The Swap by Megan Shull (review)

Both Ellie and Jack are uncomfortable in their own skins. No worries—a magical nurse at their middle school will fix that with a spell that makes them change places and remain trapped in each other’s bodies, at least until Monday when they can find the nurse and get themselves righted. Until then, both promise to fly under the radar and then fail spectacularly at doing so. Hijinks ensue, of course, but there are also surprising vulnerabilities that they bring to their temporary new roles that will leave both of their lives changed even after they revert. Alternating narration gives each protagonist space to share his or her misadventures and discoveries, and the pace, helped by flexibility in chapter length, is dramatic and effective. It is truly unfortunate that a pat, too-perfect ending will likely leave even the most earnest readers rolling their eyes; in addition, key scenes where Ellie and Jack are both in the same place lose impact from being confusingly written. Even so, readers who ever looked at their peers, particularly of the opposite sex, and wondered what really went on in their private lives or personal thoughts may find this to be a sweet, amusing look at all the things we could never know about someone else unless we were literally swapped with them for a bit.