Twins

Sixth-grader Maureen Carter is the novel’s protagonist, and her anxiety-ridden narration demonstrates The Challenges of Adolescence and Middle School throughout the text. Because she is also the only character whose internal thoughts are shown, the author clearly intends readers to identify with Maureen more strongly than with other characters. Maureen is smart, responsible, sensitive, and shy. She is the youngest member of a strong Black suburban family. Although Maureen graduated at the top of her fifth-grade class, she often relies on her twin sister Francine to ask questions aloud for her. She also struggles to make new friends and navigate unfamiliar social situations, and she quickly becomes overwhelmed when she has to learn a new skill (marching) in Cadet Corps. Maureen struggles with the new complexities of middle school, especially because Francine is eager to differentiate herself from Maureen while Maureen still wants to rely on Francine’s support. Despite her social anxieties, Maureen’s desire to earn straight A’s motivates her to run for student council in order to earn the extra credit offered by Master Sergeant. Her desire to demonstrate her self-confidence combines with her unresolved anger at her sister, and she therefore chooses to specifically run for president, even though she will be running against Francine.