The Two and Only Kelly Twins

August 5, 2013
Hurwitz launches a chapter-book series about identical twins Arlene and Ilene Kelly, friends of the star of Mostly Monty and its sequels. “Arlene and Ilene knew that being a twin was very special, and they considered themselves lucky,” writes Hurwitz, though the girls’ sparring and antics temper any sugariness. They argue about whether to get a puppy or kitten; their father settles the dispute by bringing home two ferrets, which—in a fun dab of irony—the twins can’t tell apart. On Halloween, there’s a minor altercation when both girls want to be witches (“I said it first,” “I said it loudest”). And the twins’ sense of uniqueness is threatened when triplets—whose last name is Best, no less—join second grade; Ilene announces that she and Arlene are also triplets, requiring a flurry of lies (or “jokes” as the girls frame it). Mourning (the Kylie Jean series) pictures the girls with matching red eyeglasses, pigtails, and outfits in watercolor illustrations that add extra punch to a story that’s a natural step up from Grace Lin’s Ling & Ting books. Ages 6–9. Illustrator’s agent: Shannon Associates.

November 1, 2013

Gr 1-3-Arlene and Ilene Kelly love being identical twins. The second graders dress alike, play together, argue, and make up. When a set of triplets enters their school, the girls start feeling that they may not be quite so special after all. When one twin jealously insists that they are triplets too, her sister can't help but join in on the prank. The girls set out to convince their new friends that they are more than just a pair. Through all their high jinks, the sisters remain so tight that it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. Things start to change when Arlene has her appendix out and the girls are separated for the first time. How can sisters who share everything have different experiences? And will they still be identical when one twin is missing her appendix? With spot art every few pages, the story should appeal to early chapter-book readers. The sisters are mischievous, but loving, and young readers won't have any trouble keeping up with their escapades.-Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2013
In this Monty spinoff, Hurwitz once again writes about childhood milestones--but this time with twins. Arlene and Ilene Kelly are 7-year-old identical twins with the same straight brown hair, the same style glasses and usually even the same outfit. In six short, episodic chapters that combine into a larger narrative, the second-graders face the ups and downs of being twins. The first chapter introduces the sisters, who, though born only eight minutes apart, have birthdays on separate days. Readers learn how their parents (though not most other people) tell them apart and how they play with neighbor Monty (featured in several books by the author). Subsequent stories describe how the sisters end up with the perfect pets though they can't decide between a cat or a dog; wonder if being twins is less special than being triplets; and deal with a Halloween mix-up. The final story realistically recognizes the girls' anxiety when Arlene, a la Madeline, awakes in the night with appendicitis, and the sisters are forced to spend time apart. The experience affirms both their growing independence and unyielding friendship. No matter the predicament, Hurwitz interjects both humor and warmth. Accompanied by illustrations as playful as Arlene and Ilene, this chapter book is a t-winning choice for transitional readers who have graduated from Grace Lin's Ling & Ting early readers and enjoyed Hurwitz's previous titles. (Fiction. 6-9)

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September 1, 2013
Grades 1-3 Arlene and Ilene Kelly are identical twins. They wear their hair the same, their clothes the same, and have the same interests. No one, except their parents, can tell them apart. It's a pretty special feeling, so when a group of triplets moves to their school, Arlene and Ilene are left wondering if being a twin is all that extraordinary after all. After Arlene gets sick and has to visit the hospital, can the twins figure out how to be just one instead of always two? Each chapter takes on a short vignette about the girls and their various adventures, from getting new pets to discovering the perfect Halloween costume, with each side story accompanied by Mourning's soft, exaggerated black-and-white spot art. This is a humorous and heartfelt story, sure to appeal to readers looking for fun tales about sisters. Arlene's and Ilene's spunk and charm make them ideal bedfellows for characters like Sara Pennypacker's Clementine and Annie Barrows' Ivy and Bean.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2014
Hurwitz is spot on with the interplay between second-grade twin girls in this beginning chapter book. Arlene and Ilene do absolutely everything together, until Arlene gets sick and must go to the hospital. The pair's give-and-take rings true, natural language flows nicely, and Mourning's watercolor spot and full-page illustrations highlight points in the story well.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)