The Phantom Twin is a fun, spooky story centered around a group of Circus workers, mainly conjoined twins Isabel and Jane. After trusting the wrong doctor to separate them, Isabel is left without a living sister and instead has a ghost. At the core, this is a story of finding out who you really are, listening to yourself to make the right choices, and finding your people. Suggested for larger libraries who serve teen populations.

We're so excited to have this book for our middle school summer reading list! It's sure to be a hit.

This was a very sweet book about the bond between sisters. The circus/freakshow setting was great, especially the bond between all of the people in the show. I loved watching Isabel evolve into her own person, through both the bad experiences with the reporter and the good experiences with the tattoo artist.

The simple art style had the capability to tell a profound and heartbreaking story. I loved the aesthetic historical feel that story gives to the reader. Isabel must face life alone for the first time when her conjoined twin, Jane, dies during a risky operation. This story deals with depression, prejudice, exploitation and identity, themes that any reader would find relevant.

I enjoyed this for the most part, but thought the premise was almost offensive and a little odd. The art style is gorgeous and I look forward to seeing more from this author, I just wasn't digging the "Freak Show" aesthetic.

Isabel and Jane are conjoined twins who share a leg and an arm in this very moving graphic novel, which is probably set in 1950s America. Most of the story takes place in a travelling carnival, which among its attractions has a freak-show which includes the twin girls. Early in the story we’re told they were sadly sold to the carnival owner as they were unwanted to their parents. The girls are very different and Jane dreams of being separated and leading her own life. Jane is also the more dominant of the pair and after they meet a doctor who is certain he can separate them the story really kicks off. I found this to be a moving story which authentically recreates carnival fairground life and even includes a glossary of ‘Carny’ terms at the end of the book.

You will be able to tell from the title The Phantom Twin that Jane does not survive the operation and poor Isabel is left with only one leg and one arm. Her dead twin also returns as a ghost, or is she a recreation of her phantom leg? The story then centres upon Isabel trying to make her way in life, she gets help, returns to the carnival, but in many ways no longer belongs there. Thankfully this sad story has an uplifting ending and there is nothing in the story to stop younger children reading the book, which might bring up interesting conversations with their parents also, as old fashioned freak-show carnies are surely now a thing of the past.

The Peabody sisters, Jane and Isabel, were sold to the manager of a sideshow when they were just three years old. As “Jan-Is,” the conjoined twins perform a psychic double act wearing sparkly dresses and find real family among the ten-acts-in-one that work and live together. Jennie the bearded lady does their hair, and Nora the tattooed snake charmer teaches them about the world. But life as “Jan-Is” gets difficult when a teenage Jane starts seeking her own fun.

When Dr. Ezra Wyatt proposes to separate the two girls, Jane urges Isabel to go through with the surgery, but the procedure goes wrong and Issa appears to awake alone. Where once Isabel had too many limbs, now she has too few, but her attempts to return to the carnival in a new guise and the attentions of a muckraking journalist prove catastrophic to the freaks’ independent existence.

Can Isabel survive outside the cloistered world of the Les Freres Estranges? As Jane had promised, the sisters are always together, but just not attached.

From the bright lights of the midway to sepia-toned depression-era Middle American cityscapes, Brown’s lovingly detailed illustrations share an affection for outsiders, early twentieth century popular culture, and the appeal of the out of the ordinary.

An altogether lovely, poignant, and freakish historical graphic novel, Phantom Twin by Lisa Brown is sure to charm, delight, and fascinate readers with a taste for the strange.

Such a sad story, but with lots of hope and fantastic illustrations. Will appeal to a wide variety of readers.

The Phantom Twin is the story of Isabel, born a conjoined twin with her sister Jane. The two work in a freak show until separation surgery kills Jane. Isabel has to learn to move on even though she still senses her sister like a phantom limb. Lisa Brown’s graphic novel offers a look at what it’s like to live as part of an outsider family, and also what it’s like to grow apart from that found family. It’s a satisfying tale full of triumphs and tragedies with artwork that captures the feeling of the era.

This was a spooky surprise. I wasn't sure what to expect - all I knew was the title and that conjoined twins were the focus. The story pulls you in immediately; it doesn't take much time to get right into the plot. The art is perfect for the time period and the story, very atmospheric. I appreciated the author's note at the end. It's obvious in her storytelling how much respect she has for the people she's writing about and how much care she took to be historically accurate as well. The Phantom Twin will appeal not just to young adults but older readers as well.

This was a very interesting graphic novel for young readers to adults. Thanks again to NetGalley and First Second for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for feedback.

Isabel and Jane are conjoined twins that are a part of a traveling carnival freak show. One day, Jane and Isabel decide to have surgery to separate them, but something tragic happens to Jane. Isabel now has to live life on her own, with the help of her friends from the freak show and a new friend who accepts Isabel as her own person. She still knows Jane is “with” her, but Isabel wants to make a better life for herself - this is a book that showcases what she does to make that happen. A good book overall.

Isabel e Jane: sorelle diverse nel carattere, ma che condividono molto più della parentela: un braccio e una gamba le uniscono.
Sono infatti gemelle siamesi, vendute dai genitori a un circo viaggiante che si muove nell'America della Depressione.
Il circo è la loro casa, hanno una famiglia fatta di freak, veri o finti: la donna barbuta, la donna serpente, la sirena.
Un mondo a parte, che le protegge, ma che le induce anche a temere gli altri.
Jane però, volitiva e intraprendente, vuole di più: una vita vera, separata dalla sorella.
E la convince, per quanto malvolentieri, a tentare l'operazione.

Un racconto malinconico di diversità e accettazione di se, ben prima che dell'altro.
Dell'aprirsi al mondo, del trovare fiducia nel prossimo senza ingenuità.
Del cercare la propria strada, per quanto tortuosa possa essere da percorrere.
Commovente, intenso, sincero.

The story of conjoined twins Isabel and Jane who are sold to a side show. Interesting fictional look into old side shows and how the people were treated. Isabel has to learn how to get along being alone after a failed separation operation.
I enjoyed this graphic novel and read it in one sitting. If you are interested in the side show era, I would recommend it.

I really enjoyed this, it's sort of paranormal since when the conjoined girls get separated and one dies her ghost still stays around, but for the most part, it's a look at relationships, betrayal, and how people with different physical anomalies have historically been treated. In the end, it has a happy ending, and nothing too graphic is shown, so it could be given to younger teens without a lot of worry.

Phantom Twin explores how a former conjoined twin makes her way forward in life after her sister dies on the operating table. Isabel was always the one being dragged along with her sister Jane’s ideas, and now she has to figure out what to do next. Even with Jane’s ghost for company, life is definitely a challenge.

This wasn’t quite what I was expecting, because it was more on the dark than cute side. The art had a retro feel to it, which fit right in with the carnival setting and clothing style. I did love the representation of Isabel’s ghostly sister Jane; she provided a great contrast both visually and emotionally when both sisters were expressing their opinions.

My main frustration was with the conflicts that are misunderstandings that could be easily fixed by characters having a conversation or refusing to look for other options and giving up. However, these conflicts made complete sense for the characters, especially Isabel. I can only begin to imagine what it must be like to try to start over when you’re not only missing limbs, but your literal other half. Despite their disagreements, Jane & Isabel were extremely important to each other. And Isabel wasn’t used to making decisions for herself, because Jane would win their arguments and make decisions for both of them. What do you do when you’ve only known one way of life? Only know one community of people? Who doesn’t make mistakes when they’re out on their own for the first time?

If you’re looking for something similar, I recommend Spectacle by Megan Rose Gedris. It also features sisters working at a carnival, except they aren’t conjoined twins and it’s a murder mystery.

*Thank you to NetGalley and First Second for providing a digital copy.*

This was original, haunting, and emotional. The story follows Isabel, a former conjoined twin trying to find her way in the world now that she and her sister are no longer connected. She doesn't feel like she belongs with the carnival "freaks" anymore, nor does she feel accepted in the "normal" world. The artwork is a little dark and and somewhat chilling, but it complements the mood of the story.

There are a few somewhat mature moments, but I still think I will pick this up for my library...and I definitely recommend it.

A deeply affecting tale of a girl separated from her conjoined twin and working as a carnival attraction in the early 1900s. Endearing watercolors and rich characters make The Phantom Twin a moving story of loss, friendship, and redemption, and the book is sure to be an instant classic.

The Phantom Twin was disturbing and fascinating, I felt sick after reading the story, even though the book ended on a hopeful note. Lisa Brown's research and empathy to the subject came through in a way that felt right. I was grateful for the care she took in sharing Jane and Isabel's story, as well as the story of the other sideshow talent. I was horrified by the treatment of these people from their management and the townspeople on their circuit and wish that each of the real life stories ended as positively as Jane's story.

Enjoyable art, a heroine you root for, a humanizing view of people often forgotten or mocked. Better than Evelyn Evelyn: A Tragic Tale in Two Tomes. Isabel is haunted both literally and figuratively, making bad choices along the way that are at once very understandable and have you frustrated with her. Recommendations for further reading and some info about "freak shows" in the back are greatly appreciated. This is a bit difficult to review because for once I don't feel like I have a lot to say about it except that I liked it and I enjoyed the art style, so I recommend it.

A quick story about what happens to a set of conjoined twins when they are surgically separated and one dies in the process. A lot of this story is set in the carnival that they performed in and you get to see lots of acceptance and understand the sense of belonging that "freaks" experienced.

The art is lovely and expressive.