Twin sisters Henrietta and Arabella may look exactly alike, but their personalities are very different. Arabella has lots of friends and confidence, while Henrietta is reserved and unnoticeable. Their close companionship at home slowly gives way in middle school to tension and jealousy. One day, Henrietta attacks Arabella and is sent to live with their reclusive aunt Priscilla, where Henrietta begins to discover her individuality. Meanwhile, Arabella must conquer her own fears in order to be reunited with her sister, whom she misses in spite of their fight. With an abundance of quirky characters and odd plotlines that call to mind Roald Dahl or Lemony Snicket, this first novel offers a gently mischievous exploration of both family ties and sibling rivalry. Young readers will laugh at the foolish adults, who cannot remember what is important in life, while Siebel's message of self-reliance comes through loud and clear. Sardà's black-and-white illustrations lend a tongue-in-cheek playfulness to the story and will make the book an easy sell to fans of Dahl's Matilda (1988).--Moore, Melissa Copyright 2016 Booklist

Gr 4-6-Arabella and Henrietta are twins, although they were born on different days, thanks to their late night/early morning arrivals. Arabella is prettier, smarter, and more popular, and as the girls approach their teens, their sisterly love is strained. When Henrietta gives Arabella an unattractive haircut, Henrietta is banished to live with reclusive Aunt Priscilla in another town. Arabella eventually misses her twin and sets out to find her. The novel occasionally plays with fairy-tale imagery, such as a helpful goatherd and a friendly giant, though it is grounded in a real world, with commentary from "the girl" (who is listening) and "her mother" (who is reading/telling the story). The mother/daughter comments can feel intrusive at times, though they help define vocabulary and frame lessons from the story. Katherine Kellgren brings a great variety of voices, from humble to haughty, to the narration. There are frequent shrieks, shouts, wails, cries, sobs, and yelling toward the end. Cassandra Campbell soothes and reassures as the mother and daughter outside the main text. The initial emphasis on surface attributes (looks, popularity, clothing choices for Aunt Priscilla, and possessions) may be off-putting to some listeners. Most characters find more depth by the end of the tale. VERDICT A middle-of-the-road choice to consider for large audiobook collections. ["Filling a need for children's titles without an edge, this is recommended for most middle grade collections": SLJ 7/16 review of the Knopf book.]-Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Twins Arabella and Henrietta Osgood were inseparable when they were younger, but although they "were both beautiful girls... Arabella was somehow more beautiful than Henrietta. And that is where the trouble began." When Henrietta's jealousy takes a vindictive turn (her sister's bangs are involved), she is sent away to live with a grim, demanding aunt, which separates the girls for the first time in their lives. Meanwhile, the adults in the story have more than a whiff of Dahl-frequently ridiculous, useless, and even downright nasty. Henrietta and Arabella's journey to overcome numerous obstacles to reunite is filled with physical trials and emotional growth as they realize how much they need each other. An unnamed mother recounts this tale to her daughter, whose frequent interruptions (" 'Spectacles?' asks the girl. 'Glasses,' says the mother") create a clever, warmhearted overlay to this eccentric adventure. Sardà's angular, Gorey-esque spot illustrations capitalize on the story's gothic atmosphere, a promising debut for Siebel. Ages 8-12. Author's agent: Miriam Altshuler, Miriam Altshuler Literary. Illustrator's agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

A mother recounts a story to her daughter about twin sisters: beautiful, perfect Arabella and sullen, unfavored Henrietta. They're close, despite unequal treatment, until a big fight drives them apart. Henrietta, sent to live with their peculiar great-aunt, is essentially forgotten by their cold parents, but not by Arabella, who sets out to find her. Black-and-white illustrations enhance this quirky, darkly humorous story. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.