I'm Not Who You Think I Am [Paperback]

Peg Kehret (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Who is the strange woman in the white car watching Ginger? She appears at Ginger’s birthday party, at her school, and in front of her house, but Ginger has never met her before. When she confronts Ginger, she reveals a secret that will change Ginger’s life. And when the woman’s confrontations become threatening, Ginger is forced into a crisis of loyalty and honor—a crisis from which her family might never recover.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ginger Shaw first senses she is being watched at her 13th birthday party in a restaurant, and the suspicion seems borne out when an odd woman approaches her. During the next several days (while her parents are conveniently out of town), Ginger sees the stranger wherever she goes. Readers gain information about the stalker early on, when a shift in the narrative identifies her as Joyce Enderly, a former mental patient who believes that Ginger is her long-lost daughter. Joyce's plot to abduct Ginger begins to take shape as Ginger becomes involved in a crusade to prevent a harassed basketball coach from losing his job; the conflict distracts her, to some extent, from Joyce's presence. However, readers may find the somewhat overblown school conflict a distraction as well, as Kehret's (Searching for Candlestick Park) focus shifts awkwardly between the two plot lines. Thriller buffs may be disappointed by the thin characterizations and contrivances, but Ginger, at least, is strong and sensible, and most readers will want to stick around long enough to see how she escapes Joyce's clutches. Ages 10-up.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-Two separate plot lines involve Ginger in danger and controversy. She is being stalked by a mentally ill woman who believes that the 13-year-old is her daughter. Meanwhile, Ginger's favorite teacher, Mr. Wren, is being harassed by Mrs. Vaughn, an irate and influential parent who doesn't like the way he is coaching the girls' basketball team. Ginger's parents are away on business trips, so there is no adult on the scene to turn to when she and her older sister begin to suspect that someone is watching their house. Nor can anyone advise her on what to do in the case of her teacher. Because she videotapes the school's basketball games, she has proof that Mr. Wren has done a good job of coaching. But if she makes those tapes public, her mother and sister may lose customers because Mrs. Vaughn threatens to boycott their party-planning and catering businesses. As events unfold, suspense builds. The mentally ill woman is a sinister presence, but she is not a well-developed character. Mrs. Vaughn is the quintessential obnoxious parent, pushy and self-centered. Ginger is a plucky, thoughtful young teen. When the two plots converge in the final scenes, everything is resolved satisfactorily. This enjoyable novel will draw readers' interest and keep them turning pages. The message, that a person should follow her conscience and do the right thing in spite of the expected consequences, is one that young people will understand and appreciate.
Bruce Anne Shook, Mendenhall Middle School, Greensboro, NC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (June 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141312378
• ISBN-13: 978-0141312378
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #94,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Illness
  • #32 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Illness

More About the Author

I've published 45 books; all but two are for children. I wrote magazine articles, short stories, and plays for many years before I discovered that what I like best is to write books for kids.
When I was twelve, I was paralyzed with polio. I made almost a full recovery but I remember that time of my life so clearly that it's easy for me to write from the viewpoint of a twelve or thirteen-year-old.
I'm always thrilled when one of my books wins a state young reader award, because I know those awards are voted on by children.
I am a widow who was married for 48 years. I have two grown children and four grandchildren. I live on a small wildlife sanctuary near Mt. Rainier National Park and I often have deer and elk in my yard.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My review on "I'm Not Who You Think I am", March 27, 2003

By 

Rachel K. (HRS California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'm Not Who You Think I Am (Paperback)

Ginger Shaw is a 13 year old girl from Seattle, Washington who becomes a large target to a very interesting woman. While celebrating her 13th birthday party she sees and odd woman (Joyce).When Ginger and her family leave the restaurant Ginger spots the woman again and sees the woman writing and thinks she's coping the cars license plate number.

That evening Ginger's sister Laura caters a party and sees the woman. The woman saw her with Ginger that afternoon and asked," Where's your sister." Then the woman asked for Laura's business card and leaves.

The woman believes Ginger is her daughter who has died many years ago. Ginger wasn't very afraid of the woman, until she sees the woman parked outside her house in a white car with a yellow ribbon. Then the phone calls begin. At this point, Ginger is getting a little spooked.

Now, the worst part is both of her parents have to go out of town, but if Ginger tells her parents they'll have to cancel their plans to help Ginger. So Ginger doesn't tell and stays at home with her sister.

This is not all that is happening in Ginger's life. She has other things happening at her school like, a meddlesome parent named Mrs.Vaugan who wants to fire Ginger's favorite teacher and basketball coach Mr. Wren, because she wants her daughter to have more playing time than the rest of the team.

This great book will at times make you laugh and some time spook you out. That is all your opinion.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two Thumbs Up, October 15, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: I'm Not Who You Think I Am (Paperback)

This book is very exciting, it will keep you guessing throughout the whole book. You will never want to put it down.

The main character, Ginger, is a thirteen-year-old girl who is being mistaken for someone's daughter(Joyce). On Ginger's thirteenth birthday, she goes out to dinner with her family, and her best friend, Karie. After her family and Karie sang her that happy birthday song, Joyce comes up and wishers her a happy birthday. The wierd thing about it was when she said it, she stared at her, touching her shoulder, looking at nobody else but Gingers' eyes. Ginger didn't know her, niether did her parents.

When Ginger, her family and Karie were leaving the restaurant, Ginger saw the women writing on a piece of paper. Ginger think she is writing down the licence number from their car. Later, the next day, she sees a white car parked in front of their neighbor'd house, the thing was, her nieghbors were out of town. Everyday, Ginger thinks, a woman she doesn
t even know is watching her. Later in the story, Joyce tells Ginger that she thinks Ginger is her daughter. Joyce had been told that Ginger had died a few years before.

Other than the woman stalking Ginger, and wanting to talk to her, Gingers' favorite teacher, and girls' basketball coach, wants to be fired. Ginger is the only person that has evidence telling that Mr. Wren is a good basket ball caoch.

I strongly suggest this book because it is very terrifying and spine chilling. The best part in the book is the climax, it is the most exciting part in the book, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable book!, July 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: I'm Not Who You Think I Am (Hardcover)

I'm not the biggest fan of Peg Kehret. To me her books are high on drama and lack realistic characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Ginger is a strong character that doesn't whine about her problem, she does something about it.

I am a youth services librarian, I read books for a living. There are books I enjoy, books I struggle to get through and books that I can't put down. Mostly Kehret books are the middle option, this title was the "can't put down" variety. I cared about Ginger and really wanted to know what was going to happen. The story was more than interesting and the main character had depth.

Overall, an enjoyable read. We will recommend it for our 5th - 6th grade reading list.