Tegan and Sara: Junior High by Tegan Quin and Sara Quin (An Oxford College Student Review!)

Tegan and Sara: Junior High by Tegan Quin and Sara Quin (writers) and Tillie Walden (artist)

Sophia Waite is a second-year student at Oxford College and she is considering majoring in English and Creative writing and Psychology. Her home is Dartmouth, MA, where she lives on a small family farm about five minutes away from the beach. Sophie’s favorite writers include Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and Rick Riordan, and her favorite book is Nevernight. Her other interests include horseback riding, skiing, and writing.

You may or may not know the names of authors Tegan and Sara, but you probably have heard them singing. Their song “Everything is Awesome,” was a huge hit in The Lego Movie, though the 44-year-old writers and singers have many hits outside of that. The duo released So Jealous back in 2004, featuring songs such as “Where Does the Good Go” and “Walking with your Ghost.”  In addition to Junior High, the graphic novel I am reviewing here, they wrote High School, based on their high school experience, which is being adapted into a short TV series. Tegan and Sara are twins, and both identify as gay. They began writing songs at the age of fourteen and haven’t stopped since. Junior High is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel that categorizes their early life in Canada, portraying the trials and joys that come with being a pre-teen. They worked with Tillie Walden, who did the wonderful art in this book.

Junior High is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel that follows the twins’ lives in Canada. Sara and Tegan are fourteen-year-old girls, navigating everything from their divorced parents to secrets and a new school. The girls are authentically real, and you can tell they are based on the authors’ true experiences. Their frustrations are realistic and are conveyed in a way that feels authentically like fourteen-year-old girls. Their struggles are unique, but they make sense for their age. An issue with writing about twins is making the characters unique and distinct. We are introduced to Sara who tends to be more outgoing and more prone to ups and downs in her emotions; Tegan tends to be softer, more gentle, and shy. These two characters are in a struggle to form their own identities and friend groups. They are learning things at a fast pace and facing challenges separately which is something they have not experienced. These characters are well-developed though at times I would have liked to see a bit more of their lives outside of their relationship dynamics. However, the way these dynamics are handled is so interesting that I do not feel much of a lack. We see the twins handle relationships with step-parents, new and old friends, and people who consider themselves friends but may not act as such. We witness their anxieties and fears, along with their budding hopes in dreams.

The main theme of this novel, of feeling different, as if everyone has a rulebook on how to act that you missed out on, was deeply poignant and real. One of the things this graphic novel does best is speak to true emotions in a way that is accessible to the intended audience. The authors do a good job of emphasizing the difficulty these characters face in becoming independent people, while also showing how important their relationships with each other are. We see the value these characters hold for each other, while also squabbling and fighting as siblings do. There is not a time that we question the love these characters have for each other or the love their parents hold for them. We see a healthy, functioning family struggle with realistic middle school issues. I found it refreshing the way the mixed family was handled: it was not seen as a point of contention, but as a simple part of life. Yes, some struggles came with it, but they were struggles that any family may experience. A mixed family comes with its pros and cons, and the authors spoke to this. The ability of the authors to portray family dynamics with compassion and truth made this novel a heartfelt reading experience. The greatest strength was the ability to connect with those true emotions and portray them in an easily understandable manner. The romance is sweet and heartfelt. We witness the pain and pleasure of falling into love for the first time, as well as the fears and identity searching that come with it. The added layer of Sara’s discovery of her queerness speaks to the pivotal experience of wondering if this difference is wrong, and the authors handle the complex feelings with grace and delicateness.

The art by Tillie Walden was reminiscent of a bit of Heartstopper, another famous coming-of-age graphic novel, with simple pastel colors and expressive, imaginative artwork. The use of color to distinguish between the girls was a good touch, showing their distinct personalities. Sara is drawn in red, highlighting her more outgoing, emotional personality while Tegan is drawn in blue, showing her softer, more gentle, and at times sad side (still, at times, I had trouble distinguishing between the two characters). The art flows well from panel to panel, weaving in hints of fantasy and imagination amongst the realism. The ability of Walden to demonstrate complex emotions through images, such as the girls turning into puddles, heightened the experience of reading. I most enjoyed the scenes that appeared to take place in the twins’ imagination, where they disconnected a bit from reality. I think it spoke well to Tegan and Sara’s artistic sense. Through her skillful portrayal of emotion and vulnerability, Walden’s artistic touch worked effectively to show the struggles of these characters to exist as independent people, while also still caring deeply for each other.

All in all, I believe this graphic novel deserves a solid 4.5 stars due to its ability to deeply connect with and portray the emotional experience of Tegan and Sara. My main critique would be the visual difference and character trait differences between Tegan and Sara. I would have liked to see the way they handled conflict differently portrayed a bit more. However, the complex relationship these characters have with each other and others, the deep love of the family, and the heart of the story, made this a very enjoyable reading experience for me. It is one I hope others will take a chance on: Junior High is an impressive coming-of-age graphic novel.