This graphic novel from queer, Canadian, indie-pop twin-sister duo Tegan and Sara Quin is a lightly fictionalized version of their lives in junior high, though set in the present day, not the 1990s in which they really grew up. It picks up right from the end of Tegan and Sara: Junior High, the first in the series, as the sisters are starting to get noticed for their music.
Even as they catch the eye of their favorite musician’s manager, however, eighth-graders Tegan and Sara are also grappling with common concerns of many tweens, like shifting friendships and the uncertainty of whether a crush likes you back. And although the two are twins, they don’t always see eye-to-eye on their music, especially when it reflects the very personal things each is experiencing in life. And their new manager is demanding more of their time than they may want to give.
Happily, the Quins as authors stay away from giving us a simple story of overcoming obstacles to find stardom. Indeed, stardom still feels a ways off, despite the growing recognition. Instead, the story is at heart about two sisters working through personal and social challenges, while also striving to express and stand up for themselves. It feels remarkably normal and relatable on one level, even as the thread of musical success adds excitement and interest.
Queer representation includes not only the sisters, but also a teen couple who help them with their music and video production, and a few characters we see in passing.
Some pages offer a wider perspective on the entire cast of characters and are drawn in purple hues, while other parts are in reds or blues to indicate the more internal thoughts of Sara or Tegan, respectively. It’s a nice approach from Eisner Award-winning illustrator Tillie Walden, who brings her usual charm to the images.
While some readers might have hoped Tegan and Sara had written an actual biography, a fictional story perhaps allows for a more compelling and tighter narrative arc—for example, by moving up their band’s start to junior high, not high school as in real life. The present-day setting also allows for the incorporation of cell phones and social media, which may provide resonance for readers today. All told, it’s a recommended title, whether or not one is a fan of the twins already.
Backmatter includes an authors’ note and a quiz to see which twin you’re most like, plus photos of the authors while in junior high.
