Patrick Cooper,
I Is Someone Else.
Andersen Press, 2003.
ISBN: 1 84270 306 4

I Is Someone Else is one young man's personal odyssey across several countries and into himself. It is 1966 and, setting off on a French-exchange trip, 15-year-old Stephen meets two strangers on the ferry: Astrid, a glamorous blonde and Jerry, her laid-back boyfriend. When he discovers that they know his older brother Rob - missing for 18 months and last seen in Istanbul - Stephen, desperate to see Rob again, joins his new companions on a dangerous journey through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and finally, India. As he encounters drugs, beautiful girls, friendship and betrayal, Stephen's search also turns inwards as he is forced to confront his own terrible secret. This well-crafted novel tackles a difficult subject sensitively, exploring (sometimes explicitly) the confused sexuality of a teenage boy (resulting from an incident with one of his teachers). an ideal crossover book, which captures the spirit of the 1960s, and will appeal to teenagers and adults alike.

RA 12+/IL 14+
Reviewed by Deborah Hallford
Spring 2004