Twins

“Dad had a saying for the two of us…Francine was the talker, and I was the thinker…Well, that’s the way it used to be…Something was happening with Francine. She was changing. Pulling away…It didn’t hit me until she bought that ridiculous hat and T-shirt…She wanted to make sure no one at school confused us…Though, thanks to a computer glitch, we only had advisory, science, and language arts together…She should have saved her money.”

This quote establishes The Search for Personal Identity as one of the novel’s major themes because Dad’s nicknames for the twins emphasize their unique talents and attributes rather than conflating the girls as “identical.” At first, the girls envy these qualities in each other. Maureen wishes she were a better public speaker like Francine, while Francine wishes she were more academically inclined like Maureen. However, by the novel’s end, each girl embraces her own abilities and supports her sister so that their unique powers can be maximized through teamwork.

“Francine and I are identical twins. There are, like, a thousand differences between us…not that anyone notices.”

This quote emphasizes The Search for Personal Identity. Ironically, Maureen’s visual list of differences between the two twins are quite minuscule, such as Francine having pierced ears and Maureen’s hair being ¼ inch shorter. This list makes it seem as though there is not much difference between the two characters. In reality, there are significant differences, but most of them go beyond mere physical differences.

“‘It’s just… everything is different. Harder. But everyone seems to be doing fine. Except me.’

‘Yesterday wasn’t great for me, either. My voice cracked three times in chorus. Bobby and his friends laughed…It’s like every other kid has either taken private lessons or is a natural-born singer.’

‘You just need to practice. And wear the red.’

‘Things will get better for us both. Try sitting with some of the Cadet Corps kids at lunch.’”

This passage emphasizes The Challenges of Adolescence and Middle School, which range from academic challenges and bullying to shifting social dynamics that cause Maureen to be lonely. For Maureen, one of the greatest challenges is feeling alone in her struggle, for she mistakenly believes that nobody else is having issues adjusting to middle school.