Gemini
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
In a powerful and daring debut novel, Sonya Mukherjee shares the story of sisters Clara and Hailey, conjoined twins who are learning what it means to be truly extraordinary.
Seventeen-year-old conjoined twins, Clara and Hailey, have lived in the same small town their entire lives—no one stares at them anymore. But there are cracks in their quiet existence and they’re slowing becoming more apparent. Clara and Hailey are at a crossroads. Clara wants to stay close to home, avoid all attention, and study the night sky. Hailey wants to travel the world, learn from great artists, and dance with mysterious boys. As high school graduation approaches, each twin must untangle her dreams from her sister’s, and figure out what it means to be her own person.
Told in alternating perspectives, this unconventional coming-of-age tale shows how dreams can break your heart—but the love between sisters can mend it.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Seventeen-year-old conjoined twins Clara and Hailey are tired of their small community in Bear Pass, Calif. Though their parents have shielded them from outsiders and instilled in them a sense of normalcy, the twins question whether their limited world is enough. When astronomy-loving Clara meets new classmate Max, she is instantly intrigued. Encouraged by her artistic, pink-haired sister, Clara pursues Max while Hailey pursues Alek, a fellow art student. With dating, dances, and college on the horizon, the girls wrestle with what is possible and whether the world beyond Bear Pass will accept them. After confrontations with fellow classmates, the twins recognize their own fears and misconceptions, leading them to consider whether they are better off together or apart. Writing in the distinct voices of both Hailey and Clara, debut author Mukherjee chronicles multiple aspects of life as a conjoined twin. Each sister's selflessness toward the other is stirring, but Mukherjee's descriptions ("we scuttled down the ramp") can occasionally suggest spectacle at the expense of story. Though uplifting, the ending feels overly convenient, undermining the nuances of conjoined identity explored. Ages 14 up.
