10-year-old identical twins Ruby and Garnet Barker do everything together, and they have lots of fun in the process. Ruby is outgoing and energetic, while Garnet is more reserved and careful in her actions. The twins audition for the television show "The Twins of St. Claire," along with scores of other mirror pairs. They pull practical jokes of people together, moan about their father's girlfriend Rose to each other, and insist on sitting together in class. They speak in unison, move together, and have a special twin language and "twin grin."

Ruby and Garnet are quite a two-some...until they both apply for a single scholarship to Marnock Heights, a boarding school for girls. The grounds are impressive, and the girls have a great time visiting the school with their father. Garnet gets a scholarship offer, they wrestle with being individuals and looking different from each other. Will Ruby and Garnet make separate friends and be able to tolerate living separate lives?

Double Act by Jacqueline Wilson, 1995

I have always been fascinated by twins, and I love twin books. Ruby and Garnet have alternating voices in the story. Ruby's voice is in regular font, while Garnet's is italicized.

• Books about twins
• Jacqueline Wilson's web site