Twins Emma and Payton Mills start seventh grade at a new school with high hopes. Brainy Emma wants to join the science, math, and geography clubs. Somewhat of an academic slacker, Payton dreams of joining the fashion-loving in-crowd. Both girls are off to a good start until a burrito catastrophe strikes Payton at lunch, leaving her too embarrassed to face the rest of her day. Emma comes to her twin’s rescue by (you probably guessed it) switching places with her. What was supposed to last only a few class periods quickly snowballs out of control. Shy Emma finds herself shopping with the popular girls, talking to a cute football player, and leading cheers at the pep rally. Meanwhile, Payton tries filling in for Emma’s honors classes and school news show. The girls know they have to switch back, but now that they’ve become so enmeshed in one another’s lives, how can they? And even more importantly, do they want to? While twins switching places is by no means a new plot device, the story is fast paced and fun. Emma and Payton are both likable characters with middle school worries that readers will relate to. A good choice for girls who like their school stories with a bit of drama and a lot of fun. – Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA
The first series about identical twins by identical twins! I co-wrote these books with my twin sister Julia DeVillers, also an author! My character is Emma and Julia “is” Payton. For more about us and our books, check out our interview on Simon & Schuster’s website.
Book 1: Trading Faces
On the first day of seventh grade, twin sisters Payton and Emma have been assigned entirely different schedules – for the first time ever. Without telling anyone, the twins switch places: Cool Payton goes incognito as quiet Emma, while mathlete Emma impersonates fashionista Payton.
No one – from their new teachers to their clueless classmates – realizes they have made a switch. The twins quickly find out that playing a different role in life can be a lot of fun – and that no one is exactly the person the rest of the world thinks they are.
Book 2: Take Two
Twin sisters Payton and Emma have learned that “trading faces” can lead to “twin-dentical” chaos, and they’ve promised never to do it again. But just to be sure that they’ve really learned their lesson, the school counselor has a punishment in store, and they’re not going to be sitting through detention — or hyperventilating through detention, in Emma’s case. Instead, Emma’s tutoring a math-hating eight-year-old boy who brings a creepy reptile to every lesson. Meanwhile, Payton has to keep an eye on his brother and help the drama club with their musical — but she’s not going to be onstage, she’ll be under it! Oh! And the boys? They’re identical twins too….
When things start spinning out of control, will it take another twin switch to sort it out? And just how many switches are going on at once? In the end, it’s good to have a twin who’s got your back as well as your face!
Published by Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, January 2010
Book 3: Times Squared
Everyone’s favorite dynamic duo is back for more twin-tastical adventures!
Identical twin sisters Payton and Emma Mills have “traded faces” and caused “twin-dentical chaos” at school and at home. Now they are off to “twin-vade” New York City! Payton’s drama club is going to see an Off-Broadway show, and Emma’s mathlete team is competing in an elite competition. But Payton never imagines the star of the show would be an old nemesis, and Emma struggles to keep her mind on math when there are so many distractions. (Ox crushing on another girl? The hotel pool!) Then they have to rescue each other and pull off another “twinsformation”… but is the big city ready for Payton and Emma’s mixed up mayhem?
Published by Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, January 2011
Book 4: Double Feature
After their adventures in New York City, identical twins Payton and Emma Mills thought life would go back to normal. For Emma that means competing in the upcoming Geobee – and beating her arch-nemesis, Jazmine James! And for Payton it’s all about proving to her parents that she can be in both Drama Club and VOGS while keeping up her grades. But then the unimaginable happens: The twins are chosen to appear in a commercial for Teen Sheen shampoo!
Suddenly it’s “Good-bye, everyday life” and “Hello, Hollywood!” But of course there are surprises in store – specifically, Ashlynn (Payton’s camp nemesis), a supercute boy singer, and a cutthroat movie star wannabe…which means more twin-sanity. It’s bright lights, swimming pools, movie stars, and twin-switches galore!
Published by Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, January 2012
Book 5: Triple Trouble
When Payton and Emma take on a trio of triplets at the Twin Festival, it’s double – make that triple – the twin-switch fun!
Emma and Payton are home from Hollywood, but the drama continues: Not only is the Homecoming Dance coming up fast, but there’s someone new in school! Three someones, actually: triplets. Oliver, Dexter, and Asher look exactly the same, dress exactly the same, and—worse—have exactly the same superior attitude.
When the triplets mention they’re participating in a regional Twins & SuperTwins Festival that has a Tweens Division and twin-related contests, Payton and Emma are instantly interested. Emma’s been suffering from competition withdrawal ever since Jazmine James managed to get her disqualified from the upcoming science fair, so she’s got her game face on. And once Payton convinces Mrs. Burkle that the festival is perfect for a VOGScast field trip, the whole gang takes a road trip and the games really get going. But attempts to take down the triplets threaten to land everyone in hot water. Can Emma and Payton switch their way out of trouble, or are they stuck in a multiples mess?
Published by Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, January 2012
Hi Payton and Emma fans! The twins’ adventures are on a break, but you may hear from them again! 🙂 🙂
