#104: Abby's Twin
This book starts with “health testing” at SMS, and Abby is referred for further testing after her scoliosis exam. (Shout out to Judy Blume’s Deenie for being the reason I know what scoliosis is.) I remember knowing about scoliosis when I was in school, but I don’t remember if I was concerned about it. I don’t think I knew anyone who had it. In Stoneybrook, Abby and Anna both get checked by an orthopedist and it turns out Abby doesn’t need to wear a brace, but Anna does.
Despite the bad thing happening to Anna, Abby is the one who starts to spiral. I normally love Abby, but in this book she is A MONSTER even though her heart is in the right place. She clearly feels bad for Anna and feels guilty that she’s not the one with a brace, plus she feels complex anxiety about her and Anna’s “twin-ness” diminishing because of this difference. She does a whole bunch of stuff to try to make Anna feel better — she cuts her hair short like Anna’s, gets Anna to play video games with her, buys Anna a bunch of brightly colored workout clothes — but none of it is Anna’s style; it’s all stuff that would make Abby feel better. Anna eventually blows up at Abby, who is devastated.
Anna is finally able to express herself to Abby, who agrees to chill the eff out and let Anna deal with the situation her own way. Meanwhile, the BSC has been planning a big winter carnival revolving around snow, but then… there’s no snow. But this is Stoneybrook, so OF COURSE it magically snows on the day of the carnival and everything is perfect. The carnival is where Anna and Abby make up and go sledding together. Aww. How Connecticut.
