Review: Sisters

Sisters
by Raina Telgemeier
Graphix, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-545-54059-9

Raina is very excited to be a big sister.  She'll have someone to play with.  When her sister Amara is born, things don't go quite the way Raina imagined they would.  Amara is fussy, as babies usually are.  As a toddler, she is still cranky and expresses many a meltdown.  Raina has a hard time playing with her because Amara likes to do her own thing and be alone.  This dynamic doesn't change much as Raina and Amara get older.  By this time, they have a younger brother, Will.  On a road trip from California to Colorado to attend a family reunion, Raina and Amara must deal with each other (in very close quarters) and in doing so, figure out some way of getting along and accepting each other's differences.

This is a true story about growing up with a sister.  Anyone who has a sister can relate to this book.  I know I did.  It is a companion to Telgemeier's 2010 novel Smile, which was about her childhood experience with braces.  If you haven't read it, you must.  Sisters has the same humor and relatability of Smile.  What I liked about it was Raina's experience with her sister is a universal one.  Sisters squabble, they fight about petty things, they get on each other's nerves and push each other's buttons.  But, at the end of the day they are there for each other.  Raina details this in a way that is very real and not at all "sugar coated."  As I was reading this, I instantly thought of my younger sister and how we were growing up and I'm so glad I don't have to relive those years!  Raina's artwork is beautiful.  She uses a lot of bold colors and when Raina has "flashbacks" the pages are yellow, which is a great way to help the reader follow the story.  I love how expressive the characters are and how that emotion supplements and supports the plot.  I would recommend this to reluctant readers or to middle-grade kids looking for realistic fiction.

Olivia Bean, Trivia Queen

By Donna Gephart.  New York: Delacorte Press, 2012.

Twelve year old Olivia Bean loves trivia!  Her head is full of facts and tidbits.  It's not surprising that her favorite television show is Jeopardy! and she never misses an episode.  The only subject she struggles with is geography.  No matter how much she studies, she just can't remember names of cities and countries.  Even so, she has the opportunity to try out for Kids Week on Jeopardy! and she goes for it.  After interviews and a mock game, she finds out she's made the list of finalists.  The show is taped in California, which is where her dad has lived for the past two years since he left the family.  Will Olivia win Jeopardy! and will she re-connect with her dad?

At first glance, it appears that this book is all about trivia questions and game shows.  To a point, it is.  But, what I really appreciated about this story was the back story of what Olivia has been going through the past two years.  Her father is a gambler, and from snippets revealed in conversations Olivia has with him over the phone where is so eager to end the conversation so he can make it to the tables, he has quite the addiction.  But, to Olivia, he is dad and she loves and misses him and wishes he were home.  She doesn't understand why he left her, her little brother, and mom to run off with her best friend Nikki's mom and take Nikki with them.  She doesn't understand why her mom has a new live-in boyfriend Neil.  As Olivia struggles with her feelings about her new life situation, she comes to realize who is important in her life and what defines a family.  This is a wonderful book, especially for a reluctant reader, because the chapters are very short and begin with a question just like Jeopardy! which the reader should have the answer to at the end of each chapter.  Also, you learn some fun trivia, too!

Smile

By Raina Telgemeier. New York: Graphix, 2010.

Oh, the joys of middle school. If you're an adult, you've been there, and I'm sure you remember how it felt to be an awkward pre-teen, trying to fit in. If you're younger, you are experiencing this now. Don't worry, it gets better! I promise. If you don't believe me, read this book.

Raina is a sixth grader. One night, after Girl Scouts, she trips and falls, and knocks out her two front teeth. It's a bad accident, and it begins a rather long journey for her through the world of dentistry and braces. She has to have a root canal, braces, really embarrassing headgear and a retainer. It's alot to deal with, especially when you are navigating your way through middle school, and trying to fit in. Raina's ordeal with braces takes us with her into tenth grade, when she finally gets them removed. She learns about friendship, who she really is, and in the end, is finally able to really smile because she is happy in her own skin. As she describes it, "I realized that I had been letting the way I looked on the outside affect how I felt on the inside. But the more I focused on my interests, the more it brought out things I liked about myself. And that affected the way other people saw me!"

This book has such a positive message, but it doesn't knock you over the head with it. Raina's story is universal, and fun to read. I recalled my own experiences during middle school and high school, and let's just say, I wouldn't want to live through that again. But, it shaped me into the person I am today. Kids will really enjoy this story - the graphics are very colorful, and the facial expressions are spot-on. If you're looking for a graphic novel with a good message, try this one. It will make you smile!

Jake

By Audrey Couloumbis. New York: Random House, 2010.

For as long as 10-year old Jake can remember, it's just been him and his mom. His father died when he was a baby. Right before Christmas, while Jake and his mom are at the grocery store, his mom falls and breaks her leg. There's no one available to take care of him, except for his grandfather, who he hasn't seen since he was a baby. Granddad also brings his dog Max with him, who isn't overly affectionate, and kind of scares Jake. While his mom has surgery and heals in the hospital, Jake and his Granddad awkwardly navigate seeing each other again. As they get to know each other, neighbors and friends show Jake that even though his mom is not home, this might not be a horrible Christmas after all.

This is a cute, sweet story. It's very short, and perfect for the holidays, and not just because it takes place right before Christmas. This book deals with family, which I absolutely loved. What makes a family? What does family mean to you? Family isn't just about blood relatives; it's about friends and neighbors that are an important part of your life, and who truly care about you. A truly heartwarming story, Jake is a winner!

13 Treasures

Written by Michelle Harrison. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2010.

Thirteen-year old Tanya has always been able to see fairies - she is "blessed" with the second sight. These aren't the fairies you're thinking of from princess tales; rather, these fairies like to torment Tanya. And she can't tell anyone she sees them, because they would think she is crazy. Fed up with the distruction and havoc that she thinks Tanya has caused, her mother sends Tanya away to live with her grandmother. Tanya's grandmother has never been especially warm and fuzzy towards her grand-daughter; she is mostly cold and reserved. While at her grandmother's house, Tanya discovers a mystery of the past involving a missing girl and the dark, creepy woods near the house. While trying to solve this mystery, Tanya discovers things about herself, her grandmother, and the fairy realm.

I don't normally gravitate towards fantasy stories, but this was a great story! It hooked me in from the beginning, and I was eager to find out what the mystery was. The fairy element plays a strong role in this story, and if you are hesitant to pick up this book because of that, don't be! There is a nice balance between the fantasy and mystery elements of this story, and the storytelling is quite engaging. It's not too scary, but just right to get you into the Halloween spirit. Now, for pity's sake, don't go into the woods!

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

By Tom Angleberger. New York: Amulet Books, 2010.

Who do you ask when you need advice about something? I bet you're going to say your parents, families, or friends. You wouldn't think of asking a finger puppet, would you? I didn't think so. But what if the finger puppet was an origami Yoda? We all remember Yoda, the wise sage from the Star Wars movies. He gives GREAT advice, that it would be silly not to follow it. That's what a bunch of sixth-grade friends discover in this fun book.

Dwight is a goofball. He's kinda weird, and always says things that are unpredictable and strange. One day he shows up to school with an origami finger puppet of Yoda. All of a sudden, Yoda is dispensing advice and predicting the future to most of the kids in the sixth grade. And, the advice works! Well, Tommy needs to find out how origami Yoda can be right about so many things, when his owner, Dwight, is just completely clueless. This book is a case file, and Tommy interviews several of his sixth-grade friends to discover their experiences with origami Yoda.

This book is very funny and goofy, and would be perfect for kids who love the Wimpy Kid books. Along the page margins are really fun doodles that complement the text perfectly. There's even directions at the end for making your very own origami Yoda. Read this book you must.

Eleven

By Lauren Myracle

I had the pleasure of hearing Lauren Myracle speak at last year's New York Library Association Annual Conference. She is a great speaker and so in tune with kids. Shamefully, I had never read any of her books. I finally did, and wow! - she definitely knows kids and tweens!

This is the first book in a trilogy. It is a year in the life of Winnie, who has just turned eleven. Turning eleven is really cool, but Winnie notices that her other friends are changing, while she seems to be staying the same. Her best friend, Amanda, seems embarrassed to play the games they used to, and would rather hang out with stuck-up Gail Grayson and talk about boys and make-up. As she and Amanda grow apart, Winnie struggles with the changes in their friendship, and in the process learns about herself and others. The year is full of ups and downs, and Winnie reflects on them with honesty and enthusiasm.

I listened to the audiobook version, and I was immediately transported back in time when I was eleven years old. NOT that I want to return to that particular period of my life, but I was amazed how the writing was so true to the pre-teen experience. There are embarrassing moments, feelings of insecurity, and not knowing where you truly fit it. I felt the exact same things Winnie did, and it connected me in a such a positive and powerful way to this book. I highly recommend this book to young girls. I think they will feel an immediate kinship to Winnie, just like I did. I can't wait to read the next two books, Twelve and Thirteen, which continue Winnie's journey through the tween years.