Synopsis
Before Tegan and Sara took the music world by storm, the Quins were just two identical twins trying to find their place in a new home and new school. From first crushes to the perils of puberty, surviving junior high is something the sisters plan to face side by side, just like they’ve always faced things. But growing up also means growing apart, as Tegan and Sara make different friends and take separate paths to understanding their queerness. For the first time ever, they ask who one sister is without the other.
Set in the present day, this effervescent blend of fiction and autobiography, with artwork from Eisner Award–winner Tillie Walden, offers a glimpse at the two sisters before they became icons, exploring their shifting relationship, their own experiences coming out, and the first steps of their musical journey.
From: Macmillan Publishers
Notes on This Title
The focal characters of this title are 12 year old girls, who are fictionalized versions of the authors. There is use of the term “gay” as a pejorative, as well as other depictions of homophobic attitudes. The supporting cast includes a queer girl who is coded as Asian, as well as a boy who is gay and is coded as Asian.
Awards
ALA Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table - 2023 Best Graphic Novels for Children
Reviews
“Tillie Walden’s art is, as always, warm and welcoming and oh so charming.” (Source: Autostraddle)
“Tugs at the heartstrings like a well-tuned guitar.” (Source: Kirkus Reviews)
“While some slang and musical references feel forced, the emotions and character interactions are timelessly resonant.” (Source: Publishers Weekly)
“Fairly unique among comics for young readers in its mining of reality for high drama, eschewing the elements of fantasy so common in books for readers of a certain age, Junior High is alternately fun, funny, and heartbreaking, an all-around powerful book and a must-read for anyone currently trying to keep their head above water in the whirlpool of junior high–as well as those who have successfully made it through.” (Source: School Library Journal)
Interviews
CBC: “Tegan and Sara explore coming of age and coming out in their new book Junior High”
EW: “Read an excerpt from Tegan and Sara’s upcoming graphic novel Junior High“