High School

Canadian singer-songwriters and identical twin sisters Tegan and Sara Quin recall their tumultuous adolescence. Before becoming Grammy- and Juno Award–winning pop stars, they were a couple of teenagers navigating the emotional, treacherous terrain of high school. The chapters are separated by individual recollections of parties, drug use, sexual experimentation, numerous battles with their parents, and more. Though the interchange of memory is a fascinating concept, the book is strongest when it focuses on its two central themes: sexual identity and the discovery of music. As the narrative begins, it’s intimated that Sara is falling in love with her female best friend, though that isn’t explicitly stated until later. By contrast, Tegan realized she was a lesbian after dating a couple of boys and falling in love with a girl named Alex. Discovering their latent musical talent happened by accident. After finding their stepfather’s guitar in a storage space, the Quins began practicing in secret. Learning the guitar and creating songs gave them an outlet for their angst and provided a gateway to future success.