The Two Mutch Sisters

This pair of sisters have been together for a very long time. Even though their taste differs, they collect two of everything and their shared home become a tad too cluttered. Ruby decides to take her half of the collection and move into a different house. While their separate homes are no longer cluttered, Ruby and Violet feel that something is missing…each other. So, Violet takes matters into her own hands and moves their houses to a new double lot where they can be neighbors. And now, they have each other and nothing is missing!

This sweet story with its very different sisters and very interesting group of collectibles (glockenspiels and spittoons among them) is a sweet tribute to sibling love. The illustrations are detailed and fun, showing all sorts of clutter. Students will pick up this book again and again.

Journey Across the Hidden Islands

Twins Seika and Ji-Lin were two princesses whose destiny was known to them, or so they thought. Seika would become the Queen and Ji-Lin would be her royal protector along with the winged lions. They also both knew that one day they would travel to the Hidden Island of the dragon to ask for her protection against monsters and invaders, just as their ancestors had for many generations. Yet, this was not what was to happen. They began their journey before their training was finished and so began an adventure of epic proportions. Along the way, they picked up a helpful young boy and used strength and intellect they didn’t know that they possessed. But, would it be enough to save their land and people from those outside that would destroy them? And, why is the ever-protective dragon allowing this to happen?

This book is a wonderful fantasy with strong, young female characters. They are likable and realistically ‘snarky’ at times, as tweens tend to be. Their loyalty to each other and their bravery is remarkable. Buy this book!

Gemini

Gemini, by Sonya Mukherjee, takes on the difficult struggle of conjoined twin seventeen year-old sisters Hailey and Clara. Joined from the waist down, at their spine, the girls cannot be surgically separated. Now seniors in high school, they each have their own dreams and aspirations, and these don’t match each others, nor their mother’s. Told from dual points of view, the reader feels the struggle of each girl, and witnesses their self discovery and self acceptance.

There are few fictional books on this subject. One by Sarah Corssant is, I feel, more realistic (case in point: many conjoined twins don’t even live to the age of 17). Nonetheless, this is an intriguing and heart wrenching story.

Peanut and Fifi have A Ball

peanut and fifiSee what happens when two siblings only have one ball.  The older girl, Fifi, tries desperately to get Peanut to share her new ball. But it is a new ball and Peanut isn’t ready to share it just yet.  Fifi goes to great lengths to get her little sister to share but eventually gives up when she finds something even more entertaining.

Delightfully illustrated, by Paul Schmid, with muted tones of pastel red, blue and purple with a lot of white space.  The pictures will engage children. The story will provide a nice springboard to the value and rewards of sharing. The open ending also provides a great story starter for students and highlights the double meaning of the title.