Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Picador Paper (2020), 384 pages
Description
High School is the revelatory and unique coming-of-age story of Sara and Tegan Quin, identical twins from Calgary, Alberta, who grew up at the height of grunge and rave culture in the nineties, well before they became the celebrated musicians and global LGBTQ icons we know today. While grappling with their identity and sexuality, often alone, they also faced academic meltdown, their parents' divorce, and the looming pressure of what might come after high school. Written in alternating chapters from both Tegan's and Sara's points of view, the book is a raw account of the drugs, alcohol, love, music, and friendship they explored in their formative years. A transcendent story of first loves and first songs, High School captures the tangle of discordant and parallel memories of two sisters who grew up in distinct ways even as they lived just down the hall from each another. This is the origin story of Tegan and Sara.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Bricker
High School by Tegan and Sara
I guess this needs said, Tegan and Sara are lesbian twin sister rockstars from Canada. I told a few people I was reading the book and they didn't know who I was talking about...which surprised me cause such a large portion of my friends do...or so I thought. Anyway,
I'm not sure when I first heard Tegan and Sarah. I know the album was their 2002 release, If It Was You, and it was some time before 2006 because I had picked up a copy of the Meg & Dia album, Something Real, hoping to find something comparable to Tegan and Sara. It wasn't. Not that Something Real wasn't good or enjoyable, but there's only one Tegan and Sara.
It was very exciting to hear they had penned a book. Musician books can be hit or miss between too real, too unreal or just too "cool, you're famous...guess people will pay to read what you say." High School got me from the start. I mean the title doesn't leave much to the imagination, but...they flesh it out quite nicely in the 350ish pages that fill the covers.
The format is interesting in that it changes between sisters from chapter-to-chapter. As they discuss their experience in high school in the mid-90's, including their favorite bands like Nirvana and Green Day, their clothing choices (ohhh how miss those high water pants, flannels and chain wallets) and their general lifestyle of parties, friends, broken homes...it was like reading my adolescence.
However, it wasn't exactly the same. As the intro blurb stated, they are lesbians and rockstars...and it's during the roughly four year period in this book they discovered, or admitted, these parts of themselves.
It was harrowing to read their struggle and confrontations as not just siblings, but twins, which always seems to produce a stronger push/pull than most other bonds. Then to have described the usual hormonal experimentation of youth that led to them truly exploring their feelings, their desire for love in the face of, what though not that long ago, was a very different time when it comes to homosexual relationships. And lastly, finding their passion for guitars and song writing and putting themselves fully on display with the strong lyrics and emotions that carry through their music to this day.
Not really sure what I was expecting from this book, bit definitely delivered...and then some.
I guess this needs said, Tegan and Sara are lesbian twin sister rockstars from Canada. I told a few people I was reading the book and they didn't know who I was talking about...which surprised me cause such a large portion of my friends do...or so I thought. Anyway,
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this review is about their book.I'm not sure when I first heard Tegan and Sarah. I know the album was their 2002 release, If It Was You, and it was some time before 2006 because I had picked up a copy of the Meg & Dia album, Something Real, hoping to find something comparable to Tegan and Sara. It wasn't. Not that Something Real wasn't good or enjoyable, but there's only one Tegan and Sara.
It was very exciting to hear they had penned a book. Musician books can be hit or miss between too real, too unreal or just too "cool, you're famous...guess people will pay to read what you say." High School got me from the start. I mean the title doesn't leave much to the imagination, but...they flesh it out quite nicely in the 350ish pages that fill the covers.
The format is interesting in that it changes between sisters from chapter-to-chapter. As they discuss their experience in high school in the mid-90's, including their favorite bands like Nirvana and Green Day, their clothing choices (ohhh how miss those high water pants, flannels and chain wallets) and their general lifestyle of parties, friends, broken homes...it was like reading my adolescence.
However, it wasn't exactly the same. As the intro blurb stated, they are lesbians and rockstars...and it's during the roughly four year period in this book they discovered, or admitted, these parts of themselves.
It was harrowing to read their struggle and confrontations as not just siblings, but twins, which always seems to produce a stronger push/pull than most other bonds. Then to have described the usual hormonal experimentation of youth that led to them truly exploring their feelings, their desire for love in the face of, what though not that long ago, was a very different time when it comes to homosexual relationships. And lastly, finding their passion for guitars and song writing and putting themselves fully on display with the strong lyrics and emotions that carry through their music to this day.
Not really sure what I was expecting from this book, bit definitely delivered...and then some.
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LibraryThing member blueshiftofdeath
I loved this!! Highly recommended if you're a Tegan and Sara fan especially of course. I in particular recommend the audiobook, which is read by Tegan and Sara and includes snippets of their recordings from high school.
The book is engaging, vividly written, and provides a welcome depiction of Real
The book is engaging, vividly written, and provides a welcome depiction of Real
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Queer People coming to understand themselves, as well as teen/sibling experiences in general. Show Less
LibraryThing member electrascaife
The sister duo known as Tegan and Sara take alternating chapters to tell their memoirs based on their high school years, which cover both their personal lives and the start of their band.
I've been a fan of their music for a good while now, so it was interesting to get a glimpse of their discovery
I've been a fan of their music for a good while now, so it was interesting to get a glimpse of their discovery
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of music, their relationship with one another, and their experiences and struggles in surviving high school and in discovering and settling into their sexuality. Although they were quite a bit wilder than I ever was at that age (not that that's saying much, to be honest), I think I would have very much identified with their stories as a teen; I certainly enjoyed and appreciated it as a non-teen, too. Show Less
LibraryThing member swmproblems
Interesting read. It's easy to tell that they are both being completely honest in all the topics they discuss. Maybe Tegan & Sara are bigger than I think are but when I saw that they had a book, I was immediately interested. Just because they happen to both be gay, the subject of sexuality is
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talked about with the same frequency as if they were discussing a heterosexual relationship. But, if you happen to be struggling with your sexuality or afraid to come out to the people around you, I strongly recommend taking the time to read this book. It was also cool because it made some rock stars like the 2 of them to write a book and seem so relatable to a lot of the feelings and thoughts they both share. I would like to know what a hardcore T&S fan thinks about this book, 5 stars because I couldn't find any reason to rank them any lower for any reason. Show Less
LibraryThing member Briars_Reviews
High School by Sara Quin and Tegan Quin is a wonderful biography all about the famous musicians' high school years.
This was a book that really had me hooked despite being a genre I don't jump into too often. I couldn't believe how enchanting and engaging it was! The pictures, the events, the
I've known about Tegan and Sara but have never been a "super fan". I've listened to the odd song and known about some of the awards they've won. They are famous Canadians, so obviously as a Canadian myself I've heard of them. This book has made me realize I want to listen to their music a lot more. They are relatable, inspirational and motivational - and they were once just normal girls living their best lives. It's a relatable and down to earth story about some of the insanity of high school years.
To top it all off, they are LGTBQ advocates. They are apart of the community and do a lot of good work for it. They are inspirational figures and have a magical way with their words. Their struggles and journey are really something worth reading about. The high school angst, drugs, the changes and discovery in their sexuality, the changing family dynamics and the beginnings in the music industry are something really cool to read about! It felt like these guys could literally be my next door neighbours or be my buddies. There's also some comedic moments, amazing lines and crazy goofs that make this book transcend to another level of awesome. The on the spot excuses for what they were doing instead of taking drugs or having a little too much fun with their significant others had me chuckling.
Overall, this book was a lovely journey and a great read. I highly recommend it for fans of Tegan and Sara or people just seeking an interesting biography.
Four out of five stars.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This was a book that really had me hooked despite being a genre I don't jump into too often. I couldn't believe how enchanting and engaging it was! The pictures, the events, the
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relatable nature... it was all just so good together. Sara and Tegan not only have a talent with telling their story through music, they have the writing bug too.I've known about Tegan and Sara but have never been a "super fan". I've listened to the odd song and known about some of the awards they've won. They are famous Canadians, so obviously as a Canadian myself I've heard of them. This book has made me realize I want to listen to their music a lot more. They are relatable, inspirational and motivational - and they were once just normal girls living their best lives. It's a relatable and down to earth story about some of the insanity of high school years.
To top it all off, they are LGTBQ advocates. They are apart of the community and do a lot of good work for it. They are inspirational figures and have a magical way with their words. Their struggles and journey are really something worth reading about. The high school angst, drugs, the changes and discovery in their sexuality, the changing family dynamics and the beginnings in the music industry are something really cool to read about! It felt like these guys could literally be my next door neighbours or be my buddies. There's also some comedic moments, amazing lines and crazy goofs that make this book transcend to another level of awesome. The on the spot excuses for what they were doing instead of taking drugs or having a little too much fun with their significant others had me chuckling.
Overall, this book was a lovely journey and a great read. I highly recommend it for fans of Tegan and Sara or people just seeking an interesting biography.
Four out of five stars.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
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Awards
Alex Award (2020)
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
1250758181 / 9781250758187