Have you ever struggled with your identity, experimented with drugs, felt the impact of music, or just gone through the rollercoaster that is high school? If so Sara and Tegan Quins first-ever book is a must-read. If you don’t know already Tegan and Sara Quin are identical queer twins from Calgary, Alberta and make up the two parts of the indie-pop rock band ‘Tegan and Sara’, that has been around for nearly two decades. In an attempt to take time off after their previous album and tour, Love You To Death, the twins decided to write a memoir of their origin story. This project turned not only into High School, but also lead them to create a new record, reimagined and inspired by the songs they wrote in the time frame their memoir takes place, called Hey I’m Just Like You. When you put the two together it makes for a unique experience unlike any other. The pairing of the record with the book gives a deeper level of meaning allowing them to both be raw and honest in a way that creates an intimate connection that feels authentic. If you are part of the LGBTQIA+ or ever struggled with your identity this book is an absolute must-read. Not only does it offer an ever lacking perspective and representation, but it also encompasses so well the feelings and struggles of coming to terms with who you are, in a painfully beautiful way.
Told in alternating perspectives from Sara and Tegan, makes the book wholly unique in its narration. It allows the reader to feel and see the parallels in the sister’s life, and yet how different and unique each perspective is. While at times they seem to deal with the same things we see they each do so in different ways at different times in their lives. This particularly is interesting to see, as it offers a great metaphor both for how unique everyone is and yet how similar we all are within our differences. The memoir covers many themes including topics of drug use, sexuality and music. While it is non-fiction it reads similar to a fiction novel. This means that the themes are more realistic therefore making them more impactful and relatable.
Its relatability is striking and makes for a story that feels as if it’s your own. From the arguments and sibling rivalry to the effect and power of music, the book reflects a typical growing up experience yet is unique in its details. The relatability of the book is what makes it so good. The stories are hilarious in the way that you can easily picture them and see your own experience mirrored in them. This trait portrayed throughout the book is what I think is extremely important and allows it to become a favourite for anyone who reads it. Often for a non-fiction book to sell and be loved it needs to be interesting and/or relatable, both of which High School is. This allows it to connect to the reader, something that I think readers crave. The simplicity in it’s writing makes for a seemingly easy read yet there’s still layers and layers of much more complex thoughts and emotions that connects so deeply with the reader.
If you’ve ever read any amount of books you know what it’s like to come across many references to places, events, and things that exist in the real world yet are so far away and separate from you that the references mean almost nothing. This book is no different and is littered with numerous references, that said if you are Canadian or specifically Albertan you might be delighted by the references and places in the book, I certainly was. Whether it was places they mentioned like the Saddledome, Crescent Heights, A&W or more specific things like the mandatory C.A.L.M class, and the threat of how cold it gets(in celsius!) in winter I was ecstatic by how for once I was able to understand the references and had often been to or seen the places they mentioned. This added a bit of humour and simple relatability to the memoir.
Tegan and Sara’s first book explores many themes and topics, one of which is sexual identity. While this is often a heavy topic it’s made more hopeful and light because it’s looked at in hindsight which offers the readers the knowledge that everything turned out okay. Anyone who’s part of the LGBTQIA+ community or has experienced the struggles of figuring out your own identity can see their experiences, and emotions reflected in Tegan and Sara’s story. While not everyone has the same experiences coming to terms with who they are, and it can vary greatly from person to person the book still captures many of those feelings and struggles of identity which are extremely relatable. The stories pinpoint what it’s like growing up and figuring yourself out, expressing the struggles of coming to terms with oneself, figuring how that fits into the world, and worry over the future. This theme unfolds in such a unique way throughout the book. It weaves within the other themes and stories in such a realistic way.
Another large theme in memoir is music. Today music is often a big part and has a substantial influence on our identities. You probably have or have had a favourite artist(s) you love to listen to and even look up to as an idol. Or maybe you have a song that holds a strong meaning for you or you associate it with a particular memory. Perhaps you even play an instrument or sing. Regardless, chances are you can probably agree that music has a big role in life. It’s certainly no different for Tegan and Sara in their book. They tell the story of just how powerful music was for them, whether they were playing it or listening to their favourite bands. The influence and power that music had on them is exhibited in the pages of the book. We see them find a guitar, write songs for the first time, and slowly become a band over the course of the book. It’s woven into their lives and we can see how it affects their identity and vice versa. It’s particularly fascinating to watch the story unfold with the knowledge of how successful they become today.
Overall the book’s highlights are its relatability, humor and meaning. I personally would recommend it for anyone to read. It’s extremely engaging with hard topics handled in such an effortless way. The stories of Sara and Tegan’s life while in high school is interesting on its own. Seeing two sisters from Calgary Alberta first start to form their identities and progress toward what will be, and is, a long career in the music industry is remarkable. The deep dive into highschool memories that Sara and Tegan do helps remind us how fun it can be to reminisce about your younger selves, even if at times we might have seemed cringey or things weren’t always great. However, seeing just how relatable and similar they are and their experiences were, makes the memoir feel intimate and authentic. Something that I think so many of us crave in today’s fast-paced world. High School is completely worth the read.
More Info:
Book: Highschool
Release Date: September 24th, 2019
Synopsis: High School, a memoir by Tegan and Sara, OUT NOW. A transcendent story of first loves and first songs, it tangles itself up in the parallel and discordant memories of two sisters growing up down the hall from one another. This is the origin story of Tegan and Sara
Where To Find It: You can find their book online @ https://teganandsara.com/highschool/ or https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/high-school/9781982112660-item.html or in-store @ Chapters. Highschool is also available as an audiobook!
*Synopsis and photo taken from https://teganandsara.com/highschool/