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High School

High School is a memoir by Tegan Quin and Sara Quin.

Tegan Quin and Sara Quin

CBC Books Posted: Jul 30, 2019 3:08 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 11, 2020

High Schoolis the revelatory and unique coming-of-age story of Sara and Tegan Quin, identical twins from Calgary who grew up at the height of grunge and rave culture in the 1990s, well before they became the celebrated musicians and global LGBTQ icons we know today. While grappling with their identity and sexuality, often alone, they also faced academic meltdown, their parents' divorceand the looming pressure of what might come after high school. Written in alternating chapters from both Tegan's and Sara's points of view, the book is a raw account of the drugs, alcohol, love, musicand friendship they explored in their formative years.

A transcendent story of first loves and first songs,High Schoolcaptures the tangle of discordant and parallel memories of two sisters who grew up in distinct ways even as they lived just down the hall from each another. This is the origin story of Tegan and Sara. (FromSimon & Schuster)

From the book

Sara and I had sung in the choir in elementary school. Though neither of us was a prodigious talent, we joined school productions and loved being onstage. I loved lip-syncing along to my favorite bands in my room and longed to stand in front of a mic. But I only ever sang in front of other people if everyone else was also singing: drunk at a party, in the mosh pit of a favorite band, lying in sleeping bags in the tent trailer in Grace's (a friend from the Frenchies) backyard. Never alone.

The only time I could recall having done so was in grade eight when a friend named Dawn called our house. After I finished a long monologue about my love of Green Day, she somehow coaxed me into singing "She," her favorite song. At first, I had laughed nervously at the strange request. Stalling, I tried to figure out if I was being tricked a reasonable theory since we hadn't exactly been close friends in junior high. But as she encouraged me from the other end of the phone line to sing, I started to warm to the idea.

FromHigh Schoolby Tegan Quin and Sara Quin2019. Published by Simon & Schuster.

Interviews with Tegan and Sara

Tegan and Sara's High School Reading List

5 years ago

5:10

Calgary indie pop duo Tegan and Saras new memoir, titled High School, shares the life story of the famous identical twins and LGBTQ icons. In this CBC Books video, Tegan and Sara talk about the six books they loved reading during high school.

Tegan and Sara talk "High School"

5 years ago

2:31

Tegan and Sara discuss their memoir "High School"

Q25:23Tegan and Sara: 'Not a lot of bands make it to eight records'

The Canadian duo reflect on 20 years of being in a band together (and 36 years as twin sisters). They also perform songs from their new album, Love You To Death.

Tegan and Sara combine music and activism

6 years ago

10:39

Indie pop duo Tegan and Sara sit down with Rosemary Barton to discuss combining music and activism

'We thought our mom was so cool': Tegan and Sara on their mother's influence and activism

6 years ago

2:35

Pop duo Tegan and Sara discuss how their mother introduced them to ideas like anti-racism, anti-homophobia and feminism at a young age

Tegan and Sara's positive, empowering message to LGBTQ youth

6 years ago

1:30

The Tegan and Sara Foundation helps raise awareness and money for non-profit organizations working with LGBT communities, particularly LGBTQ girls and women

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