Twins

Twins is about Maureen and Francine Carter, identical twins who struggle with the transitions in their lives in unique ways. As they start middle school,  they have different academic schedules for the first time ever. 

Maurine especially feels anxious without her sister around, and she also struggles to perform well in the youth cadet corps (An ROTC-type program at her school). Francine starts wanted to be called Fran, and she is becoming more invested in school chorus activities. Also, as the more outspoken and extroverted sister, she is going to run for class president. Maureen, partly in order to get some extra credit for YCC, also decides to run not only for a class office, but for president as well. The two sisters' lives get consumed with their competition, which tests their relationship with each other, their mutual friendships, and their family.

The clear, colorful, and vibrant artwork excels in telling the story and setting tones, depicting the characters as distinct while also highlighting their various emotional states.  Where this book excels is in capturing the tenor of family relationships. Francine and Maureen love each other, but they are frequently at odds and argue. As a sibling from a large family and a parent who has multiple children, I have found that interpersonal dynamics can be mercurial, volatile, and/or comforting. I saw much here I could empathize with, from both twins. It is refreshing to see a book that explores just how messy family relationships can be while also showing how they can lead to growth and self-actualization. I also admire how much the parents are involved in their daughters' lives, trying to make choices to help both, even if their overtures are not always welcome.

I think that it would have been very easy for this book to be formulaic, but the character work elevates the enterprise. It takes its genre conventions and spins them in a way that makes it unique and human, relatable but also surprising. I loved reading this book.

Twins was a collaboration between writer Varian Johnson and artist Shannon Wright. Johnson has received many accolades and honors for his books, the most recent of which is Playing the Card You're Dealt. Wright is an illustrator and cartoonist who has worked with several prominent publishers and platforms. Johnson and Wright both speak about their work on Twins in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read of this book have been stellar. In a starred entry, Kirkus Reviews summed it up as "a touching, relatable story of identity, sisterhood, and friendship." Avery Kaplan called it "a comic that you’ll want to start over from the beginning as soon as you’ve reached the last page." Renée Watson wrote that it is "a page-turner with moments that make you laugh out loud. Anyone with a sibling will appreciate the sarcastic and witty banter of these sisters."

Twins was published by Scholastic, and they offer more about it here. This book is titled Twins #1 in various places, though I have not seen a sequel solicited at this time. I very much hope to see more stories about these characters.

Knife's Edge

I have been looking very forward to this sequel to Compass South, and boy did it not disappoint. That first book in the Four Points series was one of the best reviewed books of the past year, receiving lots of accolades for its fine story and art, and I daresay that this book is even better. After reuniting with their father, twins Cleo and Alex are faced with many quandaries. They learn more about their mother, why they were abandoned, and how they ended up in their current predicament, but at the same time they face more mysteries and unanswered questions. The plotting of these stories is so complex and well thought out, and I love how approachable and natural the whole narrative still seems.

 

In addition to the many revelations, there are also a few new characters and locales introduced, but none of it seems forced or rushed. There is a sizable amount of exposition, but it is adeptly worked into the story, not seeming like a slog to read or rote information to note. Part of why all these features are the case is the exceptional artwork that brings out strong characterizations as well as expertly imparting verve into every scene. Cleo especially seems to spring from the pages as a fully realized character, full of nuance and affect. I loved this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good swashbuckling tale that is full of heart and human moments. I sure hope that this book is not the final installment in this series, because it left me yearning for more.


This book is a fantastic collaboration between writer Hope Larson and artist Rebecca Mock. The Eisner Award winning Larson has created a number of graphic novels, including an adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time and the young adult story Chiggers. She is also writing two comic book series, one about a teen detective Goldie Vance and the other a run on DC Comics' Batgirl. In addition to the Four Points books, Mock was a co-organizer of  the Hana Doki Kira anthology. You can read more about their collective work on this book, in this interview with Larson and this one with Mock.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been full of praise. Kirkus Reviews wrote, "As in its predecessor, every question answered leads the twins to more questions to be asked, and it ends with a breath-catching cliffhanger." Oliver Sava was impressed by Mock's "talent for expressive, engaging characters and crisp movement." Tamara Saarinen called it "a fast-paced, absorbing tale."

Knife's Edge was published by Farrar Straus and Giroux, and they have a preview and more info available here.

I saw the artist Rebecca Mock at HeroesCon this year, and she was so kind to sign my copy of this book. Thank you!

Compass South

Compass South is an adventure story set in the 1800s, but it also strongly resembles a fairy tale. The plot follows a pair of twins, Alexander and Cleopatra Dodge, who were orphaned and came to be raised by one of their mother's old flames. When he mysteriously disappears and is taken for dead, all they have to their names are two items passed down from their mom as their legacy: a watch and pocket knife. So the siblings join a gang of juvenile criminals and try to live by their wits and ill-gotten gains.

After they run afoul of the law, Alexander and Cleopatra decide they are going to try a new grift, passing themselves off as a pair of long-lost twins.This new plan entails Cleo having to pretend to be a boy and also some stowing away to get to the west coast. There are complications, however, one of which is running into another pair of red-headed twins with the same intentions they have to defraud an unwitting family (what are the chances?!?). What makes this book really work is how far off track all of their plans get, as well as the inventive ways that the story unfolds and reveals some interesting twists. It is chock full of action, humor, heart, nautical intrigue, and mystery, and I think it will be a popular book with many YA readers. I very much enjoyed it, and I am looking forward to its sequel (and maybe more in a series?).

Compass South was made by writer Hope Larson and artist Rebecca Mock. The Eisner Award winning Larson has created a number of graphic novels, including an adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time and the young adult story Chiggers. She is also writing two comic book series, one about a teen detective Goldie Vance and the other a run on DC Comics' Batgirl. This is Mock's first graphic novel, and she was a co-organizer of  the Hana Doki Kira anthology. Larson speaks about this book and her various comics projects in this interview.

All of the reviews I have read about this book give it praise. Kirkus Reviews summed it up as "Complex, engaging, and sure to please a wide audience." Publishers Weekly spoke highly of the book, especially Mock who "adeptly captures the changing relationships between the twins—especially the gender-bending awkwardness that accompanies Cleo’s stint as a boy." Sarah Hunter from Booklist gave it a starred review and called it "A gorgeously executed, lively caper."

Compass South was published by Farrar Straus and Giroux, and they have a preview and more info available here.

I met Rebecca Mock recently at HeroesCon, and I was glad to buy a pre-release copy. She was gracious enough to also draw a picture and sign a book for me. Thank you!