Parent Swap (review)

Danny Bell's tendency to spin outlandish fantasies about escaping his family life is understandable, given that his mother has moved out and that his father spends all day drinking beer in front of the television, nostalgic for his glory days as an (almost) famous rock star. Then Danny discovers that his dreams can become a reality: after finding an intriguing ad for ParentSwap™ in his backpack, Danny calls the company up and learns that ParentSwap™ can help him to leave his home and relocate with a more compatible family. Pushing guilty feelings aside, Danny chooses reassignment with the Harrisons, whose staid, orderly lifestyle seems to promise the stability that he craves. Soon, though, the Harrisons' controlling tendencies and over protectiveness of their daughter explode, leaving Danny disenchanted with his new parents. While more pedestrian fare might end here—i.e., Danny realizing that his own folks aren't that bad after all and moving back home—this dryly humorous British import instead takes a surprising turn: various clues and a vague sensation that he's being watched lead to Danny's discovery that ParentSwap™ is actually a front for a reality-television series. Danny's alternating irritation with and protectiveness of his father adds a layer of warmth to the fast-paced snark, and interviews with the various players interspersed throughout the narrative inflect the novel itself with a reality-TV feel. Those who have fantasized about trading in their parents for a different model will find the idea of the parent swap entertaining, while fans of reality television will not be disappointed when Danny, realizing that he's been duped in Joe Schmo fashion, hits back with a surprising and satisfying revenge.