Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Telgemeier, Raina. Sisters. New York: Scholastic, 2014.  Print.In this graphic novel, Telgemeier tells the story of two sisters - namely herself, Raina, and her sister, Amara.  Raina dreams of the day she will become a big sister but, when that day arrives, it is nothing like she imagined.  Her younger sister likes to play by herself, is always cranky and does not want much interaction with anybody, including the long-lost cousins they visit.  We watch as the family grows bigger in an apartment that seems to shrink.  Tight quarters do not help the relationship between Raina and Amara especially when each girl wants her own privacy.  In a story told over a long family road trip mixed in with memories from the past, Raina comes to see maybe having a sister, even one who is different than she expected, is maybe not so bad after all.Telgemeier’s drawing will delight readers with her characteristic colourful pictures that are easy to absorb and understand.  Young readers will know when the author is in the present tense and when she is relating a story in the past as the colours of the pages turn a time-worn yellow.  This makes the jumping back and forth in time a smooth transition for readers.  In a story that is relatable about siblings, family life and growing up, young readers will find her humour funny and timely.  This book is a must-have for every school and public library.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Shawna ManchakowskyShawna Manchakowsky recently completed her MLIS at the University of Alberta.  When she is not working at Rutherford Library as a Public Service Assistant, she can be found with her husband parenting her two young girls; avoiding any kind of cooking; and reading for her two book clubs. In between book club titles, she tries to read as much teen fiction as she can get away with.