Tins

Product Information

This book unfortunately just wasn’t for me. I found a lot of parts of the story boring and repetitive. I wasn’t really interested in the dance and poetry aspects of the book which were discussed in quite a lot of detail. Maybe it’s because I’ve read several other books that have the same ‘twist’ as this book but I predicted the ending very early on and I feel that previous books have executed and discussed this particular ‘twist’ so much better. I think it’s becoming overdone now in the thriller genre.

Not so Good Points: To be honest I have none. I know Cora was supposed to be the "bad" twin but I actually loved her. I didn't like Raff much but other than that it was a perfect thriller! Reading Children’s literature is sometimes soooo wildly head turning and this was one didn’t disappoint. The twins either died from drugs, had seizures due to withdrawal, or entered into some unknowable suicide pact. Fellow doctors at the time proposed a kind of Columbo killer mystery method that involved injecting poisons into the body in places where you would never find it, like a hemorrhoid. "I will tell you something: any smart physician could dispose of himself by a mechanism which could never be discovered by anyone, including his insurance companies," one of the doctors cryptically explained. "I have no evidence, but I know the way I’d do it if I were going to... I can tell you this: you’re not gonna find out." 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. Overview: Okay so...this book surprised he hell out of me. There I was enjoying a great story between twins who are completely different with a bit of a mystery thrown in and then...BAM! That twist happens and I'm left with my jaw hanging. And I don't know why I didn't see it coming because it's a similar twist to my own psychological thriller series! Completely amazing and thoroughly enjoyable read.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. Fergal collects a specific type of can. Label-less. To him, the bargain bin might as well have a sign over it that says “Coolest and Most Interesting Products in the Store Found Here”. The idea of buying bare cans appealed to his adventurous, risk-taking side that had been unattended to. That is, if you consider buying a tin can risky. After his collection begins to grow, Mr. and Mrs. Bamfield begin to worry about Fergal’s alarmingly all-consuming hobby. Maybe they’re right. Exhibit A? The contents of a recently opened can: one human finger. I just really loved this and while it did talk a lil about having crushes on people at school (and even had a moment or two where it was obvious it didn’t have to be a girl liking a boy), I preferred that the main focus was on Maureen and her relationship with Francine and what sixth grade can feel like. Twins is no exception. Perhaps it’s exceptional because it is Johnson’s first foray into the land of graphic novels, and his collaboration with illustrator Shannon Wright is sublime.

Talk about a conversation-starter. Only, Fergal doesn’t really have any friends to conversate with. And he definitely does not want to bring this topic up with his parents, who already think he’s slowly going crazy with his can obsession. As thoughts of how, why, and who fill his mind, our hero meets someone who shares his hobby. A reimagining of Sophocles’ Antigone, this moving, elegant novel follows twins Aneeka and Parvaiz and their older sister Isma as they grapple in strikingly different ways with the tension between family loyalty and the laws of society. After Parvaiz joins Isis and is killed, Aneeka mounts a vigil in protest against the UK’s refusal to repatriate his body. In exploring complex questions of duty and identity, Shamsie delivers a novel that feels both timeless, and distinctly of its time. We are introduced to Cora and Margo, identical twins who couldn’t be any different. Margo is a live in nanny who is devoted to looking after the children in her care. She takes her job seriously and clearly has a lot of love and affection to give. Cora on the other hand is narcissistic, she would do anything to achieve her dancing dreams and no one is going to stop her. Philosophical banter … Matt Lucas as Tweedledee and Tweedledum in Tim Burton’s film Alice in Wonderland. Photograph: Disney/Allstar I like the blended family - the girls have an older half-brother from their dad's previous wife. He doesn't live with the girls but he's still a part of the family and a part of their lives.

A captivating and chilling story of sibling rivalry and sisterly bonds; of grief, trauma and identity. Both heart-racing and heart-wrenching. In The Twins we follow twin sisters Margo and Cora and their turbulent relationship. Margo is experiencing memory loss and can’t remember parts of her childhood, particularly how her little sister Annie died when they were younger. Cora appears to be trying to stop Margo from remembering the truth. Margo is a live-in nanny for a wealthy family who also have twins and Cora is a ballet dancer who is auditioning for a part in the show Mirror, Mirror, which could be her breakthrough role. But these are just passing thoughts. Likely, you continue on with your shopping and don’t think about it much more. Well, if you’re anything like Fergal Bamfield, your preoccupation doesn’t end there. Identical twins Margo and Cora live in London. Although they look so similar that sometimes even those closest to them mistake one for the other, they couldn’t be more different.

This was a pretty good book about two twins entering the 6th grade together. Although they are identical in appearance, the girls are pretty different. Francine is the talkative one, the social one, the outgoing one. Maureen is the more fearful one, the one who wants to stay with her sister all the time, the one who gets the best grades and the one who is the main character of the book. However impossible, Charlotte loves cans just as much as Fergal. And, oh yeah, she also has a gruesome souvenir to share. Together they uncover a mystery that has been shipped piece by piece to a bargain bin near you. This book landed on my TBR because I was intrigued by the blurb. I requested it not because I know the author, but simply because I was intrigued. What a fabulous read it turned out to be. I have already started hunting for a copy of the author’s other book – The Prank.I enjoyed the storyline even though I’m hoping that Mr and Mrs Dimble-Smith had been caught up by the police but the ending in the mixer was much more satisfying. What a fantastic psychological thriller with some great characters throughout. I loved the tortured poet Raff, who had always loved Cora, his muse, his inspiration. Margo is a live-in nanny and Cora is a dancer on the cusp of her big break into the dance world. They are very different, but as twins, they share a remarkable bond. Haunted by an unhappy childhood, the secrets of their past are returning to haunt them. Can their bond survive the jealousy and rivalry they are living with? Or will the past destroy them forever?

As Margo’s supply of anxiety tablets runs out, she starts to remember fragments of how Annie died. Margo’s therapist and Cora’s ex-boyfriend also provide Margo with some clues. But can she take the truth?The story is told from both Core and Margo’s perspectives, moving from one to the other between the chapters. These two sisters are very different and you are drawn to both. They share their story with you leaving you amazed at the different opinions they have. The author draws you into these sisters’ world beautifully with this original story. L V Matthews writes a compelling tale, I am eager to read more of her work. If only the parents belief in them maybe things will get easier. I literally cry and scream alone by myself “Why wouldn’t you trust your child?!” when I’m reading this. 😭