Well that was awfully emotional and beautiful. LET ME SQUEAK IN APPRECIATION. Oh! Oh! And it was written in verse. In verse! I know as much about poetry as I know about the history of guavas (aka: I know nothing) BUT, I really love reading books that are just slightly different. It shakes things up and makes me pay attention. Although sometimes I think having it in verse limited the description — but One went for a style and it ROCKED IT.
It’s also the kind of book that’ll pull at your heart strings. If you have any.*
* I mostly don’t have any, but I could have sniffled, if I weren’t Vulcan.
It’s a story about twins…conjoined twins! And I can’t even imagine how hard it would be to live that way. The stares. Being called a freak. Being viewed as a monster. Having people flinch away from you. THAT WOULD BE SO HARD. The book faces the topic of disability and labels and really talks about it without shying away.
Soooo LET US TALK ABOUT GRACE AND TIPPI! Grace is the narrator and the quiet one. Tippi is stubborn and, gawsh, do they clash. Sisters don’t always get along, okay?! Especially when they’re attached. NO rest from each other. NO private conversations. Ever. They’re joined at the waist, so one set of legs, but two upper bodies.
But I do feel like the story was slightly predictable. I mean, conjoined twins? Going to school for the first time in 16 years? OBVIOUSLY one of them is going to fall in luuuurve. And obviously that’s not going to work out. And I felt it was pretty clear there’d be some sort of operation towards the end. I’m not trying to be cynical! I just knew where it was going and never felt surprised.
At least the super beautiful (and addictive!) writing totally made up for it. There’s not a ton of description about the rest of the family, but we do get little whiffs of details. I also loved how the twins weren’t the only ones with “problems”. The dad was an alcoholic, the older ballet-dancing-sister had an eating disorder, the mother was laid-off work, and the grandma sometimes said the wrong thing at the wrong time AND IT WAS HORRIBLE. It’s definitely about the entire dysfunctional family.
I definitely enjoyed this one!! When you read, like, 2 million books a year, things can start to all blur together — so this unique topic totally snatches my attention. And I am sad. I AM VERY SAD. IT IS NOT A HAPPY BOOK. I think this book is sad and beautiful simultaneously. And I love that it’s about sisters and family and heartbreak. ‘Course I love the heartbreak. I am a sad little bookworm with no respect for my feels, apparently.
Also I am a research nerd and went and watched youtube documentaries about conjoined twins after this. It’s super interesting and I have endless respect for what they go through.
THANK YOU TO BLOOMSBURY FOR THE ARC. One by Sarah Crossan is published August, 2015.
Tippi and Grace share everything—clothes, friends . . . even their body. Writing in free verse, Sarah Crossan tells the sensitive and moving story of conjoined twin sisters, which will find fans in readers of Gayle Forman, Jodi Picoult, and Jandy Nelson.
Tippi and Grace. Grace and Tippi. For them, it’s normal to step into the same skirt. To hook their arms around each other for balance. To fall asleep listening to the other breathing. To share. And to keep some things private. The two sixteen-year-old girls have two heads, two hearts, and each has two arms, but at the belly, they join. And they are happy, never wanting to risk the dangerous separation surgery.
But the girls’ body is beginning to fight against them. And soon they will have to face the impossible choice they have avoided for their entire lives.
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SO GLAD I’M NOT THE ONLY NERD. If there’s something new or different in the books I read I ALWAYS research it. So now I know a lot about conjoined twins. And also production design thanks to Everything Leads to You, which I’m reading now.
ALSO. THOSE PHOTOS. ASLJSLKDFJLSKDJF. THE COLOUR SAMPLES <3 <3 The flowers <3 <3
NERDS TOGETHER THEN. XD That’s my favourite part of reading a book I know nothing about, tbh…I go and look up aaaall the things and then want to write my own story. hehe. When I read Percy Jackson I completely researched EVERYTHING about ADHD. Because. That’s who I am.
AWK THANK YOU. XD The colour-sample idea isn’t original but I HAD to try it, right?!? XD
Wow that is a unique sounding story!
I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN DEAL WITH VERSE. I tried, once, and… and it didn’t go very well. I just got so FRUSTRATED. But I also really like Sarah Crossan’s work… so, obviously, I’m going to give this one a go. And conjoined twins? Nothing something we see often in YA. Consider me intrigued.
My best friend/co-blogger, Michelle, is obsessed with Sarah Crossan.I’m pretty sure this is her most anticipated book of the year…I’m not entirely convinced yet but we’ll see.
*ear perks* Prose did you say? Well now I positively must read it! Hopefully it gets chosen as the book of the month for BookClubAus so I can get a movin’ and go order it at long last. You must hold my hands tight though, because I do not like getting my little heart trampled all over *wibbles in fear* The topic sounds utterly fascinating, though, I have so much respect for conjoined twin and what must be their endless reserve of patience.
Ooh, I LOVE books written in verse or in a unique way. I can imagine how awful it must be to be a conjoined twin so I’ll definitely be reading this! I think it must be one of those books that really makes you appreciate your life and understand the lives of others going through different situations. Great review! 🙂
WOW. I don’t think I’ve ever read a story about conjoined twins before. I can’t even think of any books about the topic (aside from this one, obviously). So yes. DEF must read this. It just sounds like one of those really emotional and heartwrenching books. I can’t even imagine how difficult life must be if you’re conjoined twins. I’m not sure I could do it, really. I also haven’t read a lot of verse before so this book would be new to me in many ways!
Fabulous review as always, Cait! (and gosh, I’m jealous of your photos. Every time.)
This sounds so good but I don’t think I can handle a book done entirely in verse . . . . I like unusual storytelling methods now and then, but I usually prefer a simple first person past tense, so this might be a tough read for me. Conjoined twins, though…you don’t see those in YA very often.
Wow! I love books written in free verse… I had no idea this book existed. And about conjoined twins… gahd it sounds so interesting. Definitely need to read it (and from the summary itself you could predict some things lol)
Your review has made me REALLY want to read this book!!! Conjoined twins sounds like such an interesting topic… I watched a documentary a few years ago about conjoined twins and I AM READY TO LEARN MORE. Great review! 🙂
I have this waiting for me to read. I am so excited to get to it, because I’ve heard only good things! I think I’ve read two novels in verse; 5 to 1 by Holly Bodger – half told in verse, half in prose, for the two different narrators – and A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone.
I also really love stories that are told in unusual ways! As you know, I just read Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers, which was told through notes left on the fridge, and it was SO good! I loved it! There’s Hold Me Closer by David Levithan which is a musical script, The Lover’s Dictionary, an adult romance also by Levithan, told through a dictionary format – each word relates to the relationship in some way (I think similar-ish to Why We Broke Up, but I’ve not yet read that, so could be wrong), then there’s Me Being Me is Exactly as Insane as You Being You by Todd Hasak-Lowy which is told entirely through lists. I really want to read Crazy by Amy Reed, which I believe is told through emails. (I have a shelf on Goodreads for unusual formats, I want to fill it with loaaaads!)
I’m really looking forward to reading this one, though I’m sad you found it predictable. I’m hoping I enjoy it! 🙂
I have read just one book in verse, Crank by Ellen Hopkins and although I didn’t mind it, it isn’t something I would want to read a bunch of in a row. It made me think a little harder than I usually do which, you know, sort of melts your brain a bit. Also Crank was such a heavy topic (I don’t know if you know about it, it is a lot about drug addiction) which I just can’t read a lot of. I like more happy, fluffy books after something like that. I would like to read more books in verse in the future when I want a bit more of a reading challenge and am up for some serious thinking! Have a beautiful day!
Oh. Mah. Goodness. I need this book like now. No, I need it yesterday. A few weeks ago, I spent about two hours researching conjoined twins because seriously, it’s so fascinating, and I feel like no one really mentions it that often. (Also, bonus points for being in verse–and that picture quote, ohmahgersh I need this book.) (And, as another coincidence, just yesterday I told my cousin I had no heart strings, so apparently we’re like, mentally conjoined twins, since you can read my thoughts and all.) (Another side note: You’ve mentioned eating books so much that even when you say “reading”, I still read it “eating”. Thanks for that, by the way. :P)
Also, I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book in verse before–okay, well, I mean, I’ve read The Odyssey and Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales (awful, awful, awful, igg) and some other OLD books in verse, but nothing in modern verse that I can remember. Oh, wait, no, scratch that. I’ve read The Underneath by Kathi Appelt which isn’t really verse, I don’t think, but it still feels like it’s poetry of some sort (but it was years ago, so I don’t really remember).
My favorite novels in verse are Witness (also by Karen Hesse), and Make Lemonade, by Virginia Wolf Euwer. I don’t like Ellen Hopkins’ books in verse, but otherwise, I usually really enjoy them. YES to books with unique styles. Bring on the multiple POV, shifting timelines, unreliable narrators, and books with letters, diary entries, and news articles. Though maybe not all at once.
Great review!! 🙂 I have never read a book in verse. They are a little intimidating! I am worried that they are not going to engaging. I am not that into poetry but I would really like to give them a try. I have not heard of this book and it sounds amazing. I have never read a book with conjoined twins. Sounds like a very emotional read! 🙂
I heard about this one and keep meaning to look it up but I end up not because I end up forgetting. Now you’ve reminded me and I can add it to my TBR list! Come hither, Goodreads account!
And I’ve never read a book in verse before. It will be the first.
I absolutely detest poetry, so there is NO way I could handle a book like this. The cover has lovely colors, though!
This one’s already on my want-to-read list. I really enjoy books in verse; I’ve read quite a few of them.
I watched a documentary about the Hensel twins (you’ve probably seen that one) but there’s another good one out there about a couple of little girls in British Columbia who are joined at the head: Twin Life.
I have read books in verse before and I really like the style. I want to read this book. I think the topic of conjoined twins is quite interesting. I’ve only read an adult book on the topic.
This sounds interesting. I was just telling a friend of mine that I wanted to pick up a book written in verse to see how it is.
Hmmm… Maybe one day I will pick up this one ;]
I looooove verse novels, and this is one I’m particularly excited for! I’m glad you enjoyed it, even if it was on the predictable side. 🙂
I actually have this one for review as well smushy and plan on starting it this weekend hopefully. Haven’t been reading and still recovering from the flu, so no doubt if you were sniffling, I’ll be an emotional mess of snot and tears (it’s the flu I tell you, THE FLU!) I’ve loved every book I’ve read in verse. I find the short and sharp storyline makes a huge impact with me. I think this is the only YA book I’ve come across with conjoined twins in it and can’t wait to crack it open even more so now. Fabulous review smushy vulcan <3
Oh wow. This sounds really interesting. The subject and of course, the verse. I think the verse is what intrigues me most. Okay that and the cover. I’m not much of a pink fan. But that pink and blue just really stands out and I rather like them together. It does sound like a very sad book though. . . I might have to read it fast. That way the sadness doesn’t last so long.
Response To The Comment On The Blog (Gossip Girl Book Tag): CAIT. ARE YOU…YOU’RE TELLING ME THEY DIDN’T BROADCAST GOSSIP GIRL IN THE UK??? NO. FUCKING. WAY. *JAW DROPS* *EYES BULGE IN SHOCK* CAIT. TAKE NETFLIX IF YOU HAVE IT, SIT DOWN AND WATCH GOSSIP GIRL. YOU NEEEEDDDD TO.
I didn’t even realize A Monster Calls was MG, until seeing later on and guessing because of the age of the character. It’s just so powerful. It’s my first MG since I started reading YA, then, I guess. I started reading YA two years ago, now.
WARNERRRRRR. YES, CAIT, FIX IT. READ A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOUUUUUUUU. I wanna hear your thoughts 😀 Thanks for stopping by!!!
Response To This Post: I love different books, too! I cannot even imagine being a conjoined twin for basic reasons, like it would be hard to hang out with your separate friends. It would be hard to wear the clothes you like because your sister would want something else, relationships with your significant other would be a bit awkward, I couldn’t do it. I would want the separation surgery, even if it was a risk to my life because…no. Also, as much as I love fun people, I also like as much solitude as I can possibly have, and so being stuck to someone would be terrible for me. Man, conjoined twins have a strength I could never have. I’m a researcher too, as you know. OOOOH, CAIT. CAN YOU RECOMMEND SOME DOCUMENTARIES??? YES.
I read Tilt by Ellen Hopkins, and Kiss of Broken Glass by Madeleine Kuderick. Both were exceptionally written, and truly beautiful. I LOVE VERSE. An author that can master verse is an author to be deeply respected, because that’s some serious amount of talent. BOMB. What you said about it being sad, and beautiful, I like those type of novels, and that’s totally how I view A Monster Calls which I’m still not over and may never be over. Such high quality writing. I haven’t read One! It’s been on my TBR for a while now, I’ll get to it, eventually! Lovely review!
I WANT THIS SO BAD. I wasn’t a huge fan of Sarah’s Breathe duology (too typical, run-of-the-mill dystopian for my liking) but I really did love Apple and Rain so I am really excited to hear that you liked this so much, even if it was a little predictable. I think the concept of being a conjoined twin is so interesting and I’m curious to see how that will transfer into the story. Thanks for sharing this wonderful review Cait! ♥
So glad you reviewed this one, I’d heard just a bit about it and I was interested! I started Crossan’s dystopian series a while back and never finished, but I do remember that the writing was good. So to hear that she’s written a novel in verse is SO exciting! I don’t necessarily seek out books written in verse, but I’ve never been disappointed by one — in fact, they’ve always been quite memorable for me. That it stood out to you for that reason when you read *so* many books in a year is quite promising!
i recently got a signed hardcover copy of it and i can’t wait to read it! the fact that it’s written in verses really excites me. plus i’ve never really read a book about conjoined twins so this will be new and a first to me 🙂
xx,
isha
I LOVE the sound of One and I am most definitely going to check it out! I’ve never read a book about conjoined twins, so even if it maybe be predictable, I think I’ll enjoy it nonetheless. As for verse books I’ve read, I’ve only read one and that was Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay, which I loved! Another reason to look forward to this, yay!
Thank you, I have a new book to check out! As a twin, I love reading about twins, so this seems right up my alley.
Hah! I actually also always research things I read in books. I have a post scheduled tomorrow about things I learned about Ethiopia in Elizabeth Wein’s Black Dove White Raven, and I’m thinking I’ll do a series of posts like that.
ANYWAY, always been fascinated by conjoined twins and I seriously want to read One. Will have to wait for it to reach this side of the world though. I’ve never read a novel in verse but I do love poetry a lot.
Oh my, the way you were talking about the book I thought you really liked it, then BAM! Tolerable. LOL. Ha! I used to watch a reality show about conjoined twins they shared everything up to the neck then they had separate necks and heads, so there was no having surgery for them. On the program they worked really well together, they even played volleyball on a school team and rode bikes with their friends, and when they turned 16, drove a car. The show ended when they went into university, and I often wonder how they are today. I should Google them. I aways wanted to know there inner thoughts though because you know they can’t be truely nearly happy all of the time. Unless they ARE so used to it, it really truthfully doesn’t ever really bother them. I was going to read the book, but if there is romance in it, I don’t know. 🙂
I have a question. When I want to use the word “college” which is what we call university level studied here, I always stop myself and write university (which is weird for Americans because that is how we refer to the physical buildings and grounds of a college) because a couple of people from the UK told me in England “college” means what we call a trade schoo,l where one learns things like plumbing and carpentry, for those who didn’t get good enough grades to go to a university, or didn’t want to go. Is it the same in Australia? Does college mean a trade school and not a university? All the times I told them my son was in college they thought he hadn’t made it into university.
Is it odd that I know most of what I know about conjoined twins from shows like Grey’s Anatomy and House? And some of the episodes sound similar to this! Especially the falling in love being one of the reasons for an operation! But I never knew there was a book with conjoined twins–how cool! Great review, Cait!
This book sounds incredibly intriguing, that would be so hard. I can not even imagine how difficult that would be.
Actually, I’m pretty sure that Crossan also wrote another verse book,”Weight of Water”. That one was about a girl moving to England from Poland.( I think).A gain it was quite predictable but nice. I haven’t read “The One” yet.
Verse! Verse! And conjoined twins?! I want to read this right now. I’ve watched documentaries about conjoined twins, and it’s both fascinating, depressing, and inspiring to learn of their unique lives. Totally going to add this to my gargantuan Goodreads TBR list and see if my library has it. Also, lovely book photography, as usual! And I’ve read a bunch of book in verse, more recently Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson and 5 to 1 by Holly Bodger. I also loved Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse and it made me cry. (P.S. Cait, you seem to know a lot about pineapples so I would have thought you’d know a lot about guavas! I’m disappointed…)
I really liked Sarah Crossan’s Apple and Rain (one of the 4 physical arc’s that I have received) and I’m a twin, so I’d really like to check this one out! It sounds interesting, and conjoined twins are so fascinating, it’s such a difficult thing to think about. Nice review! You mainly said positive stuff though, so I was confused about the 3 not 4 stars.
Lovely review. I ended up loving this, although I gave it a 5/5 rating when I finished it. I just loved it so much. How Crossan managed to say so much in so few words. It has a lot of pages, but no where near as many words as the average novel. But I felt like I came to know Grace and Tippi so well, to care about them. And the end broke me. I didn’t just cry, I sobbed. I am clearly no vulcan!
This sounds like such an interesting read. Books written in different ways/styles make me want to read them. I don’t recall ever reading a book about conjoined twins and it has been a while since I read anything written in verse. It sounds like I might need to track it down.
Thanks so much for sharing this with all of us.
I had already decided before your review that I wan’t going to read this one, but the whole dysfunctional family thing interests me. Actually, the whole thing interests me now! Maybe it’s worth a try.
Wow, a book about conjoined twins! That is crazy unusual. I need to read this one for sure!
I have been seeing this book a lot around the blogs I frequent but up until now and reading your review I had no idea that it was about conjoined twins! What a unique storyline to go with!
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything in verse before, I’m a bit picky when it comes to the the way my books are written. I read Cecelia Aherns ‘Where Rainbows End’ which is written completely as letters/emails/texts basically any type of written communication and that was a bit hard at first to read. But then the story was excellent so I stuck with it. So maybe that will happen with this one.
I am definitely intrigued by the storyline. Will have to have a sneaky read at some point.
Oh my! What an interesting concept. I might have to pick that up sometime and read it. I do understand how that would be predictable (I mean, I feel like I read the whole story just in the blurb), but it would be completely worth it to read an entire book in verse!
Samantha, couragedearheartblog.blogspot.com
I love books written in verse so much. Usually beautiful writing is what I love most in a book above characters and plot and worldbuilding, so reading a book in a medium that is all about creating beautiful words is always a wonderful experience for me. This also sounds like a really unique concept for a book so I just might read One. I can feel the heartbreak already just thinking about what I’m sure happens in the book.
I haven’t read this one before but conjoined twins is something that I’d love to try, IF it weren’t a bit too predictable 😉 You’re right that those things would definitely happen, but I guess the driving power that would make me go for this would be the verse. I LOVE VERSE! I mean, I only read one and that was 5 to 1 by Holly Bodger, but I loved how someone could tell a story and give their emotions across by using limited words. Will have to give this a try and see how the verses make it more memorable 😀
Ahh, so did they actually get the operation in the end successfully? NO WAIT SPOILERS SHHH. But I’m guessing they did. That’s a bit disappointing if so because it’s kind of a HEA and almost glosses over the point of the story? Idk hmmmmm. I’m clearly just being grumpy. I’ll go back to my cave now
I’ve only ever read MELT by Selene Castrovilla which was in verse form. And I loved it, just like I loved ONE! Yes for the research part, I know wayyyy too much about twins. The scariest twin story ever? Look up Edward Mordake. *shivers*
Now that I think about it, you might be right. The book is a bit too predictable but I loved it anyway! I loved the grandma (even if she was a bit of a loud-mouth) and I do wish there was a bit more about the family as a whole but whatever. AND OMG CAIT I LOVE YOUR PICTURES <3
Firstly I LOVE your new design, subtle changes but oh so much cleaner! I just love how smooth the navigation on mobile is as well! Secondly, this book sounds completely heart wrenching, albeit predictable. But, it’s great that it stuck out to you amongst a sea of other books! Lovely review Cait <3
This sounds like something I need to read! It sounds like a really unique story. Plus, free verse poetry? Yes please! I read a book that was told in free verse poetry last year, and I enjoyed it, so I’ve been on the lookout for something like it ever since. Great review!
I need to read this one! I really really want to and have it on my TBR. The idea alone is so unique and I have never heard of a book like this one. It might be predictable, and it might be in a format that I don’t usually read (the verse. I’ll give it a try test) but I still feel like there can be a lot I can learn from this book. And the wonderful writing style has me intrigued DD:
YES I LEARNT A LOT!! I’ve only ever seen conjoined twins in one other book, and they were the villain, so yeah. >_> I didn’t exactly learn anything. So One was incredible for learning and just the verse was so so beautifully done.
This looks so good! I am pretty much the same about poetry — I will never understand poetry and all the symbolisms behind it. WHY CAN’T THE CURTAINS JUST BE BLUE BECAUSE THE AUTHOR LIKES THE COLOUR BLUE. Still, though, I’ve never read a book about anything like this, and then in verse? Sounds like a unique read!