Member Reviews

This was such a charming read. I didn't realize it was the second of a series, but I never felt like I was missing anything having not read the first book. It was certainly fine as a stand-alone for me. This was delightfully simple in its queer representation and is a model to how all queer rep should be -especially for middle-grade. It was very enjoyable and highly recommendable!

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I really haven’t found a graphic novel I don’t like and this one is no different. If I’m honest, I really don’t know Tegan & Sara’s music, but I was drawn to this coming of age, queer graphic novel because I love stories about queer folks learning more about themselves and their sexuality. I enjoyed the story and the illustrations immensely! I’d recommend this to everyone who enjoys graphic novels, coming of age stories, and/or LGBTQIA+ books.

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Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this book!

This is a middle grade graphic novel, so the story was personally, a little young for me. But that doesn't mean it wasn't adorable! My tween daughter and kids like her are so lucky to have access to books that really normalize the queer experience for middle schoolers. I would recommend this book based on that alone!

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This was a joy to read. It really captures the dread and overflowing emotions of teens. The art by Tillie Walden clearly distinguishes the two sisters and their reactions. The pace works well and incorporates current technology well.

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I love following the fictional lives of Tegan and Sara! Being a fan of the *real* Tegan and Sara's music doesn't hurt. Crush follows both fictional sisters through 8th grade and their crushes on an older colleague and on a friend. Both are very different but very relatable--especially for those in junior high! Highly recommended.

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As a big Tegan and Sara fan, I knew I would love this book, and it did not disappoint! The graphic memoir is an engaging dive into their lives, filled with humor, honesty, and nostalgia. I loved the vibrant illustrations that brought their story to life, showcasing their journey through music, identity, and love. It’s a must-read for any fan or anyone looking to understand the duo’s incredible impact!

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A follow up graphic novel to Tegan and Sara: Junior High. This one is an improvement over the first book, maybe because we just know the characters better at this point. I don't know how accurate this fictionalized Tegan and Sara series actually is, but it's a really fun look at growing up and musical expression for a middle grade audience. With great art!

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Twins Tegan and Sara have a real talent in music. They enter a contest to be the opening act for their musical idol Nite Fever. Passing through the first step, they are good enough to be invited to an audition. Despite not winning the contest, the 8th graders have caught the eye of Nite Fever’s manager who wants to represent them. It’s a dream come true, just what the girls always dreamed of. The girls try to navigate the high expectations of being a new Canadian musical super duo with photo shoots, videos, writing new songs, social media, and on and on. Mounting onto their stress are how the girls must deal with their feelings and emotions with their same sex crushes. All this takes their toll on Tegan and Sara where they are at odds with one another. We see how these young teenage girls are able to combat the tensions that comes from all directions.

The artwork is absolutely amazing. Having read some of Tillie Walden’s previous works, she absolutely captures the essence of this story. The color palette is basically monochrome until Tegan and Sara’s emotions and feelings are reflected in blue and red.

I hope there will be more graphic novels in the Tegan and Sara series which will appeal to those of all ages and genders.

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This is the second middle grade graphic novel loosely based on Tegan and Sara Quin's lives. The girls are still in middle school, but their music career is starting to take off! After competing in a contest to open for one of their favorite artists, Tegan and Sara are offered an amazing opportunity. While Tegan is excited and can't wait to get to work, Sara is overwhelmed and just wants to keep living a normal life. Trying to balance school, family and music may be harder than they thought.

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Crush is an excellent continuation of Tegan and Sara's story. They continue to navigate friendships and relationships, with some fame thrown into the mix. Hand this to fans of the first title. Recommended purchase.

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Fun to learn more of Tegan and Sara's story from a graphic novel format! The art style is very enjoyable.

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Crush is the sequel to Tegan and Sara's first graphic novel, Junior High School. Loosely based on their own childhood experiences, this multimodal narrative set in present-day Canada discusses the anxieties of adolescent queer twins. Highly recommended,

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I once again really enjoyed Tegan and Sara’s venture into graphic novel writing! Crush is a direct sequel to their first book. With that said, I HIGHLY recommend reading Junior High right before reading Crush because, unlike most sequels, they do not really repeat any plot points from the first book and just expect you to remember them. That was tough for me since I read it 17 months ago. However, Crush is a super cute story about how Tegan and Sara (their fictional selves) BECAME Tegan and Sara in the 8th grade while also dealing with their first crushes and friend drama! Great story for middle schoolers!

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I love Tillie Walden so I was excited to read this right away to experience her beautiful illustrations. I do enjoy Tegan and Sara's music but I didn't know a lot about them or their story before picking this up. I love the graphic retelling of their beginnings and think it was a cool choice to make the story more modern to help kids today relate more to them. Through the book you see Tegan, Sara, and friends texting on smart phones, live streaming, using social media, etc. Love the LGBTQ+ representation.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Super cute graphic novel. Love these two! This is a great middle grade read. Keep these coming for LGBTQ + youth.

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I only know two songs by Tegan and Sara, yet I was rather intrigued to read their comic series. The illustrations by Tillie Walden were phenomenal and my favorite aspect of this graphic novel. I loved how each twin had their own color assigned to differentiate the two perspectives. Unfortunately, that's where my adoration ended. I had trouble figuring out the various networks between side characters and kept getting them confused. The drama was annoying and shallow, which is to be expected from middle schoolers. I think transfiguring the setting to a modern time period instead of the 90's was a disservice to the twins. It didn't need the crutch of 21st century props to relay their original story. If there's a future book in the series I won't be reading it. I loved the artwork and bright color palette, but the story didn't grip me enough to care. I'll always think of this comic whenever I hear Tegan and Sara's songs in the future, but it won't be with great fondness I fear.

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Very cute for those moody middle school dreamers! I truly enjoyed this one and felt it was a perfect story for some of my music girlies with big dreams. Great for the target audience.

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I received a copy of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Crush is the sequel to Junior High, and it is just as sweet as the first one was! Tegan and Sara are so personable and relatable, and I think anyone who attended (felt the crushing weight of) middle school can see part of themselves in this series. I love the different colors for each person's narration, it makes it easier to keep up with who is speaking. All in all, a pretty enjoyable graphic novel! 3.5 stars rounded down.

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Picking up where the previous graphic novel left off, this one finds Tegan and Sara at the beginning of eighth grade with their music career just beginning to take off. In addition to suddenly finding themselves in the spotlight, both girls have to navigate new crushes and changing friendships. Just like everyone else in middle school.

Thanks to Farrar, Straus, and Giroux and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Tegan and Sara: Crush by Tegan and Sara Quin to review! Tillie Walden is illustrating these, and she is one of my absolute favorite graphic novel creators. Her art style is so unique, and I love how it shines in these! Her art style meshes really well with Tegan and Sara’s writing.

There is a little more of a focus on the music career in this one, with both Tegan and Sara struggling to agree on what direction they want their band to take. One wants to really focus on becoming more professional and one just wants to focus on her friends and home life. It makes for a relatable story, even if not many eighth graders will find themselves in the same position.

I felt like Tegan and Sara’s writing got better in this one, with more of a balance between the text and the images. This one is overall stronger than the first book, as it really feels like they came into their stride with this one. I’m not sure if there are going to be more books in this series, but there is definitely an opening to do so!

All in all, if you like queer middle grade graphic novels and Tegan and Sara, definitely check this one out!

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Tegan and Sara begin eighth grade with their music career starting to take off. This brings both excitement and challenges for the girls. This book focuses on Tegan and Sara’s crushes and love for music.

I enjoyed this one a bit more than the first installment in the series, but both are good. I highly recommend this one to those that enjoy graphic novels as well as those that enjoy Tegan and Sara. The authors did a great job navigating what queer teenage crushes are like. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series!

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