#104: Abby's Twin

Thoughts before reading:

Oh yay, another Abby book... this has been a pretty rough section of books for me. Hopefully things get better soon, because there's still quite a ways to go.

The basics:

SMS is doing health checks on the students, testing hearing, vision, and for scoliosis. The screener who checks Abby recommends she see a doctor for a more thorough scoliosis test. Abby's really worried about it, and starts panicking over the thought of having to wear a back brace. Anna got the same note, but she takes the news in stride. (No one else in the BSC has to be re-checked.) The girls tell their mom, who schedules the doctor's visits. 

Abby turns out to have a 14 degree curve in her spine, and only curves over 20 degrees require treatment. Anna's is 25 though, so they recommend a low profile brace for her. Abby feels guilty that she got off scot free while her twin has to go through this, so she vows to be extra caring and supportive. 

Meanwhile, Kristy wants to have a winter carnival to help cure the winter blahs (their charges have been bored lately, especially with the bad weather). To raise money, they're going to shovel snow for people. 

Shortly after Anna's diagnosis, Abby goes to the mall with the BSC to shop for carnival supplies. She invites Anna, who declines, but Abby still ends up feeling guilty. Abby decides she just needs to spend way more time with Anna. Right off the bat, however, this doesn't go well, since Abby keeps insisting that Anna do activities she doesn't want to do. Often she doesn't even like them. Then Abby decides to get her haircut like Anna's (at Gloriana's House of Hair, no less...) to show her support. She also goes along for her brace fitting appointment. 

Next, Abby decides to cheer Anna up with a new wardrobe, and her mom gives her $200 to spend on it. She asks Stacey for help shopping, which was a good choice, because Stacey has the good sense to pick out clothes that actually fit Anna's style. Abby doesn't listen though, and insists on sportswear to help Anna feel more comfortable, in bright colors to cheer her up. Unsurprisingly, Anna's not too enthused about her new clothes, prompting Abby to vow to work even harder.

Once Anna actually gets her brace and starts wearing it, Abby gets even more overbearing. Alan Gray accidently knocks Anna over in school one day, and Abby yells at him in the hall. After, Anna finally snaps and tells Abby that she's been driving her crazy by acting like this is happening to her instead, buying all clothes she'd like, forcing Anna to do things she doesn't want to do, and even volunteering her for the carnival. Abby calls her sister ungrateful and ends up storming off.

The BSC encourages Abby to try talking to Anna again, but her pride is too hurt. After talking to her mom she does try saying hello to Anna, but she turns away without answering. 

Anna does end up attending the carnival, where she scares Abby by sledding. She's perfectly fine after though, which makes Abby finally realize that all her worrying makes Anna feel worse about her situation. Both girls apologize to each other. 

Timeline:

It's January, which Abby hates: it's boring, there are no sports, and her dad died during this time of the year.

Misc. thoughts:

*Ghostwritten by Suzanne Weyn.

*I remember my junior high doing scoliosis checks too.

*Mal is described as having auburn hair again in this one, even though we're usually told she has red.

*Since when is Pow (the dog the Pikes inherited from the Barretts) fat? I don't remember this ever being mentioned before.

*The options for treating scoliosis are the Milwaukee brace and the low profile brace. I wanted to include a picture, but my internet is not having it today...

*Claudia sculpts Stacey out of snow. She sure does a lot of artwork inspired by her BFF...

*Kristy's actually understanding about Abby missing meetings for doctor's appointments. Maybe she's finally learned something.

*Charlie drives Abby and Anna to the train station? Does Kristy pay him for all these random errands? He barely even knows the twins, and the poor guy has his own life...

*Anna has to wear the brace 23 hours a day for 2-3 years. Yikes, I'd be upset too if I was her.

*Lots of details in here about the brace fitting process and appointments, which would be helpful to kids facing this same issue.

*Neither Abby or her mom thinks about the fact that Anna might want to pick out her own clothes? If their mom was willing to shell out $200 bucks, she should have sent the girls out shopping together to spend some bonding time, and to allow Anna to choose her own things.

*Error on page 126, double quote marks.

Books mentioned:

None

My rating:

3 stars. Not bad for an Abby book... this was a quick read, very believable story, and not too much filler.