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.