From School Library Journal Grade 8 Up—Katerina Larson is an overachieving high school senior whose only goal is to get into Yale, where her boyfriend is all but guaranteed a slot. So begins this light and funny novel. Cheva creates a believable character in Kate, who is trying hard to do what she thinks is right. When her double magically appears, zapped from a Simslike computer game, she actually can be two places at once. As Kate crams for tests and writes papers, she sends her double, Rina, out to hang with her friends and boyfriend. On top of dealing with her stressed-out, overscheduled life and her wild and carefree twin, Jake, her buddy from middle school, is now her physics partner, leaving her more confused than ever. Though this is lightweight territory, there is a strong message here about being true to yourself and balancing fun and work in your life. Teens faced with that ever-popular science-fiction reading assignment but who can't stand sci-fi will embrace this title. Cheva seamlessly combines contemporary realistic fiction with a twist and ends the tale with both Kate and Rina headed in the right direction. A quirky title with an appealing cover that features the real Kate and her digital doppelganger, this is sure to fly off the shelves.—Shari Fesko, Southfield Public Library, MI END Read more From Booklist Kate Larson thought the SimuLife computer game was boring, so she quit playing and never looked back until the day Rina, her avatar, comes to life and demands equal time in the real world. Kate, busy juggling friends, a boyfriend, and the admissions packet for Yale, feels an extra pair of hands wouldn’t be such a bad thing, unless they get caught. Little does she realize that Rina has a mind—and definite plans—all her own. This fanciful scenario becomes eminently believable thanks to Cheva’s controlled pacing, recognizable characters, and manipulation of our ongoing cultural fear of machines taking over our lives. Moreover, she has a nimble touch when it comes to building suspense, and teens with overfull lives will embrace the idea of a digital alter ego picking up the slack, all the while watching for the betrayal they know is coming. Add a touch of romance and some witty ideas for a college admissions essay, and even readers who aren’t already computer geeks will find themselves looking at simulation games in a whole new light. Grades 7-10. --Cindy Welch Read more See all Editorial Reviews
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