This brand-new series by a popular screenwriter is a pitch-perfect, contemporary comedy featuring twelve-year-old fraternal twins, Claudia and Reese, who couldn't be more different...except in their determination to come out on top in a vicious prank war! But when the competition escalates into an all-out battle that's fought from the cafeteria of their New York City private school all the way to the fictional universe of an online video game, the twins have to decide if their efforts to destroy each other are worth the price.
Told as a colorful "oral history" by the twins and their friends, and including photos, screenshots, chat logs, online gaming digital art, and text messages between their clueless parents, The Tapper Twins is a hilariously authentic showcase of what it's like to be in middle school in our digitally-saturated world.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Tapped Into Tweens
By Jojoleb
The Tapper Twins Go To War (with each other), by Geoff Rodkey, is a quick read and a book that will appeal to the tween set.The plot is fairly simple. After eating Kai Kra Prow Chicken the night before, Reese--angry about who ate the last Pop-Tart for breakfast--mortifies his sister Claudia during a particular awkward moment at school (by loudly naming her Princess Farts-A-Lot. I will not elaborate further on this.) When Reese won't back down or apologize, the situation degrades into an all-out war, where Claudia and Reese try to get back at eachother tit for tat. Instead of writing the book straight out, Rodkey opts for a more compelling option: he has his character Claudia write it as a combination scrapbook and oral history. The result is a multimedia production that is as funny as it is engaging to the reader.Rodkey, author of Daddy Day Care, the 2006 movie remake of The Shaggy Dog, and Disney Channel's Good Luck Charlie Christmas special, is no stranger when it comes to writing for kids. He has a knack for snappy and clever prose, but what really shines is his ability to connect to both the kids and adults who read the book. This book is clearly aimed at tweens, with the 6th or 7th grade equivalents of taboo but die-on-the-floor-laughing references--e.g. Princess Farts-A-Lot--but still has real appeal for adults,who will laugh at some of the same things that the kids will find funny but for entirely different reasons--e.g. the transcribed text messages between the Tapper Twins' very addled, often confused and abused parents. Kids will revel one level of meaning of the prose, pictures, and cartoons and adults will also be able to laugh when they look at the events of the book from a parent's perspective. That speaks volumes for Rodkey's writing talent.The book is mostly just for fun but is not completely devoid of a soul. Rodkey is able to get in some important lessons about avoiding fighting by talking things out, being careful when using social media, and that in the end love always trumps war. Rodkey does this without banging his reader over the head with a sledge hammer. He is able to discuss the issues without moralizing.That said, this book is mostly about fun. This is not high literature or material that lends itself to a lot of deeper analysis. It is not that pivotal book that will change your childs perspective on life. It's mostly entertainment, but at least it's not just kidlit candy, if you dig deep enough there's more than enough redeeming value.Still, some parents will not like the banter between sister and brother and will quibble with some of the scatalogical humor. But generally speaking, your kid has heard worse on the playground than he or she will read in this book.All-in-all it's a great book for tweens. It really hits the sweet spot for this age group and as a parent I appreciated being able to read it and laugh on a different level. Recommended.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.
Super Duper
By prisrob
My nine year old grandson loved this book for several reasons. 1) He is an only child, and he enjoys reading about siblings, even those who fight. 2) He realizes he is about to enter into a very strange age, and he needs all the pointers he can get. We both read the book, and then discussed our thoughts.Claudia and Reese are 12 year old twins. Of course, Claudia thinks she is smarter and wiser. She tells us Reese has the mind of a six year old. Reese, on the other hand does not put up with much crap from his sister. In terms of fightability, they are pretty even. They live in New York City, and go to a private school on the Upper East Side. That much they both agree upon. Claudia has decided to write a book about the war that occurred between Claudia and Reese. Both Claudia and Reese will have input, and Claudia has asked for their parents input with their text messages. All have agreed, under more or less agreeable terms.12 year olds know what embarrasses each other, and Reese certainly hit the jackpot. One incident after another escalates until Claudia realizes that the Mindcraft games were the best way to get to Reese. Off and away they go. This is an oral chronicle done in a documentary style. There are arguments on almost every subject, photos of sleeping lawyers and other things, texts from parents, and much input from friends at school. This is a book that will be enjoyed by everyone who reads it. I laughed at many parts, and enjoyed the book immensely. My grandson was in 7th Heaven. He loves books, and he loves to read, and this was a book that kept him chuckling. The writing is superb, and is featured for the pre-teen set, just perfect. I can feature a series of the Tapper Twins. They have enough material to keep the author busy for a long time.Recommended. prisrob 02-16-15
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful.The Tapper Twins (are funny!)
By ashertopia
Maybe it's the comic book lover in me, but I love the trend in young reader / teen reader books including art, graphics, comics and diagrams to further the story. I think about Captain Underpants, Dork Diaries and others. This book does also does this very well. And it's a good book, too.Reece and Claudia are siblings that just can't stop one-upping each other with pranks. How it started may be a misunderstanding but at this point its on. And the best part is that they determine to document the whole thing in this book. Both siblings use the book to provide evidence against the other. Evidence is presented in diagrams, illustrations, pictures and narrative form.I love that the story includes both perspectives (although lead by Claudia) - the way the book is written naturally illustrates the ongoing "war." Bickering is documented. They argue with each other as the author changes perspectives regularly. The book also includes "interviews," "stolen" screen shots of phone texts and such with other characters, like the parents, the sitter and friends at school.(I also loved the useless trivia hidden in pictures and diagrams, which reminded of asides on Family Guy (but clean) or the Simpsons. Sarcastic, silly and fun.)While the book is written for Middle Schoolers but adults will enjoy it as well. It is clean, so no worries. Consequences are natural and shown so lessons also get learned. A fun book.
