Reviews with content warning for Bullying - Tegan and Sara: Junior High

CW: Internalized homophobia, homophobia: gay used as an insult, divorced parents, bullying, anxious thoughts/comments

I was sent a copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own.

Go back in time to junior high with the debut graphic novel from the twin musicians, Tegan and Sara, illustrated by Tillie Walden.

If you’re looking for a new coming of age story, JUNIOR HIGH is it. In a fictionalized retelling of Tegan and Sara’s life in junior high, we follow the twins through all of their struggles: parent’s divorce, first crushes, sexuality awakenings, bullying, and trying to make friends.

I enjoyed how the story was told despite it being fictionalized to fit modern times with references to the Nintendo Switch, Billie Ellish, and Stranger Things. JUNIOR HIGH is a relatable read for anyone who survived middle school and for queer kids especially.

I’ve learned recently that I like reading books following twins. It’s such a unique perspective especially in graphic novel form. In JUNIOR HIGH, Sara’s color is red, and Tegan is blue which helps the reader tell them apart.

I knew of Tegan and Sara before reading this graphic novel, but I didn’t know much about their life. I appreciated the author’s note at the end of the book because it shares what the real-life situation was from the fictionalized version.

JUNIOR HIGH is the perfect sleepover read!

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questingnotcoasting's review against another edition

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emotional fast-paced

4.0

Tillie Walden is one of my favourite illustrators and Tegan and Sara are one of my favourite bands so this was one of my most anticipated books of the year. Overall I really enjoyed it and I loved the art, particularly the purple colour palette. I didn't find the story quite as engaging as their memoir High School (which I really loved), but since this is aimed at younger readers that made sense. It's based on Tegan and Sara's real experiences but set in present day, instead of the 1990s, which was an interesting choice. It definitely worked but because I was already familiar with their story, I occasionally forgot and then seeing the characters with mobile phones would surprise me. I didn't know there was going to be a sequel so that's exciting.

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readingwithcats's review

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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lettuce_read's review

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3.5

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meganpbell's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted reflective slow-paced

4.0

This “lightly fictionalized” graphic memoir follows a modern-day Tegan and Sara of indie pop fame as middle schoolers at a new school, developing different friend groups, facing mean girls, discovering the guitar, forming a band, getting their periods, acquiring crushes, coming out, and more. At 32, I’m not the target market and was occasionally bored tbh, but I think Raina Telgemeier fans will love this emotionally real exploration of 7th grade.

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betweentheshelves's review

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emotional lighthearted reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's for an advanced copy of Tegan and Sara: Junior High Ilby Tegan and Sara Quin to review! Illustrated by Tillie Walden, I knew I had to pick this one up. Tillie Walden is one of my favorite graphic novel creators. Love some queer middle grade graphic novels, too!

The art: phenomenal. Of course, we wouldn't expect anything less from Walden. I just love her art style, and this one incorporates what looks like watercolor. The layouts and the illustrations lend themselves well to this particular story, and the use of color for the different sisters helps show who is speaking.

However, the writing felt a little all over the place to me. Some of the storylines were a bit difficult to follow, and some of the pages felt a little to wordy. The themes hit on classic middle school themes, with the added context of them being twins. I was also confused as to why they decided to change the story to present day? The story might have worked better if they would have kept it set in the 90s. Kids would still dig that! The 90s are in, apparently. I think it would have helped make the writing feel less like it was all over the place.

All in all, loved this for the illustrations, just wish the writing would have been a little tighter.

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readalongwithnat's review

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4.0

This was so cute and I’m so glad to find out this is a series!! Also, Tillie Walden? Perfection. I love these baby gays!!

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