Twins

In this section, The Evolution of Sibling Relationships continues to develop, and the novel suggests that siblings can reach a new equilibrium even after a tumultuous period of fights and rapid changes. Dad’s words foreshadow the outcome of the twins’ relationship, because even in the midst of their conflict, he is sure that things will return to “normal” after the class president election is over. However, Maureen’s doubt over Dad’s words also foreshadows the subtler nuances of the reconciliation, because she correctly suspects that after this ordeal, her relationship with Fran will never revert to its previous status quo. The author uses repetition and variation to show that Dad and Maureen are both partially right; Maureen’s relationship with Fran ultimately reaches a “new normal” (241), which implies that although their connection has shifted, it is no longer fraught with conflict.

Both Maureen and Fran make concessions to get their relationship back on track without compromising their individual searches for personal identity. For example, after learning that Fran is receiving tutoring, Maureen reconsiders recent events from Fran’s perspective rather than just her own. This shift is shown when Maureen recalls several scenes that she has already narrated but expands the scenes to include Fran’s part. This narrative tactic allows the author to reveal key details, such as Fran’s humiliation at getting answers wrong in class right before Maureen got the answers right (212-13). These scenes are not organized into panels, but into several large thought bubbles that take up a two-page spread, illustrating the importance of Maureen’s new willingness to consider Fran’s perspective. The shift also highlights the extent to which Maureen ignored her sister’s perspective earlier in the novel. After this, both twins apologize to each other for their past transgressions and quickly start exercising teamwork instead of competing against each other, recommitting to their sibling relationship. The twins ultimately learn that prioritizing their relationship does not have to conflict with The Search for Individual Identity; instead, each girl can rely on her sister’s help to strengthen her own identity without losing track of who she really is.

In addition to the girls’ character development, this section develops Dad’s character by illustrating the fact that even adults make mistakes and continue to grow and change over time. This aspect of the novel becomes apparent when Dad reflects that he and Mom shouldn’t have kept so many secrets from the girls, because their lack of transparency caused additional tension in the twins’ relationship. By admitting the faults in his parenting, Dad repairs any lingering hard feelings that his daughters might have and demonstrates that although adults are just as prone to making mistakes, they can always reflect on their past behavior and correct their course. Dad’s self-reflection influences Maureen because after hearing this, she reconsiders her own past behavior and makes changes in the way she treats Fran.

This section also shows that The Challenges of Adolescence and Middle School may seem daunting but nearly always have potential solutions. For example, Fran has been facing academic challenges in Math and Social Studies, but she receives tutoring from her teachers to help her overcome these challenges. Likewise, Maureen has been struggling to navigate the shifting dynamics amongst her friends, and this pattern is particularly apparent in her interactions with Monique, because both girls have made new friends. However, when Monique reaches out to Maureen and invites her to hang out, this gesture shows Maureen that just because new friendships emerge in middle school, old friendships can still be maintained.

As these interpersonal dynamics unfold, the illustrator uses tactics to emphasize the most important emotional overtones of each scene. Usually, rectangles are used to distinguish Maureen’s internal thoughts from her speech, but in this section, when Maureen is giving her campaign speech, the rectangles have a black background rather than a yellow background to establish a tone of anxiety. This color change illustrates how deeply Maureen struggles with public speaking, for every time she says something out loud to the audience, her internal thoughts immediately second-guess what she just said. Furthermore, the thoughts are directed at herself rather than at the reader, showing that their purpose is different than most of the novel’s narration. Yet despite these difficulties, it is clear that the twins’ connection has survived intact, for Fran breaks Maureen out of her panic attack with the simple encouraging words, “You got this” (232). This moment is shown with a large, full-page illustration with a bright yellow background, showing that the Maureen’s mood has shifted from anxious to hopeful thanks to Fran’s support.