One: WINNER OF THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2016

by Sarah Crossan

Ebook, 2015

Status

Available

Call number

823.92

Publication

Bloomsbury Children's Books (2015), Edition: 1, 192 pages

Description

Despite problems at home, sixteen-year-old conjoined twins Tippi and Grace are loving going to school for the first time and making real friends when they learn that a cardiac problem will force them to have separation surgery, which they have never before considered.

User reviews

LibraryThing member pataustin
A compelling verse novel told through the viewpoint of one of a pair of conjoined twins shines a light on the profound power of love. While virtually everyone gawks at and pities the twins, the duo sustains the difficulties of the condition in which they were born, facing and overcoming great odds .
LibraryThing member SueS7
The author wrote so well that I sometimes forgot that Grace and Tippi were conjoined. This was possible because it is written from Grace,s perspective. However, the bond between the girls is very evident. Sarah Crossan has given the reader an insight into the life of conjoined twins that enlightens
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and challenges our perceptions and judgements. I thought that life would be easier if they were separated but conjoined twins can feel differently. This story helped me to understand their perspective. It's so easy to have presumptions and assumptions. I loved this story because it exposed them in me. I would rather have this than be guided by ignorance. Ideal story for the theme of identity.
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LibraryThing member Dianekeenoy
I picked this book a few hours ago and just put it down, finished. When I saw it was a novel written in verse, I was disappointed. But, once I started reading it, I literally couldn't stop. A story about conjoined twins, Grace and Tippi are joined at the waist. Now, 16 years old, they've already
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lived longer than expected. They're also starting to go to high school after being home schooled until now. Not a story about bullying which is what I expected but a wonderful story about being sisters who can't imagine their life apart. A must read!
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LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
This young adult novel is written in prose, making it a very quick read. It is the story of conjoined twins, Grace and Tippi, told in Grace’s voice. Grace describes their condition, their family history and how they came to start school as teenagers. She describes their relationship to each
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other, how they handle their situation and how others treat them, making this very compelling. Grace also describes the truly horrible decision they are forced to make and the results of that decision. It is both an uplifting and tragic tale that I enjoyed reading.
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LibraryThing member amandacb
I almost didn't read this because I am generally not a fan of novels in verse. However, I decided to give it a try, and I am so glad I did. It is heart-wrenching and heart-warming in equal parts. I have been handing it over to every teen I see, encouraging them to read it--and warning them they
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will cry! Highly recommended, and a great and welcome departure from the so-called "problem" novels that are popular right now.
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LibraryThing member fatimareadsbooks
So, I read this book a while ago and wanted to write this review then, but unfortunately, I never had the chance to get around to it. So when I received a complimentary copy from Bloomsbury Publishing, it was practically fate! I reread the book again and wrote this review and it's just as amazing
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as the last time I read it.

From the moment I heard about the idea of One, I knew I had to read it. I've always been so intrigued about the psychological aspect of being conjoined twins and the emotions that come with it, which this book managed to portray VERY well. You have no idea how many emotions I went through as I read this book.

Added bonus: it's written in free verse! Usually, I find that books written in verse lack the ability to make me connect with the characters or the plot or the story in general. However, One managed to pull that off flawlessly! The writing style really made the pages go by. One sitting is all it took to devour this story.

This book is told from the POV of Grace, not Tippi. I didn't mind that it wasn't in dual POV because we still get to see both sides of the coin. Grace is the quiet, shy one and Tippi is the stubborn, outgoing one. They're so different, yet they're so in sync with each other -- it's beautiful! Sarah Crossan did a phenomenal job of providing insight into their lives; it's obvious a lot of meticulous research went into this.

The story explores a variety of different problems. One example is the daily struggle of being conjoined twins and the difficulty they face in fitting in with others. Another example is Grace and Tippi's dysfunctional family - they aren't the only ones with problems - and their struggle to manage the medical bills. I also found many underlying themes such as love, friendship, and family.

Also, can we talk about THAT ENDING. I can't say I didn't see it coming, but boy did I cry my eyes out. WHY IS LIFE SO CRUEL *sob*

So, in short, One is a very thought-provoking and insightful read into the lives of two girls bound together. The free verse writing style and the topic of the book itself makes for a very unique read. Grace & Tippi were such complex, flawed characters and their dynamic with their family and friends was just so well-written. The way this book addressed everything was extraordinary and I just- *hugs book*.
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LibraryThing member Lidbud
I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. Firstly - it is YA. Secondly, it is written in free verse. However, I enjoyed this very much, it is a very lovely and affecting story about a pair of conjoined twins, which packs an emotional punch.
LibraryThing member foggidawn
Tippi and Grace are conjoined twins, and their doctor never thought they'd make it to their teenage years, but they did. Grace overhears her schoolmates remark that being a conjoined twin must be "the worst," but she can think of plenty of worse things than sharing a life with her sister. Not that
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she doesn't occasionally wonder what it would be like to be separate from Tippi... especially considering the crush she has on a guy at school. But when health complications arise, the sisters face a difficult choice.

This is a fascinating and affecting novel. It's written in verse format, but I didn't find the verse particularly effective -- like many verse novels, it felt like prose with line breaks most of the time. Still, I enjoyed the story and the characters, so would recommend it if the topic interests you.
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LibraryThing member HeatherLINC
This was such a touching read. I loved Grace's narration and, even though I'm not a big fan of verse novels, this one worked and worked beautifully.
LibraryThing member wrightja2000
Very interesting book. I usually am not a fan of free verse novels but it was a good way to tell this story. I did not enjoy the amount of sweating and so would not recommend this book for younger readers, even though there are some great lessons and discussions to be had.
LibraryThing member Lisa5127
This is the story of two conjoined twins who need to separate since one of their hearts is giving out. It is a novel in verse and a very fast read!

Language

Original publication date

2015-08

ISBN

9781408829462

Barcode

3125
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