Bad Sister

May 10, 2021
The layered and heartfelt vignettes comprising this graphic memoir depict the delights and burdens of older siblinghood, with each section dedicated to a different sisterly superpower. Drawn with blonde bangs, Charise, who has prosopagnosia and sometimes struggles with social cues, leads little brother Daniel on adventures that (along with the fashion, furniture, and cars shown throughout) indicate a pre-helicopter-parent childhood. The two wrestle and tumble, roll an inclusive set of neighborhood kids around in a giant inner tube, and search for treasure in local dumpsters. But Daniel is often the victim of Charise’s impulsiveness and power grabs, and she experiences a mix of guilt, envy, and frustration as a result of her actions. When Charise accidentally knocks Daniel’s tooth out during a rough game of field hockey, his off-color replacement tooth becomes “proof I was bad.” Resolution arrives in a subtle, realistic form, as Charise realizes her “power to lead” and keep Daniel safe. Just as importantly, it becomes clear that her intuitive, gregarious brother has talents of his own. “Daniel’s greatest power was unspoken,” Charise concludes—“the power of forgiveness.” Paired with Lucey’s playful Sunday comics–style illustrations, the story takes a resonant dive into the insular world of children, especially siblings. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. Illustrator’s agent: Charlie Olsen, Inkwell Management.

Starred review from July 1, 2021

Gr 5-8-Harper's graphic novel memoir chronicles her childhood relationship with her younger brother, Daniel. Charise is a bad sister, and she knows it-but she can't seem to help saying hurtful things out of jealousy. Daniel seems to make friends much more easily than Charise, who isn't comfortable talking to strangers, blurts out things she regrets, and finds it hard to recognize people due to face-blindness. She spends a lot of time apologizing and feeling guilty for her actions, especially when their often dangerous games (such as rolling down a hill in a tire) go awry-like the time Daniel ends up needing a replacement tooth after Charise knocks a ball into his mouth. Harper makes it clear that despite the angst, Charise and Daniel have an unbreakable bond, and she deftly conveys the sibling dynamic: One minute the two are squabbling, the next they're secretly finding a way to communicate through the walls after bedtime. Chapters consist of different childhood memories focusing mainly on Charise and Daniel's interactions, along with their parents and neighbors. Clothing sets the time period around the 1970s, and the muted cartoon art evokes the period well. Some readers may identify more with Charise's experiences of awkwardness and attempts to be a responsible big sibling; others will see themselves in little brother Daniel-yet all will feel invested in Charise's struggles and growth. Charise, Daniel, and their parents are white. VERDICT Give to readers who enjoyed Jennifer Holm's Sunnyside Up and Raina Telgemeier's Sisters.-Marissa Lieberman, East Orange P.L., NJ

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from June 1, 2021
From the day baby Daniel arrives, crying so loudly that it hurts Charise's ears and absorbing her mother's attention, Charise starts growing into her role of bad sister. The popular children's author highlights rough-and-tumble episodes from their childhoods that scar her and her brother, literally and figuratively. Charise plays wildly, tricks her little brother, and enjoys her power. Often Daniel gets hurt, and her parents insist she should know better. The selected stories and details shared here reveal volumes about the family's dynamics. The siblings' escalating antics are captured in clean, colorful panels that often end with moving illustrations in moody blues conveying Charise's isolation, frustration, and guilt. Readers will relate to the rivalry, ambivalent feelings, and raw honesty--and they, unlike Charise's parents, will see the full picture: It takes two to tango; sometimes four, counting their parents' roles in exacerbating everything. As Daniel grows and Charise matures, the dynamic changes as well. Charise admires Daniel's social skills which she feels she cannot match, partly due to her undiagnosed prosopagnosia, or face blindness. Over time she begins to treat Daniel better, especially after reaching a turning point when she clearly sees the lasting consequences of her behavior. By the end, they become partners, with the power to forgive. This is a powerful story of growth, self-awareness, and genuine insight into family relationships. Most characters read as White. Cathartic proof that childhood provides lessons for a lifetime and that change is possible. (Graphic memoir. 8-12)

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September 1, 2021
Skillfully told through the comics medium, this memoir centers on the author's childhood experiences as a self-identified "bad sister": "It wasn't on purpose. The badness just happened." Chapters function as short personal narratives, depicting memories of young Charise and her less-than-stellar treatment of her younger brother, Daniel. In one scene, Charise convinces Daniel to eat cat food; in another, she accidentally breaks one of his teeth with a golf club. As the siblings play, fight, and grow together, Charise develops understanding of and compassion for herself as well as others. Over time she learns to apologize to -- and advocate for -- her sibling. Raw emotions of guilt, shame, and jealousy are explored, as young Charise interrogates the power dynamics of big sisterhood and recognizes Daniel's strengths. The first-person, past-tense narration is balanced by in-the-moment dialogue between characters. In bubbly, bright hues with loose outlines, Lucey's comics convey thoughtfulness in form, placement, and perspective. Chapter introduction panels that look like Polaroids and the use of Ben-Day dots (like those typically found in newspaper funnies) add to the retro scrapbook-like feel. The soon-to-be cartoonist's artistic endeavors are an ever-present part of this childhood portrait, but the emphasis remains on the highs, lows, and everything-in-between of sibling relationships. Elisa Gall

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from September 1, 2021
Skillfully told through the comics medium, this memoir centers on the author's childhood experiences as a self-identified "bad sister": "It wasn't on purpose. The badness just happened." Chapters function as short personal narratives, depicting memories of young Charise and her less-than-stellar treatment of her younger brother, Daniel. In one scene, Charise convinces Daniel to eat cat food; in another, she accidentally breaks one of his teeth with a golf club. As the siblings play, fight, and grow together, Charise develops understanding of and compassion for herself as well as others. Over time she learns to apologize to -- and advocate for -- her sibling. Raw emotions of guilt, shame, and jealousy are explored, as young Charise interrogates the power dynamics of big sisterhood and recognizes Daniel's strengths. The first-person, past-tense narration is balanced by in-the-moment dialogue between characters. In bubbly, bright hues with loose outlines, Lucey's comics convey thoughtfulness in form, placement, and perspective. Chapter introduction panels that look like Polaroids and the use of Ben-Day dots (like those typically found in newspaper funnies) add to the retro scrapbook-like feel. The soon-to-be cartoonist's artistic endeavors are an ever-present part of this childhood portrait, but the emphasis remains on the highs, lows, and everything-in-between of sibling relationships. Elisa Gall

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2021
Skillfully told through the comics medium, this memoir centers on the author's childhood experiences as a self-identified "bad sister": "It wasn't on purpose. The badness just happened." Chapters function as short personal narratives, depicting memories of young Charise and her less-than-stellar treatment of her younger brother, Daniel. In one scene, Charise convinces Daniel to eat cat food; in another, she accidentally breaks one of his teeth with a golf club. As the siblings play, fight, and grow together, Charise develops understanding of and compassion for herself as well as others. Over time she learns to apologize to -- and advocate for -- her sibling. Raw emotions of guilt, shame, and jealousy are explored, as young Charise interrogates the power dynamics of big sisterhood and recognizes Daniel's strengths. The first-person, past-tense narration is balanced by in-the-moment dialogue between characters. In bubbly, bright hues with loose outlines, Lucey's comics convey thoughtfulness in form, placement, and perspective. Chapter introduction panels that look like Polaroids and the use of Ben-Day dots (like those typically found in newspaper funnies) add to the retro scrapbook-like feel. The soon-to-be cartoonist's artistic endeavors are an ever-present part of this childhood portrait, but the emphasis remains on the highs, lows, and everything-in-between of sibling relationships.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)