The Swap

Now a Disney Channel Original Movie, Megan Shull’s smart and funny twist on Freaky Friday is perfect for fans of Wendy Mass, Jerry Spinelli, and Jon Scieszka! This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling. It’s a fun way to keep your child entertained and engaged while not in the classroom.

With one random wish, Jack and Ellie are living life in each other’s shoes. He’s her. And she’s him. ELLIE assumed popular guys didn’t worry about body image, being perfect, or talking to girls, but acting like you’re cool with everything is tougher than it looks. JACK thought girls had it easy—no fights with bullies, no demanding dads, no power plays—but facing mean girls at sleepovers and getting grilled about your period is way harder than taking a hit to the face at sports practice.

Now they’re dealing with each other’s middle school dramas—locker room teasing, cliques, video game battles, bra shopping, and a slew of hilariously awkward moments—until they hopefully switch back! Told in both Jack’s and Ellie’s voices, The Swap offers a fresh and honest take on tween friendship, all while exploring more serious themes of family, loss, empathy, and what it really means to be yourself. And as Jon Scieszka says, it’s “seriously, truly, fearlessly funny!”

"You be me . . . And I'll be you."

Ellie spent the summer before seventh grade getting dropped by her best friend since forever. Jack spent it training in "The Cage" with his tough-as-nails brothers and hard-to-please dad. By the time middle school starts, they're both ready for a change. And just as Jack's thinking girls have it so easy, Ellie's wishing she could be anyone but herself.

Then, BAM! They swap lives—and bodies!

Now Jack's fending off mean girls at sleepover parties, while Ellie's reigning as The Prince of Thatcher Middle School.

As their crazy weekend races on—and their feelings for each other grow—Ellie and Jack begin to wonder if maybe the best way to learn how to be yourself is to spend a little time being somebody else.

“The book is heartbreaking and hilarious—truly evocative of middle school experiences. A great, entertaining read that will appeal to boys and girls.” - School Library Journal

“Bawling because I just finished Megan Shull’s THE SWAP. Bawled the whole way through. I LOVE IT SO MUCH!” - Lauren Myracle, author of Wishing Day and the bestselling Winnie Years series

“THE SWAP is funny and smart and heartwarming. And when I say funny, I mean I put the book down and laughed. It’s a fantastic story!” - Natalie Lloyd, New York Times bestselling author of A Snicker of Magic

“A beautiful feat of swapped voices. Hilarious! Serious, truly, fearlessly funny! And I don’t want boys to miss it.” - Jon Scieszka, New York Times bestselling author and founder of Guys Read

“Readers curious about how the other half lives will thrill at this view from the far side of the fence.” - Kirkus Reviews

“THE SWAP kept me turning pages way past my bedtime! Hilarious and yet surprisingly touching at the same time.” - Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Princess Diaries series

“Fast and fun. The premise will leave readers with plenty to think about.” - Publishers Weekly

“Funny, honest and touching, THE SWAP is the perfect book for tweens ready to learn what’s going on inside the minds (and bodies) of the opposite gender. Jack and Ellie are such wonderful characters and those brothers—wow!” - Frances O'Roark Dowell, New York Times bestselling author of Dovey Coe and The Secret Language of Girls