Book Summary and Reviews of Sync by Ellen Hopkins

Book Summary

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins comes a new heartbreaking young adult novel in verse about twins separated in the foster care system and the different paths their lives take.

Seventeen-year-old twins Storm and Lake have always been in perfect sync. They faced the worst a parent could do and survived it together. In the wake of their mother's rejection, they've spent the last five years moving from foster home to foster home—sometimes placed together, sometimes apart.

After being separated from his sister once again, Storm is devastated. He's the older brother and promised to always take care of Lake. But after a stint in juvie, his newest placement has him feeling almost hopeful. His foster dad is kind, and his girlfriend, Jaidyn, is the first person other than Lake he feels he can trust. But when Jaidyn is sexually assaulted by a violent ex, it pushes Storm over the edge. He retaliates and lands back in lockup—and he fears this time it will be for good. He wishes he could talk to Lake, but he doesn't know where she is, and he' s now feeling more alone and out of sync than ever before.

Lake, like Storm, has found her own happiness in a relationship with someone new—her fellow foster, Parker. Life with Parker is never boring, but Parker has her own scars. She can be withdrawn and unpredictable, and that can be dangerous, especially after Parker convinces Lake to run away from their Bible-thumping fosters after they are caught in a compromising position. With no money, shelter, or ID, they're living on the streets. Lake thinks of Storm and his promise to take care of her, and wonders where he could be now.

Told in dual perspectives through unsent letters, at turns heartbreaking and always honest, this latest novel in verse from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins is a searing and unforgettable account of two teens caught in the teeth of the foster care system, fighting their way out and back to each other.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Discuss the structure of the novel. How does telling the story in dual perspectives offer the reader unique insight into the foster care system, and what happens when siblings who love one another are separated?
2. Describe Storm and Lake's life before foster care. Why are they removed from their home? What is their reaction when they learn that Beverly, their grandmother, has died? Discuss the scene at the end of the novel when Lake encounters her mother. What does this brief moment reveal about Lake's growth as a character?
3. Explain why Storm is compelled to write "Are You Safe Tonight, Lake?" (p. 1). Debate whether this poem establishes the conflict of the novel. In what way does it reveal how protective he is toward his ...