Twins is a 2020 graphic novel written by Varian Johnson and illustrated by Shannon Wright. It follows twin sisters who face having different schedules when they start middle school.
Plot When twin sisters Maureen and Francine Carter start sixth grade they are shocked when they are assigned to different classes. Francine embraces her newfound independence and starts participating in after-school activities, while the Cadet Corps-enrolled Maureen is concerned about growing apart. When the two sisters become the sole competitors for head of the student council, their relationship strains further.
Development Johnson himself has a twin brother; as with the Carter sisters, they first started taking separate classes in middle school, an experience that inspired the story of Twins.
Reception The book received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, the Horn Book, and the School Library Journal. Both School Library Journal and the Horn Book likened the book to works by Raina Telgemeier and Jerry Craft. Eboni Njoku of the Horn Book commented on how the book alludes to the protagonists' Black identity through the use of hair bonnets and a scene depicting discrimination at a mall.
Avery Kaplan of Comics Beat praised the artwork, noting how early pages symmetrically presented the Maureen and Francine's perspectives with the format becoming more disjointed later on to reflect the growing conflict between the twins + Awards and honorsYearAward/HonorResultRef.2022Great Graphic Novels for TeensIncluded2021Eisner Award for Best Publication for KidsNominatedHarvey Award for Best Children's or Young Adult BookNominatedRingo Award for Best Kids Comic or Graphic NovelWonSchool Library Journal - Best Middle Grade BooksIncludedGraphic Novels & Comics Round Table - Best Graphic Novels for ChildrenTop TenBlack Caucus of the American Library Association - Children and Youth Literary Awards for Graphic NovelWon2020NPR Books We LoveIncluded
References
External links
Twins on Varian Johnson's personal website