The Exchange Hardcover – July 17, 2008

This was unexpectedly an excellent book, with a very original plot. You had to have some "suspension of belief" for the central fact of the story, but given that, it was very gripping and believable. The characters were realistic and acted as you would expect in such a situation.I read the whole book in a couple of hours, just could not stop. The main story is how an old woman snaps a bracelet on a young girl's wrist, and she cannot get it off. In a few hours, it turns into a tattoo on her wrist. The story is how she tries to get it off and all the incidents that happen because of it. Highly recommended.

Graham Joyce continues to commit magic with his writing. His superb witchy novel "Limits of Enchantment" went beyond his "Dark Sister." "The Toothfairy" is wicked and delicious. And like his "T.W.O.C," or Laura Whitcomb's lyrical and insightful "A Certain Slant of Light," this poignant novel and its subject matter reaches beyond the intended age group. This is a wise, magical read for adults, poetic, capturing the angst of teenagers, and the need we all have challenge false boundaries. Surviving the stupidity and/or violence of the world, and becoming truly aware is rendered here is a unique way. Enjoy!The Tooth Fairy: A NovelThe Limits of EnchantmentT.W.O.C.A Certain Slant of Light

Graham Joyce...dear lovers of magical realism,... is a true master. We love his books. This is the fourth title of his we've read and he has yet to disappoint us. In this tale, fourteen year old Caz and her girlfriend love to sneak into people's homes and stand over them while they sleep, just for the adrenalin thrill. One night Caz gets more than she bargained for when a magical bracelet (more like a handcuff locking her to an unwanted fate) gets clamped on her wrist and her life and luck changes forthwith. She can't seem to get rid of it, and she doesn't know what to do about it, and the search for the answer leads her to revelations both about herself and others she encounters. On to the next Graham Joyce novel. He's really good.kyela,the silver elves

Imagine sneaking into people's houses just for the fun of it. Well in this book by: Joyce Graham. This exciting book called The Exchange is filled with things that mite happen to any average teenager. Caz and her best friend Lucy like to do a thing called the creepy thing but when Caz gets caught by this creepy old lady everything starts to change. When she gets home she realizes that there is a bracelet on her wrist and the bracelet seems to be glowing. The book is filled with ways of her and her best friend trying to get ride of the bracelet.I liked this book because it helps you understand the way that teenagers think and get through problems in there every day life. There are a few things that I might change a little. Like how Lucy's father treats her everyday. And how all these really scary people always fallow Caz and her friends around. I would have to say the best part of the book is the very end. But overall the entire book is really fun. If you like books with many surprises and confusing things go on at all these different things happening at strange times in the book then this is a book for you. So read the book the Exchange.

The story had potential, but it ended up kind of boring. Caz is the main character and Lucy is her best friend. Not sure why they were best friends, there really wasn't any evidence that they actually liked each other.They have this odd game of breaking into old people's houses in the middle of the night and sneaking up on them while they slept. Just for the thrill of it. Caz says it is terrifying but exciting. I didn't get exciting at all. They called it the "Creepy Thing". Yep, it was creepy. Weird, creepy.I didn't care about the characters - they just didn't feel real to me. The attempt at a romance seemed like an after-thought, no passion, no angst. I never did figure out why these 2 popular gorgeous boys wanted to hang out with these two freaky girls.The story and events just felt forced. It did not feel as if the author really wanted to tell the story. Which was sad, because all the basics were there... it just didn't pan out.

I liked this book. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I plan on reading more of his books. I highly recommend it.

I do not agree with publishers malpractice to release a UK version alongside a US version of the very same book.Often the title is changed and sometimes, like in this case, the names of places and characters.In times of online shopping where people by globally rather than locally this is bound to lead to disappointment and I am prepared to boycott publishers and authors who allow this to happen.Book sellers should at least make a reference to this fact for all to see.