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Double act
First published 2001 · 192 pages
A bittersweet, deeply relatable exploration of what happens when two halves of a whole realize they need to become their own people.
What it feels like
Reading this feels like flipping through a shared, secret diary filled with angry scribbles, tear-stained pages, and fierce declarations of loyalty. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging clip, driven by the alternating, highly distinct voices of two sisters who are desperately clinging to each other in the wake of profound loss. The mood is a turbulent mix of bittersweet nostalgia and the sharp, prickly growing pains of pre-adolescence. It perfectly captures the claustrophobia and comfort of intense sibling bonds, wrapping heavy themes of grief and family restructuring in a deeply accessible, chatty package. It will thoroughly delight readers who love emotionally honest, character-driven stories where flawed, fiery kids learn to navigate the messy realities of growing up and growing apart.
- Mood
- bittersweet
- turbulent
- comforting
- Tone
- chatty
- confessional
- feisty
- vulnerable
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- sibling codependency · grief and moving on · finding individual identity · blended families · fear of change
- The writing
- Highly accessible and conversational, utilizing distinct, alternating narrative voices that perfectly capture the messy authenticity of ten-year-old girls.
- The arc
- The journey moves from a fierce, defensive codependency against the world to a painful but liberating acceptance of individual identity and new family dynamics.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade readers who crave realistic, emotionally honest stories about family friction, growing pains, and the messy reality of sisterhood.
Content notes
- loss of a parent
- family conflict
- mild bullying
About the book
A brilliant new cover look for this fantastically popular Jacqueline Wilson title about sparky twins Ruby and GarnetNo-one can ever be like a mother to us.NO-ONE. NO-ONE AT ALL.ESPECIALLY NOT STUPID FRIZZY DIZZY ROSE.Ruby and Garnet are ten-year-old twins. Identical. They do EVERYTHING together, especially since their mother died three years earlier. But can being a double act work for ever? When so much around them is changing...
Description from Open Library.
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