I.D.

By Vicki Grant

When Chris finds a wallet on the street he tries to return it to its owner. In trouble at home and at school, he is struggling to do the right thing. However, as circumstances slowly start unraveling and his whole life appears headed down the drain, Chris realizes that the person who owns the wallet looks a lot like him and has a life he would do almost anything for. What if he switched identities? What if he became someone else?

Also available in Spanish.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
• Release date: Mar 1, 2007
• ISBN: 9781554696420

Vicki Grant

VICKI GRANT left her career in advertising and television to write her first novel, The Puppet Wrangler, in 2004. She has written many books for young readers, including Not Suitable for Family Viewing, winner of the Red Maple Award, Quid Pro Quo, winner of the Author Ellis Award for Best Juvenile Crime Fiction, Betsy Wickwire’s Dirty Secret, Pig Boy and B Negative. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Web: vickigrant.com Twitter: @VickiGrantYA Instagram: @vicki_grantya  

Book preview

V.G.

Chapter One

I shouldn’t have stopped. I was late already. But if you see a wallet on the sidewalk, what do you do? You stop.

I picked it up. I looked around. I could only see one person, an old guy, walking his dog.

Mr. Oxner was going to kill me. I’d already been suspended a couple of times for not showing up, flunking out, mouthing off, whatever. He’d gone crazy at me the day before. He said this was my last chance. If I so much as chewed gum in class—that’s what he said—I was out for good. Expelled.

Like I cared.

I wanted to say, Shove it. I didn’t need anyone—especially Oxner—telling me what I could or could not do.

But I needed a place to stay. I needed to eat. If I got expelled, my stepfather would totally lose it. He’d make me go back to working checkout at the grocery store for six bucks an hour. He’d probably try to kick me out of the house. He’d for sure make my life hell. (Like it wasn’t already.)

I could just hear him going on and on about how I’d screwed up again. How I’d never amount to anything. How I was a waste, deadweight, a jerk.

Yeah, right. Takes one to know one. That’s what I’d be thinking—but I wouldn’t say it. I’d just have to keep my mouth shut.

I couldn’t hack that. There’s no way I could just stand there while Ron spat all over me and Mom cried and Mandy didn’t. The kid was only fourteen but she couldn’t even cry anymore. She’d seen it all before.

I had to get to school. I had to keep Oxner happy for another month. Then I’d graduate. I’d get a job—like a real job—and get out of the house for good.

I looked at my watch. I looked at the old guy. I could tell he wasn’t rich. I didn’t want his dog to go hungry. I figured I could make it.

I ran over to him. I went, Hey! I said it too loud. He put his fists up like he was going to hit me. It was pathetic. He must have been eighty.

Did you lose a black wallet? I said. He put his hands down and laughed.

He said, Whoa, there, young fella! I thought I was going to have to show you what for! And I could have too. Don’t let this gray hair fool you. I used to be a boxer, you know...

I cut him off. I showed him the wallet. This yours?

Could be, he said. How much money’s in it?

I pulled it open and counted the bills. About seventy-five bucks, I said.

Nah, he said, I wouldn’t take it off your hands for anything less than a hundred! He had a good laugh about that.

I could have smacked him. I didn’t have time to waste on some old geezer and his stupid jokes.

I swore—and scared him again. I stuffed the wallet into my back pocket and ran.

I made it to math class just in time. I skidded into my desk right as the bell stopped ringing. Oxner couldn’t say a thing.

I looked straight at him and laughed.

He put on this prissy smile and said, So glad you could make it, Christopher. I could tell he was really pissed off he couldn’t do anything to me. He started writing on the board like a maniac. The chalk snapped in half and he muttered something under his breath.

What was that, sir? I said. Did you say something?

He went all white and twitchy.

Nothing, he said. I didn’t say anything. Yeah, right. Like we all didn’t know he was swearing. Poor baby broke his chalk. What an idiot.

Alexa Doucette turned around and winked at me. She was laughing. She whispered, Nice job! You so nailed him! I liked that. I never knew she’d even noticed me before.

I had a pencil and some paper. I brought my textbook. If Oxner asked, I even knew what page we were on. Everything was going great. I was bulletproof. I smiled back at her.

It’s funny now, but I remember sitting there thinking, This just might be my lucky day.

Chapter Two

Nothing makes me happier than pissing Oxner off. I felt so good. I almost liked school. I didn’t skip any classes. I didn’t make any smartass remarks. I even managed to stay

Reviews for I.D.

[robincar-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

While running late to class one day, high school senior Chris finds a wallet on the ground. The wallet belongs to a man named Andrew Ashbury who seems to have it all. The man who owns the wallet looks a lot like Chris, same height, same weight, and blue eyed. With an angry stepdad at home and trouble at school, Chris decides that switching identities and becoming Andrew Ashbury might just be his ticket to success and a better life. This book is a “hi-lo” book (high interest level-low reading level) intended for teens who do not read well or who read below grade level, but don’t want to read books that are childish or intended for young readers. The book has short chapters, fairly simple vocabulary, and an engrossing plot. Teens might be drawn to the gritty, urban tone of the book as well. However, the ending is jarring, abrupt, and unsatisfying so readers who prefer nicely wrapped up endings may not enjoy this book.

[thelonearranger_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Grant, Vicki. I.D. 101p. Orca Soundings, 2007. Tr. $9.95. ISBN 978-1551436944; LC1551436949All Christopher Bent wants is a fresh start in life, but that’s not going to happen. His family, teachers, and even the girl he likes (today) all have him pegged as a good-for-nothing. Most of the book is focused on Chris’ unrelenting anger towards everyone he knows and on his own self-loathing. After finding the wallet of Andrew Ashbury, however, Chris’ luck seems to be changing. Andrew has money, a nice house, a pretty girlfriend and, according to the Driver’s License in the wallet, he and Chris look a lot alike. If you could change your life by stealing someone else’s, would you? This edge-of-your-seat thrill ride of a book from Orca Soundings will have reluctant readers captivated, as each new page unfolds a new insight into the oddly similar lives of Chris and Andrew. (Grades 8-10).

[parneetkaire · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After I read this book, "The I.D.," I thought this book was interesting! Its about a boy who had found someone's wallet that the person who owned the wallet, didn't even come to search for it. Christopher Bent , who was the boy, had kept the wallet started searching for that person who had lost their wallet....the rest can be read by you. This short chapter book had bits of suspense, adventure and drama, as I was reading and picturing how the story went. This book could be recommended for ages 12 and over. If you read this book, you will know what I mean in my review. (;

[frood42_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When Christopher Bent discovers a wallet on the sidewalk, he picks it up with every intention of returning it to its owner. However, Chris's life is a disaster both in school and at home, and as he realizes that he resembles the wallet's original owner, he begins to assume the identity of the man who lost the wallet, Andrew Ashbury. This novel, with its very modern theme of identity-theft, is fast paced with a manageable vocabulary for reluctant readers. Suspense builds as Chris's involvement in his scheme develops. First he only takes the money in the wallet, next he uses a dry cleaning receipt to pick up one of Andrew's suits, and he soon finds himself purchasing a plane ticket with Andrew's credit card, becoming increasingly concerned that he will be caught, but unwilling to abandon this easy path to a new life. He struggles with the morality of his actions and with his misery about his current life. The book's conclusion, however, is abrupt, out of place, and unsatisfying, ultimately detracting from the rest of the story. Some strong language and difficult situations make this book most appropriate for high school students.

[llpollac · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Chris hates the life he's leading. Between his dysfunctional family, troubles at school, and love life difficulties, escaping his circumstances is an attractive idea. When he finds a wallet belonging to a wealthy man who matches his physical description, Chris must decide whether to make this fantasy of escape a reality by taking on a new identity. The plot is straight-forward but compelling, and the premise intriguing. However, the characters are thinly developed, especially the ones other than Chris. This slim volume is written at a 2.8 reading level, making it a good choice for high-schoolers who are reading well below their grade level. Recommended for high school boys, reluctant readers, and anyone looking for a quick, easy read with contemporary interest.

[carmen2c · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I.D by: Vicki Grant - series of Orca Sounding The book I.D by: Vicki Grant was an awesome book. I enjoyed this book very much because it's about taking a rich person's identity (bank number,address,name etc.) for granted,but in the end the rich person who lost there identity was a criminal.So the person who took the rich person's identity was placed in prison instead of the real criminal.The book I.D gives a good message which is, not taking other people's identity,because who know if the person's I.D you find is a criminal or not?For people who like the genres mystery, fiction and theft; I think you would enjoy this book!

[ohioyalibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A great suspenseful quick read for reluctant readers. Chris is a guy with lots of bad luck. But things start to change when he finds a lost wallet. Is this the start of a new life for him? Find out by reading "I.D."