the fictitious Vicky are totally opposite. Tori doesn’t know how to tell the truth and avoid the complications. Her dad and Bubby think Tori is acting strangely because she is missing her mother who died when Tori was very young. Tori is just trying to be the friend that she thinks Jazzy wants. Tori doesn’t realize that Jazzy has discovered her secret and is trying to make the opportunity for Tori to come clean.

The characters are believable, and the dialogue is extensive and realistic. The limited number of characters would help younger readers, and the plot moves quickly into various situations suitable for the intended audience. Each of the 17 chapters ends at a high point which would make this an excellent read-aloud choice. Double Trouble is an excellent choice for readers who like stories about friendship and realistic situations, and the book would be a most worthy addition to any collection.