Richard Peck
Spinelli is a poet of the prepubescent…he points out how the issues of adolescence—identity, conformity, bullying—are clearly seeded in childhood. No writer guides his young characters, and his readers, past these pitfalls and challenges and toward their futures with more compassion…Nobody is better than Spinelli when it comes to creating the grade-school world of qualified innocence—and treading a fine line between challenge and reassurance.
—The New York Times Book Review
Mary Quattlebaum
Even before the current boom in multiple births, twins loomed large in children's literature, from the duos in popular series such as The Bobbsey Twin and Sweet Valley High to the complexly drawn pair in Jacob Have I Loved… But literary twins—forever friend, doppelganger, double the fun—were rarely explored with nuance in children's novels, especially in terms of the developmental issues faced by most tweens. Until Jerry Spinelli, that is…Jake and Lily…chronicles with humor and compassion the changing relationship between fraternal twins.
—The Washington Post
From the Publisher
★ “Spinelli adroitly balances emotional tension with introspective moments in this smart and funny story.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Spinelli is a poet of the prepubescent…Nobody is better than Spinelli when it comes to creating the grade-school world of qualified innocence—and treading a fine line between challenge and reassurance.” — New York Times Book Review
“Each character is portrayed with emotional subtlety and conviction, while their juxtaposed viewpoints bring the energy of opposing forces to the story.” — Booklist
“Double the feelings, double the fun.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Spinelli’s hallmark issues—individuality, nonconformity, alienation, standing up for the little guy—figure prominently, and the messages are convincingly worked into the story.” — Horn Book Magazine
New York Times Book Review
Spinelli is a poet of the prepubescent…Nobody is better than Spinelli when it comes to creating the grade-school world of qualified innocence—and treading a fine line between challenge and reassurance.
Booklist
Each character is portrayed with emotional subtlety and conviction, while their juxtaposed viewpoints bring the energy of opposing forces to the story.
Horn Book Magazine
Spinelli’s hallmark issues—individuality, nonconformity, alienation, standing up for the little guy—figure prominently, and the messages are convincingly worked into the story.
Booklist
Each character is portrayed with emotional subtlety and conviction, while their juxtaposed viewpoints bring the energy of opposing forces to the story.
Kirkus Reviews
As if growing up isn't hard enough, twins also have to face growing apart. Ever since they can remember, twins Jake and Lily Wambold, born on the California Zephyr train, have sleepwalked on the eve of their birthday and awoken at their local train station, where they distinctly smell pickles. They have never been able to explain this or how they can occasionally read each other's minds or finish each other's sentences. The twins name their secret gift "goombla." It's now the summer before middle school. The brother and sister alternate telling each chapter as spunky, tomboy Lily worries that they'll lose their goombla and sensible Jake looks forward to living separately for a change. Each sibling's chatty narration reveals a range of emotions. Lily, feeling lost for the first time in her life, leans on her hippie grandfather, whose wife and soul mate passed away and who knows what it's like to lose half of oneself. Just when she's given up on finding herself through ridiculous hobbies, friendship comes to her. Meanwhile, Jake immediately relishes his time with his new Death Rays posse as they scout out social outcast "goobers" to pick on. When he realizes that goobers can be brave and even friends, he reconsiders his allegiance. Perhaps Jake and Lily aren't so different after all. Double the feelings, double the fun. (Fiction. 8-12)
