June: "All through my schooldays I often thought and confessed I was a boy. I got strange feeling I was a boy under all my female assets. It’s as though I’d been a boy first in my life." However, this grant was cut in 2008 and has never been restored. That was almost fifteen years ago. As a result, fewer children have ready access to excellent, modern books. Many schools have had to rely on donations to provide an essential resource.

The story is told from both Core and Margo’s perspectives, moving from one to the other between the chapters. These two sisters are very different and you are drawn to both. They share their story with you leaving you amazed at the different opinions they have. The author draws you into these sisters’ world beautifully with this original story. L V Matthews writes a compelling tale, I am eager to read more of her work. Overview: Okay so...this book surprised he hell out of me. There I was enjoying a great story between twins who are completely different with a bit of a mystery thrown in and then...BAM! That twist happens and I'm left with my jaw hanging. And I don't know why I didn't see it coming because it's a similar twist to my own psychological thriller series! Completely amazing and thoroughly enjoyable read. As a child the school library was my lifeline, my gateway to another world - a world of knowledge and imagination, of freedom and fun. Books changed my life and made me the person I am today. All children have the right to have access to this world, to the gift of reading for pleasure. All children have the right to see themselves, their lives and culture reflected in a book. We need to invest now in the future of our children. We need to give every child the right and opportunity to read. If we care about the future of our children we need to see the immediate reinstatement of the school library fund.’ This is the extraordinary story of June and Jennifer Gibbons, identical twins born in the UK in 1963 to parents of Barbadian heritage. Their lives captivated the nation and were the inspiration behind the lyrics of Tsunami by the Manic Street Preachers. Special guests include Disney’s ‘Artemis Fowl’ stars Ferdia Shaw (Artemis Fowl)and Lara McDonnell (Holly Short),actor and narrator of The Fowl Twins audiobooks, Nathaniel Parker, co-creator of the graphic novel series Andrew Donkin, composer Liam Bateswith an original Fowl Christmas song PLUS lots, lots more.What a fantastic psychological thriller with some great characters throughout. I loved the tortured poet Raff, who had always loved Cora, his muse, his inspiration. In the beginning, we learn that a 'computer error' made it so that the girls aren't in all the same classes this year. Francine is thrilled with this, Maureen is nervous and upset. Maureen has also been enrolled in ROTC or whatever version of ROTC exists in this universe. Twins is no exception. Perhaps it’s exceptional because it is Johnson’s first foray into the land of graphic novels, and his collaboration with illustrator Shannon Wright is sublime.

Not every creature in Haven City is so friendly: Gad's dwarf, Mulch Diggums, boasts fearsome teeth -- all the better to tunnel underground with -- and a magical beard. "His beard comes alive," explained hair stylist Alexis Continente, which is how Mulch breaks into Fowl Manor. Additionally their family has depth, they support Maureen and Francine without being invasive or manipulative, but ultimately the parents make mistakes. Many in fact and they have to apologize and make amends for those mistakes. This book has so much depth, comedy, and a wonderful portrayal of complex emotions. Not to mention a microaggression moment in the mall that I FELT for the girls involved and I loved seeing a white presenting person saying something in the moment, showing what it looks like to be a comrade for people of color. Cora on the other hand lives hand to mouth in a flat with her friend Nav, finally earning the part dancing on the play Mirror, Mirror; a role made for her. I related so much to this story because I’m a girl, I’ve been through middle school, and I have a sister. I loved the full circle plot and how Maureen and Fran eventually learn that they can still be close while having different interests. A new campaign, launched today by Children’s Books Ireland, has called for the reinstatement of the primary school library fund. The fund was formerly used to provide new books for libraries in schools throughout the country but was abolished in 2008.A captivating and chilling story of sibling rivalry and sisterly bonds; of grief, trauma and identity. Both heart-racing and heart-wrenching. Varian Johnson’s new graphic novel is simply a delight! I loved following Maureen and Francine — and am really hoping we get a few more books about them. I would love to follow them all the way to high school! Twins is a sensitive look at the search for identity especially common for identical twins who want to be their own person while still preserving their unbreakable bond with their closest relative and friend. This book also highlights common middle school struggles, crushes, and navigating life in a blended family, but the main theme is the joy of sisterhood. I would highly recommend it to graphic novel lovers and rookies alike — it reads beautifully on an iPad too! Because the first Artemis Fowlbook is "rooted in the ancestral home of the Fowl family" and because Branagh so often shoots continuous shots moving from exterior to interior or otherwise roaming about, production designer Jim Clay deemed it necessarily to build a real, livable house instead of crafting it on a soundstage.

I loved every minute of this book and would highly recommend this one to fans of a twisty, unpredictable psychological thriller. Go ahead, add this one to your TBR, you will love this gripping, original tale! I like the blended family - the girls have an older half-brother from their dad's previous wife. He doesn't live with the girls but he's still a part of the family and a part of their lives. The campaign was supported by the current Laureate na nÓg, Áine Ní Ghlinn and all of her five predecessors, Siobhán Parkinson, Niamh Sharkey, Eoin Colfer, P.J. Lynch and Sarah Crossan. It is the first time all six children’s laureates have united to support a campaign. Having a story about twins that isn’t about them being matchy or the same is one thing, but having one where they have real life challenges including fitting in, getting along with each other, struggling at something outside of your comfort zone, and more is a whole new level. This book wonderfully portrays those first few weeks of a new school level where you literally have idea how anything works and your teachers are constantly reminding you that “this isn’t [insert the elementary, middle, or high school you just left]” which isn’t really helpful cause YOU JUST GOT HERE, how could you know?

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hanks to @scholasticinc for the free ARC to share with #kidlitexchange ! This new graphic novel by @mrvarianjohnson comes out 10/6! Initially all appeared to be normal with the young twins, but they were soon to withdraw from the outside world, rejecting verbal communication and speaking to each other only through their own private cryptophasia or secret language. Viewed with suspicion by their school authorities the pair were eventually sent to a special needs school. Not so Good Points: To be honest I have none. I know Cora was supposed to be the "bad" twin but I actually loved her. I didn't like Raff much but other than that it was a perfect thriller!