Double Act [Paperback]

Jacqueline Wilson (Author), Nick Sharratt (Illustrator), Sue Heap (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

No one can ever be like a mother to us, especially not stupid frizzy dizzy Rose! Ruby and Garnet are 10-year-old identical twins. They do everything together, especially since their mom died three years ago. Can being a double act work forever? Especially when their father starts dating again?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An unexceptional mix of familiar plot devices, this British import is almost gratingly obvious. Ten-year-old twins Ruby and Garnet take turns narrating, and although their voices aren't especially different, they are meant to be opposites. Ruby is outgoing, Garnet shy; Ruby leads, Garnet follows. Their mother has died long ago, and now their father has a girlfriend, whom they immediately reject. The four move from the city to the country, where the twins are desperately unhappy. Serious issues, like the burdens of twinhood and the difficulties of forging independent identities, become lost amid a surfeit of frothy subplots, including an audition for a TV show and a plan to enter a ritzy boarding school. The narration is frequently cloying, as in Ruby's comments about her father's taste for classic literature: "If we have a look at Dad's book we wonder what the Dickens they're about and they seem very Hardy, but Dad likes them." The brittle nature of Wilson's (Elsa, Star of the Shelter) writing finds its extension in her glib resolution of the conflicts, and the illustrations, rendered as if by Ruby and Garnet, are as flat and unrevealing as the story. Ages 9-12.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6?A story written in the form of a journal with identical twin sisters writing in turns. The 10-year-old girls have always relished their twinship: making it impossible for people to tell them apart, working out signals so they can pretend to sneeze simultaneously, toss their braids in perfect synchronization, etc. At least, Ruby has always loved it?but then she's the dominant, extroverted one. Garnet seems to have been going along for the ride, safe in Ruby's shadow. When the twins' lives begin to change?a new girlfriend for their father, and then a new job in a new town with the corresponding new school for his daughters?their relationship is suddenly ripe for examination. When Ruby persuades her to audition for a TV series, Garnet rises to the occasion but is paralyzed with fear and subsequently guilt-ridden to have spoiled Ruby's chance at stardom. Next, Ruby plots their escape from home by applying to boarding school, but only Garnet passes the entrance exam. In the throes of making the decision to attend, she finds inner strength, and in finally acknowledging her twin's separate identity, Ruby affirms her love. Though the twins' voices are not always clearly differentiated as to vocabulary and style, their characters and interests are consistently distinct. Black-and-white cartoons add to the generally lighthearted tone. This is a solid but not a stunning read.?Miriam Lang Budin, Mt. Kisco Public Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Transworld Publishers (October 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440867592
• ISBN-13: 978-0440867593
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.4 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,310,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an awesome book that you must read, March 9, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Double Act (Paperback)

Double Act is a great book about 2 inseparable twins, their dad, their mom, their gran, and their mean stepmother, Rose.
It is sort of short but is very much worth reading if you like sad books.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars READ THIS BOOK, January 12, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Double Act (Paperback)

You wanna know why this book is so great? Well, you'll just have to read it - but I will tell you a little bit.

This book you are about to order (maybe) Is about identical twins with totally different personalities. Ruby is outgoing and playful, while Garnet is quiet and shy. When their mother dies and gets replaced by frizzy dizzy Rose, they have to team up and stand up against the family.

You're still wondering why this book is so good right? Well, the reason why I rated this book 5 stars is because it is so organized and if you read it, it'll hook you, making you want to read more, more, more: until you finish and complain that there is no sequel to it.

Jacqueline Wilson fans, welcome the amazing: DOUBLE ACT!!!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one of my favorite books!!, March 11, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Double Act (Paperback)

I read a book called Double Act. This was one of the best books that I have ever read. It was funny, adventurous, and very much like real life. It was adventurous because the two main characters, Ruby and Garnet, who are identical twins, ask their dad (their mom is dead) if they can audition for a twin commercial, but he says no. Regardless of this, they go to New York and audition. It was funny because their dad met someone that they hate and they do funny things like confuse her, throw-up on her, etc. This is realistic because she made these two characters act how real twins act-I would know because I have a twin sister. Jacqueline wilson has a very unique writing style. she uses cliffhangers,and writes in a way that there is never a part whereit isn't interesting, boring or obvious. this is a book that you just can't put down! When you come acorss a book well-written, like this one, you say, "Mom, just let me finish this chapter I have just one more page to finish!" You really have three, but anything to read more of it! I suggest this book to anyone who like funny, adventurous, and realistic books.