Status
Available
Collection
Genres
Publication
Chronicle Books (2013), 320 pages
Description
Jess is grieving for her beloved aunt, and when she finds a mysterious flask hidden in a antique bureau that belonged to Aunt Edie on the same day that her conjoined twin brothers are born, she begins to believe that the flask is magic and that their survival depends on it.
Awards
UKLA Book Award (Shortlist — 2013)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
320 p.; 7.5 inches
User reviews
LibraryThing member cammykitty
This is a subtle little book that sneaks up on you and knocks you over the head. At first, it feels disorganized, and a little - what is this-ish. If you read the jacket copy, it sounds like it's a fantasy - magic bottle - but it isn't. Instead it's an artful blend of mysticism, superstition and
Jess is going through a crisis. Her favorite great-aunt has recently died and her mother has given birth to conjoined twins. Her step-father is very scientific minded, and has given her too many statistics. She knows that the twins aren't likely to survive the first 24 hours, and if they do they will be operated on and statistics indicate that only one will live. Trouble is she's emotionally attached to both, and she starts to see the joining of the twins as a symbol for that which binds friends and relatives together.
Jess sees things in a different way than other people. Hence, the magic bottle that isn't magic. She sees it as having spirit. It makes sense to her. It gives her something to focus on while the twins are struggling to live. Perhaps the bottle does touch the "bardo," the place where souls wait for new bodies as she is told by a Buddhist practitioner.
While she's coping with the twins, she's also struggling with her relationship to her grandmother, who is so not her favorite aunt. She's struggling with her best friend who hangs out with people that say tacky things about "Siamese Twins." She struggles with her step-father, who she has seen as a father until now, but now he has real sons.
Somehow all these messy problems and emotions come together in the end, whether it was through magic or not. Why only 4 1/2 stars? She kept calling the bottle a "flask" and at one point, oh my, there's one scene where Jess and Zoe are passing the flask around and it's hard not to think of the whiskey that was once in it. Not a connection the author intended. This was an ARC from an uncorrected proof, so hopefully that will be fixed before publication. If it is not, this book is still definitely a worthwhile read.
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skepticism.Jess is going through a crisis. Her favorite great-aunt has recently died and her mother has given birth to conjoined twins. Her step-father is very scientific minded, and has given her too many statistics. She knows that the twins aren't likely to survive the first 24 hours, and if they do they will be operated on and statistics indicate that only one will live. Trouble is she's emotionally attached to both, and she starts to see the joining of the twins as a symbol for that which binds friends and relatives together.
Jess sees things in a different way than other people. Hence, the magic bottle that isn't magic. She sees it as having spirit. It makes sense to her. It gives her something to focus on while the twins are struggling to live. Perhaps the bottle does touch the "bardo," the place where souls wait for new bodies as she is told by a Buddhist practitioner.
While she's coping with the twins, she's also struggling with her relationship to her grandmother, who is so not her favorite aunt. She's struggling with her best friend who hangs out with people that say tacky things about "Siamese Twins." She struggles with her step-father, who she has seen as a father until now, but now he has real sons.
Somehow all these messy problems and emotions come together in the end, whether it was through magic or not. Why only 4 1/2 stars? She kept calling the bottle a "flask" and at one point, oh my, there's one scene where Jess and Zoe are passing the flask around and it's hard not to think of the whiskey that was once in it. Not a connection the author intended. This was an ARC from an uncorrected proof, so hopefully that will be fixed before publication. If it is not, this book is still definitely a worthwhile read.
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LibraryThing member aviddiva
Under Shifting Glass is a wonderful story about loss and love, separation and connection. It's told from the perspective of Jess, whose age is never specified, but who seems to be about 11 or 12, just on the cusp of growing up. She is old enough to notice and understand a lot of the emotional
Jess has just lost her Great Aunt Edie, whom she loved dearly, and her mother is pregnant with conjoined twins. Although she really wants Aunt Edie's piano, the piano is left with her grandmother, and she is give her aunt's desk instead. Jess is worried about losing more than just Aunt Edie and her piano. Her best friend seems to be more interested in boys than in their friendship. Her stepfather will have his own babies now, and may not need her. Her mother and stepfather are focused on the twins, and the health of the babies is in doubt. Finally, when Jess explores the desk, she finds an old glass bottle that seems to contain more than just air. Over the course of the story the flask and its contents give Jess a way to cope with the difficult changes going on all around her.
Under Shifting Glass seems to be marketed as a fantasy, but it's really not that so much as a story of hope and belief in the continuity of connection even through separation. Like the light in her flask, Jess shines through Nicky Singer's transparent prose. I loved this book, and I would definitely recommend it.
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nuances of the adults around her, but still young enough to see magic in the world, and to believe in the power of something that falls outside the realm of the rational. This is a time of change for any child, and with all the changes going on around her not just Jess, but her whole family is in crisis.Jess has just lost her Great Aunt Edie, whom she loved dearly, and her mother is pregnant with conjoined twins. Although she really wants Aunt Edie's piano, the piano is left with her grandmother, and she is give her aunt's desk instead. Jess is worried about losing more than just Aunt Edie and her piano. Her best friend seems to be more interested in boys than in their friendship. Her stepfather will have his own babies now, and may not need her. Her mother and stepfather are focused on the twins, and the health of the babies is in doubt. Finally, when Jess explores the desk, she finds an old glass bottle that seems to contain more than just air. Over the course of the story the flask and its contents give Jess a way to cope with the difficult changes going on all around her.
Under Shifting Glass seems to be marketed as a fantasy, but it's really not that so much as a story of hope and belief in the continuity of connection even through separation. Like the light in her flask, Jess shines through Nicky Singer's transparent prose. I loved this book, and I would definitely recommend it.
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LibraryThing member ShelleyDaugherty
This book was hard to get into but give it a chance because it does get better. Some of the issues I had with the book was the way a lot of the words were capitalized for emphasis which I found distracting. I also had difficulty with the flow of conversations at times because it didn't feel as
The storyline develops well throughout the book. The emotional depth of the characters progresses nicely almost like you can see the characters develop and mature as the story goes on. I found the story seemed to flow much better in the second half however the first was necessary to build the scaffolding of the ending. A beautiful portrayal of something deeper than teen emotional angst. This book breathes a new wind into the YA department which has been missing for some time; a soul.
Jess struggles with being a big sister for the first time, that doubled with the fact that her brothers will be twins, conjoined twins. This presents its own problems for all the character involved. Jess's emotional struggles are defined nicely within the conversations which go on within her and she is also faced with struggles with friends as well. But the Jess's story also involves a mystery involving a flask she found in an old wooden desk, and the death of her aunt. With all this combined, the many themes work nicely together.
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though they were complete. Jess's character spends a lot of time in her own thoughts and this was difficult to follow during conversations because she switched back into her thoughts so quickly.The storyline develops well throughout the book. The emotional depth of the characters progresses nicely almost like you can see the characters develop and mature as the story goes on. I found the story seemed to flow much better in the second half however the first was necessary to build the scaffolding of the ending. A beautiful portrayal of something deeper than teen emotional angst. This book breathes a new wind into the YA department which has been missing for some time; a soul.
Jess struggles with being a big sister for the first time, that doubled with the fact that her brothers will be twins, conjoined twins. This presents its own problems for all the character involved. Jess's emotional struggles are defined nicely within the conversations which go on within her and she is also faced with struggles with friends as well. But the Jess's story also involves a mystery involving a flask she found in an old wooden desk, and the death of her aunt. With all this combined, the many themes work nicely together.
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LibraryThing member AnnieHidalgo
I read this book with my 10-year-old daughter, or rather, I read it, and then she read it, and then we discussed it. It was like having my own incredibly small YA focus group. So, Bella says that it is excellent, and that she wants to read all of Nicky Singer's other books now, and that it reminds
This was a very character-driven book. It's about a girl, about 14, I think, who is dealing with the birth of new siblings who just happen to be conjoined twins, and also dealing with the death of her aunt, and trying to figure out shifting relationships with her family, her grandmother and her best friend. As she goes through this process, she finds a bottle that may or may not have a sort of spiritual power (I don't want to reveal too much - you'll just have to read the book!).
It's definitely a coming of age story with a mystical touch. It reminded me of something Madeleine L'Engle would have written too, where the character has a problem that involves some sort of fantastic situation that turns out to help them relate to their real life in an adult way. That makes it sound boring, or like something only school librarians and teachers could love, but it isn't. Just ask my daughter.
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her a little of Sorta Like a Rockstar by Matthew Quick, because of the way that the character is a little offbeat, and thoughtful. This was a very character-driven book. It's about a girl, about 14, I think, who is dealing with the birth of new siblings who just happen to be conjoined twins, and also dealing with the death of her aunt, and trying to figure out shifting relationships with her family, her grandmother and her best friend. As she goes through this process, she finds a bottle that may or may not have a sort of spiritual power (I don't want to reveal too much - you'll just have to read the book!).
It's definitely a coming of age story with a mystical touch. It reminded me of something Madeleine L'Engle would have written too, where the character has a problem that involves some sort of fantastic situation that turns out to help them relate to their real life in an adult way. That makes it sound boring, or like something only school librarians and teachers could love, but it isn't. Just ask my daughter.
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LibraryThing member twistingthelens
This is a very well thought out fantasy read. At times the subtlety and quiet tone of the book makes it seem as though it could really happen. This is one that should be added to the YA reading list, as once you get into the story, you will not want to put it down. Singer has accomplished much with
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'Under Shifting Glass.' A great story, a sense of urgency to read, a quiet subtlety, captivating characters, and wonderful execution. What it may lack at times in pace, it makes up for with everything else that is so great about it. This is one bottle that should be uncorked. Show Less
LibraryThing member MaryAnn12
A wonderful beautiful book. A story of a girl named Jess who loss her aunt and found this glass flask which gave her hope and the power of belief that she needed. As her twin brothers are born critically ill she feels she has the key to help me. This is an emotional rich novel filled with fear and
A great read for all. I was given this book from GoodReads.
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heartbreak.A great read for all. I was given this book from GoodReads.
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LibraryThing member nlsings
I really enjoyed this book. It was quick and intriguing. The writing was slightly irritating, but once you get past that, it is a nice and pleasant read.
LibraryThing member cindyXIII
I read an uncorrected proof of Under Shifting Glass.
Jessica Walton's great aunt, Aunt Edie, has just passed away. Her grandmother lets her have Aunt Edie's bureau, when what she really wanted was her grand piano. What Jess doesn't know is that in that bureau she will find something more valuable to
I had never read a book about conjoined twins before and I'll admit that if I hadn't won this book in a giveaway I probably wouldn't have picked it up on my own. Thank god for giveaways!
Granted, I like sad books. I can handle reading books where people die. It makes me sad, but I can manage to pull myself together. HOWEVER, I definitely can't handle reading about babies dying. I don't know why, I just can't. (Which is why I've put off reading Beloved).
The simple fact that Jess' mom is pregnant with conjoined twins made me uneasy. You just know there's a big probability there might be complications. But I knew what I was getting myself into and I continued reading. This book made me sad and, I'm not gonna lie, I shed a couple tears, but it wasn't overly sad or melodramatic. Which is a big plus.
The younger characters were very mature for their age and the older characters offered sound advice for them.
Overall, I thought this book was well-written and worth the read.
It ended on a positive note and it gives you hope for the future of the characters. And, after all, hope is the only thing we ever really have in the end.
Jessica Walton's great aunt, Aunt Edie, has just passed away. Her grandmother lets her have Aunt Edie's bureau, when what she really wanted was her grand piano. What Jess doesn't know is that in that bureau she will find something more valuable to
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her than she would have ever imagined. Something that will give her hope when she feels all hope is lost forever. Something that will remind her that there is beauty in everything and that nothing lasts forever. Which, as we know, is not always a bad thing. That something is a flask. To anyone else, it might seem like just an ordinary object. But to Jess it will come to signify much, much more.I had never read a book about conjoined twins before and I'll admit that if I hadn't won this book in a giveaway I probably wouldn't have picked it up on my own. Thank god for giveaways!
Granted, I like sad books. I can handle reading books where people die. It makes me sad, but I can manage to pull myself together. HOWEVER, I definitely can't handle reading about babies dying. I don't know why, I just can't. (Which is why I've put off reading Beloved).
The simple fact that Jess' mom is pregnant with conjoined twins made me uneasy. You just know there's a big probability there might be complications. But I knew what I was getting myself into and I continued reading. This book made me sad and, I'm not gonna lie, I shed a couple tears, but it wasn't overly sad or melodramatic. Which is a big plus.
The younger characters were very mature for their age and the older characters offered sound advice for them.
Overall, I thought this book was well-written and worth the read.
It ended on a positive note and it gives you hope for the future of the characters. And, after all, hope is the only thing we ever really have in the end.
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LibraryThing member catzteach
I received this book as an early reviewer. I think it would appeal to its age group. However, it didn't hold my interest very well. I do think if a teen was feeling overwhelmed with life, this book would help them realize they are not alone.
LibraryThing member Bitter_Grace
I think this is a good book for the age group it was intended for: pre-teens who feel overwhelmed by struggles with maintaining friendships, navigating non-nuclear family life and losing loved ones. Young readers will relate to the angst and moral dilemmas of the the protagonist, and the desire for
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some outside agency (in this case, a mysterious flask) to direct one and offer hope. For more mature readers, the heavy-handed symbolism and the lack of forward movement in the plot may make it a tiring read, especially when you can no longer relate to the teenage angst on which the story hinges. Show Less
LibraryThing member IWantToBelieve
I really enjoyed Under Shifting Glass but I am a sucker for magical realism. Jess, the main character, is interesting and complicated and I liked her right away. It is wonderful to read a story with a young girl as the main character who is thoughtful and even kind of deep. The story touches on
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religion and spirituality in a nice way. I liked it! Show Less
LibraryThing member GondorGirl
A story about hope and family that will resonant with younger readers. Jess experiences things in a different way from the rest of us, and the book is a gripping journey where the bounds of reality are questioned. It's a lovely story that can be easily enjoyed as an adult as well as by a child.
LibraryThing member acargile
Under Shifting Glass by Nicky Singer is a thoughtful novel about how we connect together.
Jess loves music and learned to play by hear with lessons from her Great Aunt Edie who has just died. Jess greatly misses Aunt Edie and inherits a desk. To say that Jess is surprised is an understatement. She
Jess's life becomes difficult as her mother gives birth and the twins will have to be separated. The majority of conjoined twins upon separation only have one twin survive. Jess becomes obsessed with how we are all paired and connected together. Couldn't they be happy together? Jess's worries and obsessions with the flask create tension with her best friend Zoe, her Grandmother, and her step-father, making Jess feel disconnected. The novel follows Jess's thoughts and spiritual journey as she strives to make sense of the twins, her friendship, and her place in the family with her stepfather.
This is a very nice, well-written novel. I found it too sweet and sappy; it's definitely a "girl's book" that has a wonderful message.
Jess loves music and learned to play by hear with lessons from her Great Aunt Edie who has just died. Jess greatly misses Aunt Edie and inherits a desk. To say that Jess is surprised is an understatement. She
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looks at the old desk as it "squats" in her room and hates it as it "scowls and glowers and mocks" her. She really wanted the piano, but there is no room in the house. With her mother about to give birth to conjoined twins, they are out of room. After several weeks, Jess decides to introduce herself to the desk. Going through cubby holes and organizing her stuff, she finds a glass flask with something swimming in it. Unfortunately, no one else can see this "life" within.Jess's life becomes difficult as her mother gives birth and the twins will have to be separated. The majority of conjoined twins upon separation only have one twin survive. Jess becomes obsessed with how we are all paired and connected together. Couldn't they be happy together? Jess's worries and obsessions with the flask create tension with her best friend Zoe, her Grandmother, and her step-father, making Jess feel disconnected. The novel follows Jess's thoughts and spiritual journey as she strives to make sense of the twins, her friendship, and her place in the family with her stepfather.
This is a very nice, well-written novel. I found it too sweet and sappy; it's definitely a "girl's book" that has a wonderful message.
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LibraryThing member shazzerwise
As posted on Outside of a Dog:
Liminal space is a threshold, a between points no-man’s-land that wavers between being one thing and being another. In Nicky Singer’s Under Shifting Glass, Jess learns all about liminal space: the space between being a friend, and no longer friends; the space
After Jess inherited her Great Aunt Edie’s desk, she finds a mysterious flask inside that seems to be filled with an otherworldly substance, floating ethereally, making the glass shimmer, shine or grow dark, depending on the situation. Jess is convinced this flask is the key to her new brothers’ survival, and seeks to understand the mystery while at the same time making deals with the universe that young Richie and Clem will be healthy and endure their up-and-down stay in the hospital leading up to their surgical separation.
Under Shifting Glass doesn’t always work. The magical realism of the flask is weak and Jess lacks agency as she appears to be at its mercy. I understand the author’s intent to the leave the veracity of the flask and it’s “powers” to the reader’s decision, but flimsy as it is, the plot point doesn’t carry weight. What does carry its weight is Jess’ very real struggle with her best friend, her contentious grandmother and her uncertainty within her own family as to where she now fits. This is where Jess becomes relatable and sympathetic. Everyone can understand the pain of a friendship hitting the reef and the relief that comes when that conflict is resolved. Anyone can relate to the insecurity of familial roles. Jess struggles not only with her new brothers, who have taken up everyone’s thoughts and energies for months, but with her step-father, who she loves but in some ways, fears to claim as her own.
As I said, Under Shifting Glass doesn’t always work. Genre bending, it could have been helped with a little more weight in one direction or another. But it does work as an adolescent drama about a girl dealing with very real stakes in a very uncertain world.
Liminal space is a threshold, a between points no-man’s-land that wavers between being one thing and being another. In Nicky Singer’s Under Shifting Glass, Jess learns all about liminal space: the space between being a friend, and no longer friends; the space
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between family and not quite family; the space between a childhood and young adulthood; the space between living and dying. The novel begins with the death of Jess’ Great Aunt Edie and quickly moves into the perilous birth of her conjoined twin brothers. Suddenly Jess’ life is full of “joins”, and she struggles to keep herself, her friendship and her family together.After Jess inherited her Great Aunt Edie’s desk, she finds a mysterious flask inside that seems to be filled with an otherworldly substance, floating ethereally, making the glass shimmer, shine or grow dark, depending on the situation. Jess is convinced this flask is the key to her new brothers’ survival, and seeks to understand the mystery while at the same time making deals with the universe that young Richie and Clem will be healthy and endure their up-and-down stay in the hospital leading up to their surgical separation.
Under Shifting Glass doesn’t always work. The magical realism of the flask is weak and Jess lacks agency as she appears to be at its mercy. I understand the author’s intent to the leave the veracity of the flask and it’s “powers” to the reader’s decision, but flimsy as it is, the plot point doesn’t carry weight. What does carry its weight is Jess’ very real struggle with her best friend, her contentious grandmother and her uncertainty within her own family as to where she now fits. This is where Jess becomes relatable and sympathetic. Everyone can understand the pain of a friendship hitting the reef and the relief that comes when that conflict is resolved. Anyone can relate to the insecurity of familial roles. Jess struggles not only with her new brothers, who have taken up everyone’s thoughts and energies for months, but with her step-father, who she loves but in some ways, fears to claim as her own.
As I said, Under Shifting Glass doesn’t always work. Genre bending, it could have been helped with a little more weight in one direction or another. But it does work as an adolescent drama about a girl dealing with very real stakes in a very uncertain world.
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