High School

July 8, 2019
The Canadian musician authors focus on their high school years in this moody memoir set in the mid-1990s. The twin sisters tell their story in alternating chapters whose topics include first loves, coming out as gay, and making music. They heartbreakingly recall the girls they fell for and the discomfort that came with hiding their romantic relationships from critical adults. Even though the two bickered as teenagers (“It didn’t matter what it was; everything was a battlefield,” Sara writes), music always brought them together. Their life-changing moment came when they found their stepfather’s guitar and played it for the first time. Their descriptions of touching the guitar match up strikingly. Writes Tegan: “Its thick body pressed into my thighs... the desire to play it felt instinctive.” Adds Sara: “The weight of the wood felt intimate, touching almost all of me at once.” The sisters began composing songs and eventually entered a contest that would get them a deal with PolyGram Records. The narrative ends as they gear up to make a name for themselves as artists. This quiet memoir—which includes family photos—will appeal to fans interested in the duo’s formative years.

July 12, 2019

Canadian singer-songwriters and identical twin sisters Tegan and Sara Quin recall their tumultuous adolescence. Before becoming Grammy- and Juno Award-winning pop stars, they were a couple of teenagers navigating the emotional, treacherous terrain of high school. The chapters are separated by individual recollections of parties, drug use, sexual experimentation, numerous battles with their parents, and more. Though the interchange of memory is a fascinating concept, the book is strongest when it focuses on its two central themes: sexual identity and the discovery of music. As the narrative begins, it's intimated that Sara is falling in love with her female best friend, though that isn't explicitly stated until later. By contrast, Tegan realized she was a lesbian after dating a couple of boys and falling in love with a girl named Alex. Discovering their latent musical talent happened by accident. After finding their stepfather's guitar in a storage space, the Quins began practicing in secret. Learning the guitar and creating songs gave them an outlet for their angst and provided a gateway to future success. VERDICT This inspiring memoir will appeal to readers, especially fans of the duo.--Leah Huey, Dekalb P.L., IL

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.