This coming of age story, set in Canada, tells the story of a set of twins who love art and dream of someday working in animation. They believe that their attendance at a summer animation program will be the start to a career in animation, but they discover that while dreams are special, they do not always work out. Sometimes wanting something badly just isn't enough. Through the course of the book, the characters learn about the importance of friendship, hard work, and believing in oneself.

Inbetweens by Faith Erin Hicks is a colorful, heartfelt graphic novel about twin sisters, Sloane and Ash, who spend a summer at art school studying animation. Sloane is the outgoing one who makes friends easily, while Ash is more reserved and a little nervous about meeting new people. As classes begin, the sisters discover new things about themselves and their passions; Sloane starts to rethink her path, while Ash struggles but remains determined to stick with animation.

I really enjoyed how this book not only tells a relatable story about growing up and figuring out who you are, but also gives readers a peek into the world of animation. It also touches on how few girls are in animation programs and how that can make things harder. The graphics and coloring do such a great job of showing the sisters’ emotions and experiences. My students love Hicks’s other graphic novels, and I’m sure this one will be just as big a hit!

4.5 stars

This is a fantastic graphic novel packed full of themes and motifs that will easily speak to and engage both middle grade and young adult audiences...and let's be real. The rest of us, too!

Ash and Sloane are siblings, and they are spending their summer doing something their peers cannot believe: opting for more school! In this case, they'll be attending an exclusive animation program where they'll continue to hone their skills and passions. Before the session begins, it's clear that both characters have different relationships to art and to their reasons for pursuing it. This passtime is a foundational connecting point between them, so more seasoned readers will know immediately that both characters' futures are at stake, and their relationship might be to some degree also.

While the sibling relationship is at the forefront, I LOVE what Hicks does with the secondary characters. It's very easy to establish utter respect and aggressive loathing respectively for the teachers, full devotion to some of the classmates, and absolute heartbreak over one character's family member. How Hicks accomplishes this is a real testament to the power of the genre. The words are meaningful, but these strong emotions show up through the interplay between text and images. That is expertly accomplished here.

Another highlight? Representation, which is always important, but maybe much more so now than in the recent past. Readers are likely to make assumptions about Ash especially in direct comparison to Sloane, but it's the small, intentional details that really feature who Ash is. There are a lot of readers who will feel very seen by observing how some of these characters are NOT seen and how others are bizarrely promoted. Hicks addresses these issues explicitly at times, but it's the implicit showing versus telling that really hammers in the meaningfulness of this full package.

While I have limited but positive experience with this author, I have a lot of experience with First Second, and I'm consistently grateful for the attention this publisher pays to very specific writers and artists, characters, and themes. This is an incredibly successful collab between all parties, and I can't wait to recommend this to my students with hearty enthusiasm.

As a veteran educator reading this graphic novel, I wanted to punch the "teacher" who was so dismissive to the female artists. Ugh! It made me angrier each time he ignored the girls and their artwork. Thankfully, the girls have a teacher who reminds them that their efforts are worth it, even if it leads them in a different career path in life. Middle school readers will enjoy this one, but high school readers may be able to relate better to these characters.

Inbetweens is the story of a pair of middle school aged twins who go to a summer program for animation. In this graphic novel the illustrator plays with the boundaries of the frames to add dimension to the work as an artistic whole. She sometimes overlaps text bubbles from one to another, or takes a character’s hand gesture across the edge of the frame entirely. At one point she inserts the characters frolicking into the world of Kiki‘s Delivery Service, which they are watching together in book. This was such an effective and cool way to show how art and story transports you!

All of these artistic liberties are fitting as our main character is extremely PASSIONATE about animation. Despite this being the main focus of the story, many interpersonal ideas are explored throughout. One of the twins is initially more extroverted than the other, but they are both so excited to be around kids who share the same interest as them. Each girl goes on their own unique journey with their new classmates and teachers discovering their own goals, and what means the most to them in their life and the industry. Many forms of representation are also present in the form of flags in the background as well as the characters throughout. A big focus of this tale is also “don’t meet your heroes”. The nightmare of sexism in this particular industry is tackled, but concluded with levity by the end.

I think a lot of young kids will enjoy this read, and honestly even learn from it directly if animation or artistry is something they’re looking to get into.

Sloan and Ash are twins in high school who love to draw. Since a childhood trip to Disney, they have planned to work in animation. When they are accepted to a summer animation class at a nearby college they have differing feelings about it. During the class they learn about themselves, each other and how to navigate and work though their feelings. They also learn that one person's opinion isn't always right. I loved the illustrations!!

Not your typical camp story. Good information about the animation process. Slice of life tale of twins coming into their own personalities and that it's ok to develop different likes but still support each other and their friends

A heartfelt and beautifully illustrated graphic novel, Inbetweens by Faith Erin Hicks is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt the pressure of expectations, whether their own or from others.

​This graphic novel follows twin sisters, Sloane and Ash, as they embark on what they thought would be the summer of their dreams: an animation class. But things don't go as planned, and the sisters find themselves on separate journeys of self-discovery. Ash, the more outwardly artistic twin, struggles with the reality that passion doesn't always equal proficiency.  Meanwhile, Sloane, who has always seen herself as Ash's artistic equal, questions if art is what she really wants to pursue. The book masterfully explores themes of identity, sibling relationships, and the difficult but necessary process of carving out your own path.

​The artwork is a standout feature, with its rich colors and expressive character designs that perfectly capture the emotional turmoil and triumphs of the characters. Hicks’s art doesn't just decorate the story; it’s an integral part of the narrative, pulling you in and helping to convey the sisters' feelings and experiences on every page. I also really enjoyed the fun facts and tidbits of animation history sprinkled throughout the book, which add an extra layer of depth and interest. This is a story about finding your voice, supporting those you love, and realizing that even when you don't have all the answers, you're not alone. I highly recommend Inbetweens for its relatable story and stunning visuals!

Inbetweens by Faith Erin Hicks
Inbetweens is a middle grade graphic novel following Ash and Sloane through a summer of animation and learning. Ash and Sloane are not only friends, but twins. Twins who love to create art together and are thrilled to go to a prestigious summer programs for teens interested in animation. As a twin, I loved the way the relationship was written and illustrated. Ash and Sloane have to discover that it is okay for them to not always want the same thing. They are never referred to as, “the twins” or, “or the girls.” Their twin-ness does not impact the way peers, teachers, or family interact with them. Their twin-ness impacts Ash and Sloane:full stop. And I love that.
As the summer progresses Ash struggles with perfectionism and wondering if she is good enough. And wondering why Sloane doesn’t care about the same things she cares about. Sloane is wondering if she can still find joy in art, and is happy to be learning, but more importantly to be making friends. She also worries her sister is focused too much on animation, when she doesn’t even want to spend time with Sloane or their new friends.
The challenge of the summer is not only in Ash and Sloane learning about themselves and their future in animation, but they also experience sexism and racism in a mentor. The primary male instructor of the animation program blatantly favors the white boys, and does not think the others have what it takes to be animators. He is condescending and his words are hurtful. There are other mentors and instructors though. One of which is amazing; she balances encouragement with asking questions that will help the students better understand what they want to get out of the process.

Is this book queer?
Queer topics were never talked about and were not part of the written story. The art lends itself to queer themes. Pride flags are visible on the wall in some scenes.

Topics
Family
Friendship
Sisters
Disney
Animation
Dreams / Future goals
Individuality


Tough topics
Racism
Sexism
Dementia

This was such a cute book! I really enjoyed it. I thought the lessons were really valuable, and the art style was fun. I will definitely be recommending this to patrons. Thank you NetGalley and First Second for this ARC!

"Inbetweens" is the term used for the moments of animation between the big movements. It's a good title for the story of sisters Ash and Sloane, who are accepted to an illustrious (pun intended) Ormidale animation program in the 1990's. Ash is more than excited to attend, while Sloane seems subdued in comparison to her sibling's enthusiasm. The graphic novel takes place over the course of their studies, finishing in a group project of a student film.

In terms of strengths, you can tell that Hicks knows her stuff and a lot of this seems to come from her history. The animation homework pieces are still used in animation classes today, and the student body accurately reflects 1990's animation nerds perfectly. The side characters of Cameron and Nisha are fleshed out personalities and inhibit a real world dynamic with the twins. Although it almost creates a problem because Nisha's story is far more engaging than Sloane or Ash's, once readers understand her backstory. Her inclusion in the graphic novel is what gives Sloane her big character arc moment, and puts Ash's frustration at not being immediately amazing at animation in a nuanced context.

I will point out a continued annoyance I have of pop culture books putting the actual title of famous stories alongside knockoff titles, which creates a dissonance as to the reality of the world. Hicks does this too, and it creates a confusing set up since animation titles play a central part in the story, with "Kiki's Delivery Service" being a huge creative revelation for Sloane and one of the strongest sequences of the graphic novel. But it's more than a little frustrating to have a world where students name drop Disney's "The Great Mouse Detective" and Ormidale have a poster of "Mystery Mice" with the same character design. Same thing goes for Don Bluth's "All Dogs Go to Heaven" poster but with the title "All Good Boys." The part where becomes harder to ignore as a fun "Easter Egg" experience is the character Douglas Frye, who creates the "Inbetweens"-only movie, "Monstrous" but it looks exactly like Brad Bird's "Iron Giant." And considering Douglas Frye is a bad teacher who shows misogynistic favoritism to the boy animators, it leaves me wondering if Hicks left those knock off titles in to give some legal plausibility for any critical discussions.

Overall, the strengths of "Inbetweens" comes from the inbetween moments, small discussions between the sisters, and the slight frustrations of schoolwork that challenges you. There is no action sequence or huge dramatic moment to point to in terms of interest. In fact, the ending feels a little bit of a let down since the graphic novel's theme about collaboration and creativity is achieved in the student project, and Sloane/Ash's rebellion against Douglas Frye's institutionalized artwork seems to detract from that rather than strengthen their positions. I also would have liked more of the siblings dealing with their newer relationship dynamic rather than that. There was a lot of really great material left untapped in the story (Nisha in particular) that keeps it from being an amazing 5-star review, but it's a great graphic novel to give to kids interested in sibling dynamics and creative pursuits like animation.

Sloane and Ash have always been interested in drawing and animation. While attending a summer camp at an art college, the twins learn more about themselves, each other and their hopes and dreams.

I knew from the cover and the comparisons to Sweet Valley Twins, that I would love this book. Beautiful coming of age story that deals with some tough topics. Fantastic art and easy to follow story make this a very enjoyable read. I look forward to sharing this with my book club.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

Another fantastic story from Faith Erin Hicks. Beautiful art. Great character design. But it was the story that really got me. Ash and Sloane are twins who share a love for art. During the summer, they attend an animation class where Douglas Frye, the director of their favorite animated movie, is an instructor. Unfortunately, learning to be an animator isn't everything the girls hoped it would be.

Inbetweens hits at the struggles of being an artist in many ways. Am I good enough? What happens when something I enjoy turns into work? Do I have to create types of art I don't enjoy? What happens when I lose my love of art? It's a love letter to The Iron Giant, Kiki's Delivery Service, and basically all the Disney movies of my childhood.

I wish it had done a bit more to call out Frye's misogyny and racism, but it's supposed to take place in 1999, and we just let those things slide back then.

A MG graphic novel by the great @faitherinhicks
✍️
It’s 1999 and twin sisters Ash and Sloan have both been admitted to animation camp for the summer. Both love to draw and have been obsessed with animating movies since they went to Disney World as kids. But when they get there, they both have very different experiences and realize that while art is a love for them both, they might not follow the same path as each other or as they once thought.
🖌️
I love everything Hicks writes and this was no exception. The artistry is some of my favorite in the GN community and the fact that this book centers around becoming a professional artist was so surreal to see how it starts to where it ends up. This entire novel was joy and inclusiveness and really shined a light on the sexism and racism that can be embedded in any industry, even now. Fans of the graphic novels Art Club and Twins will love this one when it releases March 31!

CW: racism, sexism, dementia

A journey back to the 90s. This book is a great read for aspiring animators, siblings, or tweens/teens trying to figure out where they fit in the world. The characters in this graphic novel learn that we all have strengths and weaknesses. They also learn that it is okay to care a lot about something.

This is by far my favorite work of Faith Erin Kicks. This book has so much heart and the theme really is hitting me right now. It’s okay for your skills to be a work in progress. Don’t let that stop you from your goals! These characters would be some of the best characters to get to know personally. I can definitely see some of Miyazaki's “Whisper of the Heart” influence here!

Love the animation references and the discussions about various movies. Great middle great book and welcome edition to a children's library

This book has all the elements of a great tween graphic novel. Its dramatic, interpersonal, sets up dynamic and numerous well-thought out conflicts, and it has great art. Its story is relatable to many and treats the drama of those formative years with the weight it deserves. It’s got a ton of heart and it’s a little funny too. It made me cry and laugh both, and I’ll be recommending it highly to the patrons at my library.

This book has lots of heart. We have a set of twin sisters who are very excited to go to animation school, but they learn a lot about themselves in this summer between eighth grade and high school. They learn if animation is really for them, how much they like art, and get chances to make new friends. Of course the story is tight and smooth and the artwork is great. It’s Faith Aaron Hicks. She’s done lots of books and knows what she’s doing and you can tell. I love that. This is a look behind the scenes of animation and what it’s like to get a start.