Gemini

by Sonya Mukherjee

In a powerful and daring debut novel, Sonya Mukherjee shares the story of sisters Clara and Hailey, conjoined twins who are learning what it means to be truly extraordinary.

Seventeen-year-old conjoined twins, Clara and Hailey, have lived in the same small town their entire lives—no one stares at them anymore. But there are cracks in their quiet existence and they’re slowing becoming more apparent. Clara and Hailey are at a crossroads. Clara wants to stay close to home, avoid all attention, and study the night sky. Hailey wants to travel the world, learn from great artists, and dance with mysterious boys. As high school graduation approaches, each twin must untangle her dreams from her sister’s, and figure out what it means to be her own person.

Told in alternating perspectives, this unconventional coming-of-age tale shows how dreams can break your heart—but the love between sisters can mend it.

• ISBN10: 1481456792
• ISBN13: 9781481456791
• Publish Date: 26 July 2016
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

I really enjoyed Gemini! I had never read about conjoined twins before, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. The author does an amazing job of giving us enough details about the twins' medical history and their situation, but without forgetting that they're people. Clara is the more quiet twin. She's passionate about astronomy and just wants to go unnoticed by others. On the other hand, Hailey is an artist and likes standing out. She believes they can do anything together, while her sister isn't so sure about life's possibilities for them.

Gemini tackles a lot of issues. Obviously, there's Clara and Hailey going about day to day life while attached at the spinal column. There's talks about having surgery to separate them, and the risk associated with that. But the girls are also dealing with starting college. Their parents want them to stay home, Clara is okay with that, but Hailey wants to go to art school and travel. Boys also come into play, as Hailey gets the courage to ask out her crush, while Clara starts falling for the new boy. This brings up a whole new set of questions for the twins, because how would romantic relationships work for them?

Gemini was just a great read. I really liked Clara and Hailey. They have a bond that can't really be described or understood. Their dreams, goals, and fears are completely relatable. Of course, only very few people can relate to being conjoined, but the fear of loneliness, being stuck, and having regrets are universal. I also really liked how involved the side characters were. The parents are present. The mom did annoy me at times, but I totally believed her overprotective nature. The girls have great friends, and even the boys had me cracking a smile.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[shannonmiz]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
True story, conjoined twins are something I enjoy reading about a lot. There are such a finite number of people on earth who can ever understand what it is like sharing a body with another human being, and I find it incredibly impressive when authors manage to get into this headspace. Obviously I can't say for sure, but Sonya's portrayal of both girls felt incredibly authentic.

I really enjoyed both Clara and Hailey as characters. Sure, they were sisters and had stuff in common, but they were also definitely their own people- in a realistic way. They were, aside from being conjoined, teenaged girls who faced a lot of the same decisions and apprehensions that every other teen faces. Yes, their struggles were amplified by the fact that they shared one body. But the heart of the story was really all about two young women trying to find their places in the world, making plans for their futures, and the apprehension and worry that often accompanies it.

Clearly, this is a very character driven book, but the girls are so relatable that it works well. We get to see the girls' hopes and dreams, their relationships with each other as well as friends, family, and yes, even some boys. And while the town they've spent their whole lives in is completely used to their presence (there's no awkward gawking or anything- nor is there really any special treatment, which I thought was pretty awesome), the author makes it clear that the whole world doesn't react the same way.

My only minor qualm would probably be that I may have wanted a bit more from the ending? It wasn't bad by any means- I just think that I was expecting a few more tugs at my heartstrings. Maybe I am just a masochist, I don't know.

Bottom Line: I adored this story, and cared deeply for both Clara and Hailey. While I certainly can't relate to being a conjoined twin, I can absolutely relate to them trying to figure out who they were and what they wanted to be in life, and it was a lovely journey to take!