Today, WinterHaven Books is excited to join Hannah from The Irish Banana Review as we spotlight Sarah Crossan's newest novel, One. For our stop, we're partnering with Words We Heart to offer a publisher giveaway, so be sure to enter for a chance to win a copy of this amazing novel.
One by Sarah Crossan
Publication: September 15, 2015
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Tippi and Grace share everything—clothes, friends . . . even their body. Writing in free verse, Sarah Crossan tells the sensitive and moving story of conjoined twin sisters, which will find fans in readers of Gayle Forman, Jodi Picoult, and Jandy Nelson.
Tippi and Grace. Grace and Tippi. For them, it’s normal to step into the same skirt. To hook their arms around each other for balance. To fall asleep listening to the other breathing. To share. And to keep some things private. The two sixteen-year-old girls have two heads, two hearts, and each has two arms, but at the belly, they join. And they are happy, never wanting to risk the dangerous separation surgery.
But the girls’ body is beginning to fight against them. And soon they will have to face the impossible choice they have avoided for their entire lives.
My Thoughts
Beautiful story about a set of conjoined twins that had me contemplating what it means to have a soul mate, sister, and best friend by your side 24 hours a day. Written in verse, Sarah Crossan masterfully penned a poignant novel that had me on the verge of tears as Tippi and Grace’s story unfolded.
Tippi and Grace have been by each other’s side since birth. Conjoined from the waist down, they’ve lived their entire life sharing every moment together. Having been home-schooled since kindergarten, at sixteen they are forced to attend at a local private high school as juniors and face the possibility of ridicule and judgment.
Together, these twins become somewhat acclimated to their new life and even go so far as making some friends. However, when Grace’s health takes a turn for the worse, they face the risk of being separated, which goes beyond the physical impact of this decision… there are also deep emotional and psychological effects the twins will endure upon separation.
I've never read a book about conjoined twins and this heartfelt and powerful novel was deeply moving. It was extremely clever of Sarah Crossan to pen this story in verse because she showed that with few words an impactful story can still deliver an emotional punch.
Tippi and Grace were a worthy set of main characters. I enjoyed getting to know these two through Grace’s perspective. It was clear from the beginning that Tippi was the more dominant sister and Grace was content to slip into the shadows. However, when they face the possibility of separation, both sisters must consider what this will mean to them emotionally, physically and psychologically.
It is quite clear that Sarah Crossan put an enormous amount of effort researching the details about conjoined twins. This made the story even more powerful as I got to learn about a subject I’ve never encountered in fiction before.
At the end of the day, One by Sarah Crossan manages to carve a unique shelf in YA Contemporary fiction with her story about two sisters that create a delicate balance of friendship, strength, determination, hope and love. Absolutely beautiful!
4 Snowflakes
Be sure to visit our Blog Partner for this tour, Ashley from Words We Heart, for a guest post!
Sarah Crossan is Irish. She graduated with a degree in Philosophy and Literature before training as an English and Drama teacher at Cambridge University and worked to promote creative writing in schools before leaving teaching to write full time. She spent several years living and teaching high school in New Jersey before moving to London.
She completed her Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Warwick in 2003 and in 2010 received an Edward Albee Fellowship for writing.
She currently lives in NYC.
Links:
HarperCollins has graciously offered to giveaway a copy of ONE by Sarah Crossan. US winners only. Winner will be selected on September 25th, 2015 and must respond within 48 hours in order to meet the shipping deadline.
Here’s the rest of the tour!
TOUR SCHEDULE:
9/16 – Novel Ink: Review | The Young Folks: Q&A
This sounds like such an adorable contemporary! I have never read a book about conjoined twins before!!
ReplyDeleteI was a wonderful book! :)
DeleteI really want to read this book. This will be a first for me. I hope people aren't cruel.
ReplyDeleteIt was a first for me too. Very enjoyable and memorable.
DeleteOne seems very unique and unlike anything I've ever read before!
ReplyDeleteIt really was Chey. I hope you get a chance to read it!
Delete