Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same by Grace Lin

Twin sisters Ling and Ting are twins, but definitely not the same.  Sure, they look the same, up until the end of the first chapter when a sneeze on the barber’s chair changes that.  But they like different things, have different skills, and approach projects in different ways.  At the same time, the girls are obviously great friends as well as sisters despite their differences.  In short friendly chapters, readers get to know these young sisters and will be able to happily identify with both of them.  This is an early reader with depth and something to say.  It never loses its friendly, lightness and still offers an amazing amount of story. 

Lin excels at creating universal characters and these two twins are definitely that.  She also has woven Asian culture into the story in ways that make sense for the story.  Her superb choices in the book work very well.  Lin also did the art for the book, which has the same engaging style as the story itself.  The art is filled with bright, bold color and will serve new readers well as they read this book.

Highly recommended, this is an impressive easy reader.  Let’s hope that Ling & Ting return for many more adventures.  Appropriate for new readers, ages 4-6.

Reviewed from library copy.