Book Title: The unusual twins
Author: Kola Apanisile
Number of Pages: 159
Publisher: Kola Apanisile
Year of Publication: 2025
Reviewer: Azeezat Adeshola
The Unusual Twins is a reflective exploration of identity, choice, and consequence, using twinship to question the assumption that those who share the same origin will inevitably share the same destiny. In this novel, Kola Apanisile examines how patience, guidance, and decision-making shape individual outcomes.
The narrative presents two sets of twins. The Ajise twins are born of different mothers who each lost a child and were later brought together under one household. Although raised side by side, their emotional foundations and experiences differ, subtly influencing how they respond to discipline, affection, and responsibility. In contrast, the Olatunji twins, Salewa and Sewa, share a striking resemblance and appear inseparable. Yet, their closeness masks vulnerability, particularly when poor judgment, greed and external pressure begin to shape their life choices. One of the novel’s recurring ideas is the value of patience as a tool for growth.
”Patience is about waiting for the right moments, learning, and growing.” Mrs Akintoye’s advice that reinforces the author’s warning against haste and impulsive decisions. This lesson runs quietly through the narrative, standing in contrast to the consequences faced by characters who act without reflection.
The novel also reflects on resilience within family structures. Morope and Abiodun’s togetherness in training their girls with wisdom and supporting their dreams, even in times of difficulty, highlights the stabilising role of unity and shared purpose. Similarly, Ogundile Ajise’s role as a watchful father keenly observing his twins and wives with admiration and pride represents a form of guidance rooted in presence rather than control. His quiet attentiveness underscores the idea that parental influence does not always require dominance, but consistency and emotional awareness.
The tragedy surrounding Salewa’s death following a quack abortion serves as a sobering moment in the novel. Rather than sensationalising the incident, Apanisile uses it to expose the dangers of secrecy, peer pressure, and the absence of proper guidance. Through this event, the novel reinforces its central concern with the lasting consequences of poorly informed choices.
While the moral direction of the novel is clear, some adult characters function more as moral guides than deeply conflicted individuals. A fuller exploration of their internal struggles could have added further depth to the narrative. Nevertheless, the contrast between guidance and neglect remains effective.
Overall, The Unusual Twins is a thoughtful and socially relevant novel that blends personal growth with broader societal concerns. It invites readers to reflect on family responsibility, youthful vulnerability, and the long-term impact of choices made under pressures that shape human lives. Apanisile ultimately reminds readers that similarity does not guarantee safety, and that character is shaped not by shared birth alone, but formed through patience, wisdom, conscious decision-making and the values nurtured over time.
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