The sadness, anger, love, and making things way too personal seems to draw directly from the Varian Johnson’s own experience, because he also has an identical twin. This is most impactful when Maureen and Francine interact, and especially when they argue. “Twins” is a great example of genuine character interactions and character development. The main conflict of the story resides in how Maureen has “low self-confidence” and uses her sister as a crutch for her social interactions. She’s incredibly smart, but also exceedingly introverted. She is extroverted, and Maureen once describes Fran as being “able to make friends with a rock.” Marueen, however, is the exact opposite. The story is told from the perspective of Maureen, who is classified as the “thinker” while Francine is the “talker.” This is evident in the girls’ characterizations as discussed in the synopsis, Francine begins to grow apart from her twin to try and become her own person instead of being seen as interchangeable with Maureen. Are sisters really forever? Or will middle school change things for good?” Maureen and Francine are growing apart and there’s nothing Maureen can do to stop it. A girl who seems happy to share only two classes with her sister! But just before the girls start sixth grade, Francine becomes Fran - a girl who wants to join the chorus, run for class president, and dress in fashionable outfits that set her apart from Maureen. They participate in the same clubs, enjoy the same foods, and are partners on all their school projects. “Maureen and Francine Carter are twins and best friends.

“Twins,” written by Varian Johnson and illustrated by Shannon Wright, is a must-read graphic novel for anyone looking for a heart-felt tale of sisters and self-confidence.

Varian johnson twins