Tegan and Sara: Junior High

Tegan and Sara, Book 1

By: Tegan Quin, Sara Quin

Narrated by: André Santana, Ferdelle Capistrano, Helen Laser, Nikhaar Kishnani, Sara Quin, Stephanie Németh-Parker, Tegan Quin, Torian Brackett, Tillie Walden

Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

From indie-pop twin-sister duo Tegan and Sara comes a contemporary middle-grade graphic audiobook narrated by the authors and a full cast. The program features original Tegan and Sara music and sound design throughout the program, and a bonus conversation with Tillie Walden, the illustrator of the graphic novel, discussing the process of adapting the graphic novel into an audiobook. Tegan and Sara: Junior High explores growing up, coming out, and finding yourself through music and sisterhood, perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier's Sisters.

Before Tegan and Sara took the music world by storm, the Quins were just two identical twins trying to find their place in a new home and new school. From first crushes to the perils of puberty, surviving junior high is something the sisters plan to face side-by-side, just like they've always faced things. But growing up also means growing apart, as Tegan and Sara make different friends and take separate paths to understanding their queerness. For the first time ever, they ask who one sister is without the other.

Set in the present day, this effervescent blend of fiction and autobiography offers a glimpse at the two sisters before they became icons, exploring their shifting relationship, their own experiences coming out, and the first steps of their musical journey.

A prequel of sorts to the authors' bestselling adult memoir High School, now an eight-episode Freevee television series!

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

©2023 Tegan Quin and Sara Quin (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

"A heartfelt, visually stunning coming-of-age story . . . Walden’s art, paired with the authors’ ­lyrical words, create an emotionally resonant reading experience that is sure to mesh with adolescents’ big feelings . . . Highly recommended for fans of ­Svetlana Chmakova and Molly Knox ­Ostertag.”—School Library Journal, starred review

“The high and lows of preteens navigating school and life, inspired by the Quin sibling pop duo’s actual childhoods . . . Walden’s illustrations are, as usual, wonderfully expressive . . . Tugs at the heartstrings like a well-tuned guitar.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The latest book from rock's favorite multihyphenate twins . . . Tweendom may be nobody's favorite era, but it's also undeniably formative—a time when swirling questions of identity and purpose and who you want to be as a person start to solidify in real and surprising ways. As young queer girls navigating those rocky shoals and simultaneously beginning to find their voices through music, who better to speak to that moment?”—Entertainment Weekly

Surprisingly better than I expected!

I thought this was going to be corny, but it really wasn't. I could relate all through it! I just started listening to their music and I wish I had something like this book and their music growing up! Even though the book was written in today's world, I could feel the 90's vibes shining through and I loved it! Going now to get the other book!

Nervous About Relating to the Story

It took me a few weeks to overcome being nervous about starting Junior High. I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to relate and would get lost during the story as a straight cis male. But my fears were unfounded. I could relate to most of the undercurrents in their journey through 7th grade.

The scene when Sara described how she felt when she performed in front of friends and family the first time choked me up. I was short of breath and my heart was pounding. This was a worthwhile book and audiobook. Give it a go.