Identikill

Alexander, K.R. Identikill

February 4, 2025 by Scholastic Inc.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Chelsea has struggled to make friends ever since her twin sister Angelica died five years ago. Now, starting middle school, she is apprehensive, even though she's not going alone. Angelica still appears to her, a fact which turned their mutual friend Riley against Chelsea. Sure enough, on the way into school on the very first day, Riley pushes Chelsea and puts gum in her hair. Angelica is angry, but can't do anything. Crying in the restroom, Chelsea is befriended by new student Janette, who helps her and is really understanding. Seeing her sister with someone new angers Angelica, who tries to dismiss the new girl and get her sister to walk away. In alternating chapters, in excellent creepy font, we get to see Angelica's increasingly unhinged thoughts. Chelsea learns that, as much as she likes Janette and enjoys hanging out with her, she can't talk to her sister about it. When Angelica accuses her of forgetting her, Chelsea replies that she's not forgetting, she's just trying to live her life... which is exactly what Angelica can't do. Instead, the dead twin is trapped in a creepy version of the world replete with insects, and can't even venture very far from her sister without screaming in pain, collapsing, and finding herself back at her side. As tensions between the two increase and Angelica increasingly stretches their bonds, Angelica finds herself becoming more corporeal. She intensifies the rift between Chelsea and Riley, and tries to get her twin blamed for a variety of things, from nasty notes to stalking people. When Janette and Chelsea plan a sleepover when Chelsea's parents go out, they are surprised to see a very frightened Riley show up at the door. There had been a frightening episode at school, and Riley finally believes her old friend. Of course, that's when Angelica chooses to show up and tell the girls that they are all going to die. An epic battle ensues, with girls being pulled into Underside as Angelica unleashes her wrath. Eventually, Angelica is trapped there permanently, but as with so many Alexander novels, the question remains... is she?
Strengths: The creepy font will be a BIG hit, and it's not cursive, so my students will be able to read it. I think the difference between adult horror and middle grade horror is that adult horror is more unhinged... and that's what draws kids to Alexander. Oh, your grandmother collects clown dolls? WHAT IF THEY COME TO LIFE? That video game that is rumored to suck kids into it? COME PLAY IT. Sometimes the flavor of unhinged is better than others (Escape, Darkroom), and this is certainly one of those times. Bonus points for the super creepy cover! Really, I think R.L. Stine should watch his back, because Alexander's work is the closet thing I have seen to Fear Street. 
Weaknesses: The ending was a little abrupt, but in an eerie, twisty way that probably would have given me nightmares when I was twelve. As an adult, I wanted some kind of closure, and the release of Angelica's spirit, but then that's not really very scary, is it. 
What I really think: Just purchase three prebinds copies of this and be done with it. In the summer, the Alexander titles don't fit on the shelves because they are always checked out during the school year. This will be a big hit with fans of Dawson's Mine, Ford's The Lonely Ghost, and Preston's Twin.