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Summary
Summary
Coretta Scott King Honor author Varian Johnson teams up with rising cartoonist Shannon Wright for a delightful middle-grade graphic novel!Maureen and Francine Carter are twins and best friends. They participate in the same clubs, enjoy the same foods, and are partners on all their school projects. But just before the girls start sixth grade, Francine becomes Fran -- a girl who wants to join the chorus, run for class president, and dress in fashionable outfits that set her apart from Maureen. A girl who seems happy to share only two classes with her sister!Maureen and Francine are growing apart and there's nothing Maureen can do to stop it. Are sisters really forever? Or will middle school change things for good?
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3--7--The start of sixth grade has not been smooth sailing for identical twins Francine and Maureen Carter, who are both Black. Francine, "the talker," is eager for new challenges and experiences and more time away from her sister/best-friend--oh, and she goes by "Fran" now, please. Meanwhile, Maureen, "the thinker," misses dressing alike and having all her classes with her twin, and is especially intimidated by the lunchroom and Cadet Corp. When Maureen discovers that the girls' separate classes are due not to a scheduling error but to Francine's interference, her anger spurs her to action and she challenges her sister by running against her for student council president. As the girls develop campaign strategies and try to best each other, will they permanently ruin the bond they once had? The twins' transforming relationship captures all the fraught possibilities of adolescence--the fear of change and the excitement of potential. A fully realized array of friends and family who help with (and occasionally add to) the drama create a world that readers will wish they were a part of. Wright's colorful artwork brings this endearing cast of characters to life with a dynamic range of expressiveness that suits the story's emotional highs and lows and many warm laughs. VERDICT A must-read for middle grade comics lovers. Expect high demand from fans of comics like those by Svetlana Chmakova, Jerry Craft, and Raina Telgemeier.--Darla Salva Cruz, Suffolk Cooperative Lib. Syst., Bellport, NY
Publisher's Weekly Review
Maureen and Francine are sixth graders and Black identical twins about to embark on their first day at O'Connor Middle School. For the first time ever, the two don't share the same schedule or the same activities--Maureen is in Cadet Corps, while Francine looks forward to new experiences and spends time in an after-school program. Francine is determined to strike out on her own outside of their shared twin identity, but Maureen, who doesn't mind their similarities, isn't as confident in making new friends. Even their previously shared friend group is being pulled in different directions--not that Francine notices. When Maureen decides to run against Francine as her only competitor for student council president, the election's high stakes sweep them up, resulting in slander campaigns, poster defacement, and high tensions at family dinner. Johnson's (The Parker Inheritance) graphic novel debut depicts a realistic and relatable sister relationship alongside a close-knit family's bond. Combined with Wright's simple yet expressive art style, it's an engaging read that speaks to worries of burgeoning self-identity and tween change. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8--12. (Oct.)
Horn Book Review
It's the first day of sixth grade for the identical Carter twins, and while Maureen is more than content to face the year with her sister the way they always have -- together -- Francine is ready for a change. Differing class schedules provide Francine with hopes for autonomy, and Maureen with anxiety. Separated from her sister and core friend group, Maureen has no desire to build the self-confidence everyone claims she needs until she is threatened with a less-than-stellar grade in her Youth Cadet Corps class. For extra credit, Maureen runs for president of the student council, with only one obstacle/opposing candidate in her way -- Francine. Known as the "talker" as opposed to the "thinker," Francine has her own reasons for running for office, and -- to the chagrin of a well-rounded cast of family and friends -- a contentious political season threatens the peace in the Carter household. The story is told largely in Maureen's voice (her narration appears in rectangular boxes), and judicious use of speech bubbles, white space, and varying perspectives moves this graphic novel along without being obtrusive. Johnson and Wright have expertly teamed up to create a relatable story for all middle schoolers, with distinct reminders -- from hair bonnets to an incident of discrimination in a shopping mall -- that a majority of the characters are Black. Fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jerry Craft will appreciate the Carter twins' attempts to maneuver their way through middle school and the political process while learning to act with civility and, above all, as sisters. Eboni Njoku November/December 2020 p.102(c) Copyright 2020. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Sixth grade presents new challenges for the Carter twins. It's the first day of school, and African American identical twins Maureen and Francine Carter are having mixed feelings. Maureen is nervous about middle school: She has a new confusing schedule, cadet corps, and, worst of all, classes without Francine. She worries that middle school will swallow her alive. Francine, however, is looking forward to everything sixth grade can offer. She can't wait to be in new surroundings, try new classes, and grab new opportunities to shine, like joining the student council race. Outgoing Francine is all set to start campaigning, but when Maureen decides to run as well, it threatens to tear the two apart. As Francine pushes to stand out, Maureen yearns to fit in, and neither sees eye to eye. Johnson, in his first graphic novel, encapsulates the rocky transition from the comfort of elementary school to the new and sometimes-scary world of middle school. The sibling bond is palpable and precious as each conflict and triumph pushes them apart or pulls them together. Wright's illustrations fill the pages with vibrancy and emotion. The diverse student body, careful touches in the Carter home, and background elements in the mall scenes stand out for their warmth, humor, and realism. The small details that differentiate Maureen and Francine, while maintaining their mirrored features, are delightful. A touching, relatable story of identity, sisterhood, and friendship. (Graphic fiction. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Maureen is a straight-A student lacking in self-confidence. Her identical twin, Francine, is outgoing and popular, though she sometimes feels like "the dumb one." They've always been inseperable--until sixth grade. Francine begins to branch off socially, catching Maureen off guard, and as the tension between them builds--thanks to a series of miscommunications and unveiled secrets--their insecurities flare, and they end up running against each other for student-council president. In their graphic-novel debuts, Johnson and Wright have crafted a pitch-perfect story about the growing pains of middle school from a sibling perspective, and it's more than just a rivalry story. Maureen and Francine's family life is established with such a strong, healthy dynamic that the girls' ensuing competition is laden with complex feelings of betrayal and guilt, as they both struggle with how to be more individual while still supporting one another. Their journeys are largely internal, but Wright's artwork, crisp and colorful, does a masterful job of tracking the twins' emotional arcs through expressive composition, and Johnson's impeccable pacing keeps things moving while still making room for rich development. In the end, only one sister can win the election, but they both succeed, thanks to each other's support. A beautiful reflection on sisterhood and coming of age that belongs in every collection.