Twins

 mod 6 4

Bibliography

Johnson, V., & Wright, S. (2020). Twins. Scholastic Inc.

ISBN: 9781338236132

Plot Summary

This is a story about twin girls, Maureen and Francine Carter, who have always done everything together. Once they start middle school, Francine has decided she wants to become her own person and apart from the label of twin. She can easily adapt to this role, and is social, and is running for class president. Maureen, it is the complete opposite; she is struggling with fitting in and feels invisible. Maureen needs extra credit and decides to also run for class president. This sparks a rivalry between the two, and they have to navigate this new life of being separated.

Critical Analysis

Going into 6th grade is an awkward time for so many students, and I loved that this book gave both sides of that transition. Some can fit in so quickly and have no problems. Then there are some that struggle for a long time before they can find where they fit in. Showing both sides made it to where students can find someone to relate to in the story. It hits on topics of friendship changes, growing apart, bodies changing, teachers assuming, and social groups. This story also showed the other side of sisterhood; it is not always rainbows and sunshine.

There was one thing that bothered me every time it came up. In their cadet program, they are saluting a private, and this private is in his second year and is in charge of the class. I was in a JROTC program for 4 years, and I grew up an Army Brat. This is something that would not happen at all because a private is not an officer. I know it is a weird minor thing, but it gives a false understanding of a program that is offered at many schools. I did laugh at the part where the friend said that it was better than having PE. So many kids would do JROTC because no one wanted to go running in the heat for PE when I was in high school. 

Overall, this is a great book to have. I would use this as a read-aloud at the end of 5th grade or make a display in a middle school library with this book as a focus. I could see this helping students not feel like they are alone, like Maureen did.

Review Excerpts

• • “There is so much happening in the world. Many of our young people are feeling uncertain and anxious. Young readers need a friend, a special buddy, to help them navigate this new norm. This book is a comforting companion.” — The New York Times Book Review

  
  

  • “Wright’s artwork, crisp and colorful, does a masterful job of tracking the twins’s emotional arcs through expressive composition, and Johnson’s impeccable pacing keeps things moving while still making room for rich development. A beautiful reflection on sisterhood and coming of age that belongs in every collection.” — Booklist, starred review

Awards and Recognitions

• A National Indie Bestseller

• BCALA Youth Literacy Award Winner for Best Graphic Novel

• Eisner Award Nominee

• A Junior Library Guild Selection

• An NPR Best Book of 2020

• A Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2020

• A School Library Journal Best Book of 2020

• A Horn Book Fanfare Selection of 2020

• A Booklist Editors’ Choice of 2020

• A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2020

• A Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2020

• A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2020

• A Denver Public Library Best Book of 2020

• A Texas Library Association Little Maverick Reading List Selection

Connections

• Maureen, in the story, came up with a buddy system- have students come up with a plan like this. Is this something they would like? What would they do differently?

• Have students think about whether there is a student like Maureen, write about how they could help this student, and challenge students to reach out to that person.