One by Sarah Crossan

One
Written by Sarah Crossan
Contemporary, Verse
Published September 1st 2015
448 Pages
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia
★★★★
Grace and Tippi are twins, conjoined twins.

And their lives are about to change.

No longer able to afford homeschooling, they must venture into the world, a world of stares, sneers and cruelty. Will they find more than that at school? Can they find real friends? And what about love?

But what neither Grace or Tippi realises is that a heart-wrenching decision lies ahead. A decision that could tear them apart. One that will change their lives even more than they ever imagined...
Sixteen year old Grace and Tippi have always shared a life. Two minds, two souls who are merged and the hips and share one lower part of their bodies. Conjoined twins who have always been home schooled, sheltered from a cruel and unforgiving world. But with their father turning to alcoholism, becoming retrenched and public donations from well wishes being exhausted, Grace and Tippi have been offered a place at at a prestigious private school, where they prepare themselves to be ridiculed by their peers.

But instead, they meet Yasmeen, who knows all too well what it's like to be labelled and feared. She and her sidekick in Jon don't see Grace and Tippi as one, but as two unique individuals who need to experience all that life has to offer, including falling in love. Until one of their lives is in jeopardy. The only way Grace and Tippi have a chance at surviving and to lead separate lives is to undergo surgery, both in the hope that the other will survive. Two heads, two arms and two hearts who have never known a life without sharing with the other.  

ponderings of a booknerd

One left me an emotional mess and by far Sarah Crossan's best storyline to date. Told in verse, the storyline follows Grace, one half of conjoined twins along with sister Tippi. Where Grace is quiet and prefers not to rock the boat, Tippi likes to charge into any situation and likely to confront those who stare at the girls both in horror and wonder. With their mother losing her job and her father already out of work, the public donations for the twins have dried up and to finish their education, they're facing the prospect of attending school among the whispers of their peers. While both are terrified what lies within the hallowed walls, Grace is more open to the prospect of finding friends, even finding love.

Their story isn't unique to young adult, but their situation is. I haven't come across any other books that have explored the theme of conjoined twins and as Grace's character mentions, even the twins themselves were not expected to live into their teens. The twins have always been the sole focus of the family, whether it be due to their health or finances and younger sister Dragon is a product of unintentional neglect and faces her own upheaval. It felt incredibly realistic, as their parents were torn between providing for their family with what little means at their disposal and wanting to protect Grace and Tippi from the cruel injustices of the world. At school among the stares, the girls find solace with new friends Yasmeen and Jon. Yasmeen is fiercely protective of her new friends, while Jon and Grace share moments of something more than friendship between the two. Grace's situation doesn't allow for privacy and despite Tippi's warnings of not becoming attached, Grace finds herself falling in love. I found the romance a bit too bizarre and felt flippant where Tippi was concerned, seeing as the twins has always shared a closeness beyond their physical attachment. But I do understand Grace and her need for normalcy, especially as she feels like the weaker twin and refers to herself as a parasite upon Tippi's life.

the final verdict

The verse aspect was lovely, so few words creating an incredible impact on the reader. It's poignant, emotional and uplifting, a story of hope which will ultimately leave readers anguished and needing more. Sarah Crossan is one of the young adult contemporary authors who creates passionate and sentimental storylines with sensitivity and a realism rarely seen within our characters. Although beautifully heartbreaking, One was a joy to read.

44 comments

  1. Oh, this sounds like an absolutely lovely book, Kelly! I'm thrilled by the prospect of conjoined twins in YA, and I'm happy to see that Sarah Crossan does it well. The romance does sound incredibly awkward, though. I'm curious about how the author deals with that!

    Aimee @ Deadly Darlings

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    1. I think this might have been better off without the romance Aimee. It was superbly written, but felt a little awkward by their whispered conversations and growing connection. I don't think I've ever come across any other young adult books with conjoined twins. Really interested to see what you think of it.

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  2. Oh my gosh Kels your blog is different again! Once again, loving the look. It's so simple but gorgeous. I'm a huge fan of Sarah Crossan's novels. They're all so beautifully written and she just wrights the best characters, doesn't she?

    Loved the review, gal <33

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    1. Thanks poppet. I think you're the first one that's actually noticed. Just a bit of tweaking to give it a new look for summer. She really does. And her storylines always flow so effortlessly too. I really enjoyed this one, I think I was swept up in the emotion and read the last quarter preparing myself.

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  3. This sounds like a lovely read and I have to give it a go. I really like the concept since it's not a subject that is approached by authors commonly. I couldn't imagine being in the twins situation and what it would feel like to be judged all the time. I have to read this now, thanks for the review!

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    1. I can't recall of any others who have tackled conjoined twins actually, so that in itself makes it really unique Francoise. I can't wait to see what you think of it, it was a really lovely read.

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  4. I really liked Sarah Crossan's debut dystopian series, but this sounds like it's even better. I haven't read a book about co-joined twins, but I'm interested for sure. The characters sound well-written and I love that it's such an emotional and powerful story. I can tell I'm going to be bad though at the prejudices they face.
    Lovely review, Kelly!

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    1. I tried her series but really couldn't get into it unfortunately. It was okay though. I think her talents lie in contemporary though, she writes emotion so well and it really jumps off the page.

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  5. wow, what a heartfelt review. The story looks so...interesting, very different. Not something I have read before, so now more curious.

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    1. Thanks Lily. It really is. It's well worth the read just for it's uniqueness alone. Really enjoyed it.

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  6. This book is so unique! I really cant wait tor read my own copy. I kind LOVE the Australian cover of this book, though! *grabby hands* Glad to hear verse was so lovely. I hoped it might be :)

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    1. The Aussie and I think it might be UK cover as well is really lovely. Usually our Australian editions generally have covers that tend to be a little more artistic overall. Might be a marketing decision to catch readers attention I assume. I'm a big fan of books told in verse Sarah and this one was a mixture of paragraphs and verse and it worked so incredibly well. I really enjoyed it.

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  7. I felt just eh about this one. The story was beautiful, but the poetry was kind of lack luster and it was too predictable for me. I still enjoyed the characters, but that ending. Way to quick of an ending. I wanted more!

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    1. I couldn't agree more Erica about the ending. It felt like a big build up only to let it down slightly. It definitely waspredictable though, I still enjoyed it regardless. Sorry to hear that you didn't have such a great time with it though, have you read or enjoyed her previous releases?

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  8. Ooooooo hehe I knew I noticed something different about your blog! I'm loving the new colors girl! I haven't read this one yet but that storyline though! It definitely sounds unique and kind of scary but it also teaches something in the end about accepting yourself. (Well, that's what I've gathered from reading your review and that of others.;)

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    1. Thanks Keionda. I decided on a bit of a change for the upcoming Aussie summer. Planning on selling a few minimal templates for Blogger as well soon. Super cheap, clean designs. It really is about the journey for normalcy for the girls the ending although you'll see coming, really hits hard. I'd love to see what you think of it.

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  9. You changed your design again!!! I swear every time I visit here it's different :D Love the colour.

    And yep, I absolutely loved One. Only verse novel I've actually enjoyed, which is quite the accomplishment. Not that I could really READ it after I started bawling my eyes out, but still :)

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    1. Just a little bit of tweaking with colours, still the same format though. I like the colour too, feels much fresher.

      I remember one other verse novel you had reviewed and really didn't like the format but so glad you really enjoyed this one too. I think the storyline more than the format in which it was told is the draw card. That and how wonderfully it's written.

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  10. Intriguing, but it sounds like I'll need a box of tissues handy to read this One!

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    1. You very well need them Sarah. It's certainly an emotional read. I didn't cry but felt incredibly emotional after I finished. A really unique storyline.

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  11. I WANT THIS SO BAD. I wasn’t a huge fan of Sarah’s Breathe duology (too typical, run-of-the-mill dystopian for my liking) but I really did love Apple and Rain, so I am really excited to hear that you liked this so much. I think the concept of being a conjoined twin is so interesting and I’m curious to see how that will transfer into the story. Thanks for sharing this wonderful review Kelly! ♥

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    1. I wasn't either Zoe, but since reading Apple and Rain, I've really been enjoying her contemporaries, that's where her real talent seems to lie. I can't wait to see what you think of it Zoe, I think you'll really enjoy this one.

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  12. I love verse novels. It's been a while since I've read one, actually. I like how sparse the words are, and yet, they paint the most vivid imagery and emotional connection with so few words. This one is definitely different, original and something I've never read of before.

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    1. Me either Joy and I love verse. Of the few I've read so far, I've loved all of them on some level. I've never come across a young adult title with conjoined twins before, I'm so glad it was written so wonderfully and with such care too. The romance is a bit weird, but doesn't distract from the overall storyline thankfully.

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  13. I couldn't help but to think of Wonder while reading your review, Kelly. One sounds like an utterly heart-felt rendered narrative and it seems as though the writing is almost lyrical! I love the sort of writing style that pulls on the strings of the heart; those books are definitely hard to come by. And this one looks like a worthwhile and inspirational read for sure. Thank you so much for sharing such wonderful honest thoughts on this book! <3

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    1. That's another one I have on my shelf that I need to read Claudia. Oh, I wish I had time to read them all! The verse is really powerful, especially with the girls being conjoined twins. Even though they are both unique personalities, having that physical connection means more than just being physically joined and sharing organs, they were best friends and share something that most of us could never truly comprehend either. It was a truly great read and I'd love to see what you think of this one too Claudia.

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  14. I find it really awesome that this book is about conjoined twins :) It's such a unique concept, though I can see how the theme itself has been done in YA numerous times. I still would love to read it though, especially since it's in verse, and will probably be a quick read.

    I also find it weird how Grace can expect to get with someone when she's connected to Tippi. I guess it's times like these where I really take my life/body for granted.

    Awesome review Kelly! I have read Apple and Rain and liked it, so this is really making me want to pick this one up!

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    1. It is a pretty quick read, but the verse aspect is really lovely and makes such an impact probably even more so than if it had of been written more traditionally. I found the romance a bit weird too, but thankfully it's only a very small aspect of the storyline though. Really looking forward to seeing your thoughts on it poppet.

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  15. Oh my goodness, what an absolutely gorgeous concept - I must admit I have never heard of a book about conjoined twins, but from the way you've described it, it seems I have to pick this one up. It sounds heartbreaking and lyrical and lovely in all aspects; thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us. I absolutely can't wait to read it myself. <3

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    1. And I can;t wait to see what you think of it Topaz. I think you'll really appreciate the verse and lyricism of One, Although their story isn't unique to young adult, their situation is and it makes for a fascinating and poignant read.

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  16. I think this will leave me an emotional mess, too. Normal people get hurt when stared at for the simplest reasons, let alone living with someone attached to you. I can't imagine how I'd feel. I love that the author chose this as a story line. We seldom come across books that focus on this subject. Thank goodness for people like Yasmeen and Jon. Hurray for fabulous friendships!

    ~ Dre @ Sporadic Reads

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    1. I loved Yasmeen especially, that girl is so fiercely protective of the twins and seen them as two separate personalities and not just the sideshow that most people treated them as. It's emotional, but perhaps not to the point of tears. The verse is really lovely though and has such an impact and add to that emotional aspect as well.

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  17. I just realized this it the author that wrote Breathe. Interesting. I love a good emotional book, and yeah, I've never seen a book like this.

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    1. I wasn't a fan of her dystopian series, but have loved her contemporaries so far Christy. If you didn't particularly care for it wither, please don't let that discourage you from giving this one a try. It's such an incredible read.

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  18. The concept of conjoined twins quite fascinated me! Coupled with a heartbreaking realistic plot and EEK is this a novel on verse?!? I honestly think I have to climb out of my fantasy bubble and read more contemporary. Thanks for the review!

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    1. Contemporary, especially in young adult has come on in leaps and bounds in the past year Alyssa. It's not just the John Green type books flooding the market, but diverse and thoughtful story lines that I think appeal to a much wider audience. This is the first book I've come across about conjoined twins though and really enjoyed it. The verse was so incredibly lovely too.

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  19. I'm glad you liked this one! I really do want to read it. I've only read one book about conjoined twins and it was an adult one, so it will be interesting to see it from a teen perspective.

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    1. Which one was that Lauren? It was a really unique spin on what is normally considered as a typical teen contemporary, but given the girls and their situation, it was so much more emotionally charged too. I really enjoyed it and would love to see what you think of it too.

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  20. I'm going to be starting this one soon, and can't wait to be pulled in by the verse and beautifully moving story. Fantastic review as always Kelly, you've made me look forward to this even more!

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    1. I can't wait to see what you think of it Eugenia, it really is an amazing read.

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  21. This sounds incredible. The subject matter certainly isn't something I've seen in YA or ever read about, but it sounds like the author handles it very well. I've only ever read two novels before - one of which I loved and the other I didn't like. Very interested to read One, hopefully I'll able to pick it up soon. Great review, Kelly!

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    1. Me either poppet. Sarah Crossan did a wonderful job, just the right mix of emotion and normalcy with likable characters too. The verse is lovely and really adds voice to Grace and her situation, seeing it's told from her point of view. I would have liked to have even seen altering chapters from each of the girls, as Tippi was really sassy and fun. Looking forward to seeing what you think of it too.

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  22. I've been seeing some great reviews for this one, it sure does sound interesting even if it does use the same tropes we see all the time, their situation is enough of a twist on its own I think. Thank you for sharing your thoughts Kelly, great, thoughtful review as always!

    - Wattle @ Whimsical Nature

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    1. It is and it's so wonderfully written that you can't help but immerse yourself Wattle. It's that touch of diverse differences that really make it unique.

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