Jackson (The Wildlife Detectives, 2000, etc.) has crafted a fascinating compilation of human-interest stories, mythical, historical, and scientific information, and photographs about twins. Chapter topics include facts about twin bonding, conception and birth, identical and fraternal twins, multiple births, studies relating to the separation of twins, and stories of unusual twins. The text is enlivened by quotes from the many individuals whose stories are told. The neonatal nurse who cared for Brielle and Kyrie, born in 1995, relates how placing the girls together in one incubator saved the life of Brielle, who was dying when lying alone. Raymond Brandt describes how he knew that his twin had died five miles away, and Eva Mozes, a twin survivor of Auschwitz tells of the horrible experience there. Short chapters illustrated by color and black-and-white photographs are also subdivided by inserts on yellow backgrounds about related topics adding to, but not interrupting, the flow of the narrative. In the chapter about the special bonds that twins feel, for instance, Jackson discusses ancient ideas about twins and pictures the legendary twins Castor and Pollux. Another digression describes the annual gatherings of thousands of twins in Twinsberg, Ohio, and a third concerns the lives of Eng and Chang, the most-publicized conjoined twins. Medical procedures such as in vitro fertilization and ultrasound technology are briefly explained in text and illustration and a glossary/index adds simple definitions of the terms. This informative photo essay will amaze and mystify twins and singles alike. (Nonfiction. 10-13)
Pub Date: April 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-316-45431-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2001
A very promising kickoff with arbitrary but intriguingly challenging magic.
A middle schooler discovers both up and down sides to being able to foretell the future.
Members of the Cleary clan in alternating generations have always been granted predictive powers on their 4,444th day of life, and Celia has been eagerly looking forward to her first vision—until, that is, it comes and reveals that cute, quiet classmate Jeffrey is slated to die in a hit-and-run. Weighing her horror against her wise Grammy’s warnings that fate is inexorable, she contrives a way to head off the accident…only to foresee another fatal mishap in his future. And another. By the time she’s saved his life five times in a row, she’s not only exhausted, but crushing on the hapless lad. (As, unsurprisingly, he is on her.) Reintgen generally keeps the tone of his series opener light, so even after Celia discovers that there’s ultimately a tragic price for her intervention, the ensuing funeral service is marked by as much laughter as sorrow. The author surrounds his frantic but good-hearted protagonist with a particularly sturdy supporting cast that includes gratifyingly cooperative friends as well as her Grammy and loving, if nonmagical, mom. There don’t seem to be many Cleary men around; perhaps that and certain other curious elements, like a chart listing particular Cleary specialties with names such as Dreamwalker and Grimdark, will be addressed in future entries. Main characters read as White.
A very promising kickoff with arbitrary but intriguingly challenging magic. (Fantasy. 10-13)Pub Date: May 31, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-66590-357-8
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: March 1, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2022
The Baudelaire children—Violet, 14, Klaus, 12, and baby Sunny—are exceedingly ill-fated; Snicket extracts both humor and horror from their situation, as he gleefully puts them through one terrible ordeal after another. After receiving the news that their parents died in a fire, the three hapless orphans are delivered into the care of Count Olaf, who “is either a third cousin four times removed, or a fourth cousin three times removed.” The villainous Count Olaf is morally depraved and generally mean, and only takes in the downtrodden yet valiant children so that he can figure out a way to separate them from their considerable inheritance. The youngsters are able to escape his clutches at the end, but since this is the first installment in A Series of Unfortunate Events, there will be more ghastly doings. Written with old-fashioned flair, this fast-paced book is not for the squeamish: the Baudelaire children are truly sympathetic characters who encounter a multitude of distressing situations. Those who enjoy a little poison in their porridge will find it wicked good fun. (b&w illustrations, not seen) (Fiction. 10-12)
Pub Date: Sept. 30, 1999
ISBN: 0-06-440766-7
Page Count: 162
Publisher: HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1999
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
bookshelf
