  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 07/01/2016 Gr 4–6—Arabella and Henrietta may be identical twins, but they are not alike. Arabella is outgoing, cheerful, and popular. She even has "good hair." Henrietta, on the other hand, is solemn and shy, and Rose, the nanny, never even gets to her hair because she has such a good time fixing Arabella's shining tresses instead. Even their parents quite obviously (and a trifle disturbingly) favor Arabella. When Arabella abandons Henrietta to go to a party, Henrietta exacts a minor revenge and is sent into exile with odd Aunt Priscilla, who turns out to be quite interesting, despite her strange dining preferences. While their parents quickly forget Henrietta, Arabella finds she misses her twin tremendously and sets off to reconnect. The twins' story is framed by a mother telling the tale to her daughter, just as her own mother told it to her. The daughter's questions and the mother's responses move the narrative along subtly while anchoring it in a more recent time. As might be expected, the relationship between the twins and the storyteller is revealed in the end. Although no time period is specified, the illustrations (rotary dial phones, sweater vests, knee socks) suggest the 1940s or 1950s. The story is imbued with the nostalgia of that era and includes tenderly humorous moments. VERDICT Filling a need for children's titles without an edge, this is recommended for most middle grade collections.—Katherine Koenig, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 07/01/2016 Twin sisters Henrietta and Arabella may look exactly alike, but their personalities are very different. Arabella has lots of friends and confidence, while Henrietta is reserved and unnoticeable. Their close companionship at home slowly gives way in middle school to tension and jealousy. One day, Henrietta attacks Arabella and is sent to live with their reclusive aunt Priscilla, where Henrietta begins to discover her individuality. Meanwhile, Arabella must conquer her own fears in order to be reunited with her sister, whom she misses in spite of their fight. With an abundance of quirky characters and odd plotlines that call to mind Roald Dahl or Lemony Snicket, this first novel offers a gently mischievous exploration of both family ties and sibling rivalry. Young readers will laugh at the foolish adults, who cannot remember what is important in life, while Siebel’s message of self-reliance comes through loud and clear. Sardà’s black-and-white illustrations lend a tongue-in-cheek playfulness to the story and will make the book an easy sell to fans of Dahl’s Matilda (1988). - Copyright 2016 Booklist. Loading...
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