Double Life (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: shadowing group, Top Office, New York, Regiment Washington (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a book about a group of teenagers, written by a young author. Despite his tender age, Dawson writes in a refreshing punchy style. It is slightly reminiscent of a James Bond adventure, but with it being targeted at young adults, there is a unique perspective on the story.

Despite it being aimed at a much younger audience, I found the book an enjoyable read. Dawson enters the world of his imagination, meeting people that are familiar to him from his `real life'. He and his fellow agents have to overcome another organisation that is set on world domination, and they are not as concerning regarding non-violence as the BLUE agency. There is one major objective throughout the story, but plenty of problems along the way that Josiah and his fellow agents need to overcome. Some of these are completed successfully; others don't go quite as planned.

There is good interplay between the main characters, and as the story progresses their relationships develop from acquaintances into good friendships with strong ties for each other. The story is fast paced, giving the reader little time to pause, I found it a real page turner. Each chapter leaves you wanting to find out what happens next. I found the book drew me in so much that I read it in one sitting. --Kopek Review

Product Description

What if you could leap into your own overactive imagination? And what if you met your imaginary friends there? What if it was real? This all happens to an intelligent, imaginative boy named Josiah Jones, who finds a portal into his own world. Now, stuck inside, he has to fight the battle of his life inside his own head. This masterpiece of storytelling is fast, fresh, and fun, and keeps you engaged in this boy's strange double life between the imagined and the real.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: D Productions Publishing; 1st edition (December 13, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1435724283
• ISBN-13: 978-1435724280
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,744,369 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Double Life by Dawson Vosburg, April 10, 2009

By	Shannon L. Yarbrough "Shannon L. Yarbrough" (St. Louis, MO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found it hard to believe that Dawson is only 14 years old because he is so well spoken. At 14, I was filling up pages of my journal with short stories and poems and dreaming that I might one day be a published author. Thanks to computers and the self publishing technology of today, Dawson has far surpassed my dreams from way back when. Lulu helped me to eventually achieve my own dreams, but had I known Dawson back then, I have to admit I would have been totally jealous.

His book, Double Life, tells the story of Josiah Jones who has quite the vivid imagination. Josiah makes a trip to the mall to buy new clothes and finds a pair of sunglasses on the floor which he picks up and puts on. Suddenly, Josiah enters the world of his imagination and the conflict that ensues between his real world and the one in his mind behind those shades is quite the ride. Now, there are lots of books out there about kids and their wild imaginations, but don't go thinking Dawson's book is just that predictable. The premise alone is a fresh new concept which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Dawson wastes no time putting both the reader and Josiah head on into the action (He finds and puts on the sunglasses at the bottom of page 2). I knew right from the start I was going to like this book because the author moved the story along at a nice fast pace, but I didn't once feel cheated of any details or descriptions. The author's prose are clean and tight, grabbing your attention and not letting go. Dawson definitely knows his target audience and keeps the story fresh and "unboring" at all times. Take this tiny bit of intro from Page 1 for instance:

"You may have guessed that Josiah is me. This is my story--my life, my journey, and my destiny. Some would call it fate, some would call it coincidence, and some would say it's an impossible dream that never happened.

Sometimes, I tend to be lenient towards the last one. After all, this did start with my imagination.

And a clothing store."

Josiah enters a world governed by a secret agency known as the BLUE, which is always at conflict with the enemies known as the RED who want to take over the world. Josiah uses the help of both his real friends and some imaginary ones to join in the war between the opposing forces. What ensues is a James Bond/Agent Cody Banks-like adventure complete with fast paced action and some high tech gadgitry.

As I said before, Dawson definitely knows his audience. He doesn't get caught up in the complexities of government warfare, covert spy operations, or military combat like we'd expect from an author like Tom Clancy. After all, this book is only 188 pages long which is actually my only complaint. I felt some scenes could have been played out a bit more and I would have like to have had about thirty more pages to the manuscript.

However, each page captures and holds the interest of his intended audience and doesn't get caught up in all the mechanical detail. Keeping the book under 200 pages is probably very appealing to younger readers. Like a child's imagination, his story transports you to another world where anything and everything could, and should be "out of this world." The fun that young Dawson probably had writing this is evident because I had just as much fun reading it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Librarian's review, March 3, 2009

By	Teen Librarian (Indiana) - See all my reviews

I am Teen Services Librarian who has added Double Life to our library's collection and am very happy I did so! Double Life is a great read, action packed and with a great premise. I couldn't put it down and was thorougly intrigued and sucked into the world that Dawson has created. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spy Kids Vosburg Style!, July 6, 2009

By	Todd A. Fonseca (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

Seventh grader, Josiah Jones frequently found himself imagining a world more interesting and exciting than his boring real world life as a loner at school. In his imagination, he was a spy, a secret agent for the even more secret agency - the Blue Agency - protector of all that is good and right in the world. Visiting this special place in his mind was a way to escape the mundane existence of everyday life until the day Josiah found a pair of sunglasses. But these were no ordinary sunglasses. After putting them on, Josiah finds himself pulled from his body and right back in but in a different world - his imaginary world - except now its for real. No longer was he the loner Josiah Jones but the famous Agent 12 tasked with destroying the evil Red Agency. Unfortunately, Josiah hasn't the slightest idea how to actually be a secret agent even in this imaginary world. How will he save the world?

Dawson Vosburg's Double Life is targeted for juvenile fiction readers. It is a creative mix of imagination, action, and escapism. Reading this novel reminded me of a cross between the movie Spy Kids and my own children's video games. The action and scenes keep going and going just like a video game where the story movies along quickly from one sequence to the next. The style and story is appealing for the target reading audience as it is exactly the type of story my kids would like. Therefore, I've rated it 4 of 5 stars with this audience in mind.

I especially enjoyed the twist in the story where Josiah learns that he may not be the only person from the real world sharing his imaginary land. This provides the opportunity for him to connect with others in the real life and learn perhaps he isn't as alone as he may have once thought.

To complete a novel is quite an undertaking in and of itself, to do so with such creativity at such a young age should be commended. Congratulations Dawson!