Identical follows high school students Kaeleigh and Raeanne Gardella, who are first described as identical twin sisters who share quite a bit in common.
Kaeleigh is the apple of her father's eye, who calls her his "perfect daughter." Kaeleigh's father is a respected judge, with seemingly everything going for him. He appears happy and loving. However, Ray harbors a secret: he sexually abuses Kaeleigh. He sexually abuses her because he feels guilty for a car crash he was a part of and as a misplaced way of showing affection to his daughter, who suffered severe injuries because of the crash. Their mother, a once vivacious woman, suffers because of internal demons and turns to illicit substances as a way to cope and jumpstart her burgeoning political career. Because of this, Kaeleigh starts cutting herself in an effort to feel alive.
Raeanne is keenly aware of the extra attention her sister receives from their father. However, she has no idea of their incestuous relationship. In her quest for attention and to numb the pain of being neglected and unloved, Raeanne turns to drugs, alcohol, and reckless sex.
The novel explores how the twins deal with the trauma of their everyday lives. However, towards the end of the novel, it is revealed that Kaeleigh and Raeanne are not twins. They are the same person. Kaeleigh is suffering from dissociative identity disorder as a result of her father's abuse. She uses the Raeanne alter ego to deal with the things that she cannot.
Identical is told in free-verse style. Not only does this style make the novel more unique, but this fragmented style mirrors the two distinct personas within Kaeleigh. Because of the novel's unique style, readers never know where the novel is going, much like Kaeleigh's unpredictable life. Ultimately, it captures the vivid spectrum of emotions and thoughts that Kaeleigh and all characters experience.
The novel's twist on Kaeleigh's dissociative identity disorder underscores the power of the human mind to adapt and protect itself in challenging, traumatic situations. Her struggles with mental health are always portrayed in a sensitive, caring manner. Hopkins shows that beyond the surface, seemingly normal people could be struggling with hidden, complex things.
