Down Among the Sticks and Bones

Jack (Jacqueline) and Jill are identical twins whose parents have imposed strict gender roles: Jack is the son her father always wanted – athletic, smart, and tomboyish – and Jill is her mother’s perfect daughter – pretty, well-dressed, and decorative. When Jack and Jill fall down the hill and land in a magical world called the Moors, the girls are faced with a vampire, a mad scientist, death, and making choices. This fast-paced fantasy novel for grades 9-12 deals with gender identity, sisters, family relationships, and stereotyping, is suitable as an independent or literature circle novel, and lends itself to study of literary techniques and writing activities. Social considerations noted.