title: The Trouble with Twins
author: Kathryn Siebel
description: Gr 46Arabella and Henrietta may be identical twins, but they are not alike. Arabella is outgoing, cheerful, and popular. She even has "good hair." Henrietta, on the other hand, is solemn and shy, and Rose, the nanny, never even gets to her hair because she has such a good time fixing Arabella's shining tresses instead. Even their parents quite obviously (and a trifle disturbingly) favor Arabella. When Arabella abandons Henrietta to go to a party, Henrietta exacts a minor revenge and is sent into exile with odd Aunt Priscilla, who turns out to be quite interesting, despite her strange dining preferences. While their parents quickly forget Henrietta, Arabella finds she misses her twin tremendously and sets off to reconnect. The twins' story is framed by a mother telling the tale to her daughter, just as her own mother told it to her. The daughter's questions and the mother's responses move the narrative along subtly while anchoring it in a more recent time. As might be expected, the relationship between the twins and the storyteller is revealed in the end. Although no time period is specified, the illustrations (rotary dial phones, sweater vests, knee socks) suggest the 1940s or 1950s. The story is imbued with the nostalgia of that era and includes tenderly humorous moments. VERDICT Filling a need for children's titles without an edge, this is recommended for most middle grade collections.Katherine Koenig, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
zlib_text: ![](Images/image00342.jpeg)
  
  _**K**_ _ **ATHLEEN**_ _ **E.**_  
   _ **W**_ _ **OODIWISS**_
  
    
  
   _ **T**_ _ **HE**_ _ **R**_ _ **ELUCTANT**_ _ **S**_ _ **UITOR**_
  
    
    
    
    
  
  ![](Images/image00343.jpeg)
  
  _To my very good friend_  
   _Laurie McBain._  
   _If we thought any more alike,_  
   _we’d be identical twins._
  
   _ **Contents**_
  
    
  
  > >  _E-Book Extra_
  
  “Happy-Ending Oriented”: An Interview with Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
  
    
    
  
  > >  _One_ Lady Adriana Sutton whirled through the gracefully arched portico .
  > . .
  
    
  
  > >  _Two_ Samantha, my dear sister, do you intend to do the honors,
  
    
  
  > >  _Three_ There you are,” Samantha said with a gently welcoming smile . . .
  
    
  
  > >  _Four_ Now that Colton Wyndham was home and lord of the manor,
  
    
  
  > > _Five_ Edmund Elston sat back in his chair as he stared agog . . .
  
    
  
  > >  _Six_ A brilliant shard of sunlight pierced the drapery-shadowed darkness
  > . . .
  
    
  
  > >  _Seven_ Samantha’s not in the carriage with him,” Melora announced,
  
    
  
  >