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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tell me why this made me tear up! Omg, the sister bond is so great. This is gonna be a great book for anyone who has siblings, especially if they compare themselves to their siblings.
Sisters, twins, friends...at times mortal enemies...Fran and Maureen are starting middle school. Quiet Maureen is hoping that outgoing Fran will take the lead in getting them acclimated to a new school but Fran has a different idea. Without telling Maureen, Fran and her parents make sure the twins have different schedules. When Maureen later finds out she feels so betrayed and ANGRY and does something completely uncharacteristic: runs for 6th grade class president against Fran. This sets off a firestorm of arguments between the girls who have never been anything but best friends to each other.
Honest and realistic. Grades 4 and up. (Fun fact, Varian Johnson is a twin also!)
Honest and realistic. Grades 4 and up. (Fun fact, Varian Johnson is a twin also!)
I've had my eyes on Twins since last year and I never got the chance to read it. I'm so happy that I finally did and it was a clear reminder of why I love middle grade graphic novels so much. The art is always fantastic and the storylines really capture the experience of their target audience. Johnson's work was pure perfection and I'm not surprised that so many readers already love this story.
Twins is about a Maureen and Francine, twin sisters headed to the sixth grade. The two are used to do doing everything together until Francine ends up in several classes and lunch without Maureen. As a result, Maureen has a difficult time adjusting and finds herself lacking the confidence needed to make new friends. As a way to get her grade up in her student cadet class, Maureen is encouraged to apply to run for student council. Unfortunately, Francine was already running for student council and the two find themselves at odds. Johnson, a twin himself, really captured the emotions behind what it's like to have a sibling that's also a twin. Maureen and Francine were definitely used to doing everything together, but it was time for them to figure out who they were without the identity of being a twin. Throughout the graphic novel, they struggle with finding the balance of being an individual, but also maintaining that closeness that they have as sisters. Not only do they have to find that balance, but they also begin to recognize that even as twins there will be feelings and experiences that they can't share. Honestly, I wasn't sure how Johnson was going to pull it all together, but it worked out beautifully.
Outside of the character development of Maureen and Francine, there are some interesting subplots that deal with friendships, possibilities of romantic relationships, self-confidence, and even some heavy social topics like racial discrimination. Johnson did an amazing job finding a balance with all of these topics while also making them feel realistic. They are scenarios that are true to the sixth grade experience. And these experiences were not kept exclusive to Maureen and Francine; readers get the opportunity to see some of these themes play out with secondary characters. Everything about the plot was well-balanced and wrapped up very nicely in the end.
The artwork by Shannon Wright was exquisite. It gave me that middle grade graphic novel feel while staying true to the representation that was needed for the characters. From hairstyles to outfits to complete splash pages, Wright brought the story together. This is one of those graphic novels that I wish I would have had access to as a child. I know it sounds repetitive, but being able to see yourself displayed in such positive and beautiful art is so important. I loved the bright color palette choices used throughout the graphic novel. Wright also did an excellent job distinguishing one twin from the other. I was afraid that because they were identical readers would struggle knowing who was who, but it was brilliantly done.
Honestly, if you haven't read this graphic novel yet I definitely recommend checking it out as soon as possible.
Twins is about a Maureen and Francine, twin sisters headed to the sixth grade. The two are used to do doing everything together until Francine ends up in several classes and lunch without Maureen. As a result, Maureen has a difficult time adjusting and finds herself lacking the confidence needed to make new friends. As a way to get her grade up in her student cadet class, Maureen is encouraged to apply to run for student council. Unfortunately, Francine was already running for student council and the two find themselves at odds. Johnson, a twin himself, really captured the emotions behind what it's like to have a sibling that's also a twin. Maureen and Francine were definitely used to doing everything together, but it was time for them to figure out who they were without the identity of being a twin. Throughout the graphic novel, they struggle with finding the balance of being an individual, but also maintaining that closeness that they have as sisters. Not only do they have to find that balance, but they also begin to recognize that even as twins there will be feelings and experiences that they can't share. Honestly, I wasn't sure how Johnson was going to pull it all together, but it worked out beautifully.
Outside of the character development of Maureen and Francine, there are some interesting subplots that deal with friendships, possibilities of romantic relationships, self-confidence, and even some heavy social topics like racial discrimination. Johnson did an amazing job finding a balance with all of these topics while also making them feel realistic. They are scenarios that are true to the sixth grade experience. And these experiences were not kept exclusive to Maureen and Francine; readers get the opportunity to see some of these themes play out with secondary characters. Everything about the plot was well-balanced and wrapped up very nicely in the end.
The artwork by Shannon Wright was exquisite. It gave me that middle grade graphic novel feel while staying true to the representation that was needed for the characters. From hairstyles to outfits to complete splash pages, Wright brought the story together. This is one of those graphic novels that I wish I would have had access to as a child. I know it sounds repetitive, but being able to see yourself displayed in such positive and beautiful art is so important. I loved the bright color palette choices used throughout the graphic novel. Wright also did an excellent job distinguishing one twin from the other. I was afraid that because they were identical readers would struggle knowing who was who, but it was brilliantly done.
Honestly, if you haven't read this graphic novel yet I definitely recommend checking it out as soon as possible.
A great graphic novel for my 4th graders! Some of the middle school novels are too grown up for the more advanced readers, but this one was perfect.
An awesome graphic novel about two twins with their own lives ! This book got me into graphic novels!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really enjoyed this book, especially how it wraps up!
Twins, Maureen and Francine, are entering 6th grade. They used to be inseparable but Francine is struggling with being seen as an individual. She secretly asks their parents to put them in some separate classes. The secret comes out and to get even, Maureen runs against Francine for class president. Things get ugly during the campaign and they stop speaking. Lots of emotions bubble to the surface. Love seeing parents that are both loving and flawed. My Ss will love this series.
