Title: Being Sloane Jacobs
Author: Lauren Morrill
First published January 7, 2014
352 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780385741798 (ISBN10: 0385741790)
Rating: 3.63
Overview
Introducing Sloane Parker: a top-performing tennis player from New York City who is struggling with the pressures of her upcoming championship match. She longs to escape her high-stress life and just have a little bit of fun.
And then there’s Sloane Grant: a talented soccer player from Los Angeles who has just been benched for her reckless behavior on the field. She’s sent off to soccer camp to straighten out her act or risk being kicked off the team.
When the two Sloanes meet by chance at camp and decide to swap lives for the summer, they think they’ve hit the jackpot. Sloane Parker gets to relax and play soccer, while Sloane Grant gets to focus on tennis without any pressure.
But what they didn’t expect was to find love in unexpected places or to realize that pretending to be someone else is harder than it seems. Will their secret be uncovered?
Find out in Being Sloane Parker by Lauren Morrill.
About the Author
Meet Lauren Morrill, a talented author of young adult novels. Growing up in Maryville, Tennessee, she had a short stint as a Girl Scout and played in the marching band (although she may not be too proud of that now).
She also caused some trouble as an editor for her school newspaper. After graduating from Indiana University with a major in history and a minor in rock & roll, Lauren settled down in Macon, GA with her husband and sons.
Lauren’s published works include the popular YA novel MEANT TO BE, as well as her upcoming release, BETTER THAN THE BEST PLAN, set to hit bookshelves on June 25, 2019, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Editoral Review
Being Sloane Jacobs is a young adult novel written by Lauren Morrill and published on January 7, 2014. It is a charming story of two girls of the same name, Sloane Jacobs, who meet by chance and end up switching lives.
The premise of the book is intriguing, and Morrill delivers a feel-good story with twists and turns that leave the reader guessing until the very end. Morrill’s writing style is engaging, quirky, and peppered with humor.
Her characters are well-developed, and the pacing of the story is spot-on. The book is set in two different locations, Montreal and Philadelphia, and the author does an excellent job of immersing the reader in these two distinct worlds.
Sloane Emily comes from a privileged background and is highly accomplished in figure skating. She is burdened by her parents’ expectations and is struggling with her performance.
Sloane Devon on the other hand, hails from the wrong side of the tracks and faces her own set of challenges. They both end up at the same hockey camp and are mistaken for each other, and that’s where their switch comes into effect.
The contrast between their lives makes for an interesting read, and as the story progresses, they find out just how much they can help each other. Morrill uses the switching trope to explore issues of identity, self-discovery, and finding your place in the world.
Being Sloane Jacobs is a coming-of-age story that deals with issues relevant to teens, such as parental pressure, social status, and teenage romance. The book is also great for anyone who is interested in ice-skating or hockey, as the author details the sports with accuracy and passion.
The only downside to the book is that some parts of the story feel predictable, and the reader can guess what will happen next. However, this is a minor flaw that does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.
Being Sloane Jacobs is a must-read for any young adult who enjoys a charming, coming-of-age story and is looking for a fun and delightful read. The book has a hopeful and optimistic tone, and Morrill imbues her story with a message of empowerment that will resonate with readers.
I give the book a solid score of 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it.
