Sisters

Title: Sisters
Genre: Graphic Novel
Author: Raina Telgemeier
Awards: Will Eisner Award
Age Group: 8 to 12-year-olds

Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I would have this book in my classroom library. I think this book is a great way to incorporate reading into the lives of third and fourth graders that do not see themselves as readers. This book is a graphic novel so it offers a different type of book for students and it's more relatable than nostalgic.

Summary: This book is about a family going on a road trip. The family's story in the book is actually a true story from the author's life. The book mainly follows Raina and her younger sister Amara. The book begins with the family getting ready for a road trip. Like most siblings, Amara messes with Raina making her question why she ever said she wanted a sister. The book then has a memory flashback of Raina when she was younger constantly asking for a baby sister. The story returns to the present with Raina getting ready for the trip by packing. Raina is worrying about her clothes and if her cousins will think they are cool when Amara walks in asking for colored pencils for the trip. The two sisters bicker, then after Amara leaves Raina packs the colored pencils and remembers how the two would color when they were younger. The book continues on from present day events such as riding in the car, seeing nature, bad weather, traffic and arriving at the family reunion. While these events occur, the reader also sees flashbacks to memories Raina has with Amara such as Amara listening to nature books, their pets, their brother being born, and growing up. At the family reunion, the two sisters feel as though they do not belong and the two fight with each other. The two sisters do not come to an understanding until the end of the book. At the end of the book on their way back home, their car breaks down. The mom takes the little brother with her to get help for the car leaving the two cars in the van. The two sisters bond over finding what they believed to be a dead pet, alive in the car. Amara and Raina then have a serious conversation about the status of their parents' relationship, revealing Raina hasn't noticed a lot cause she has been shutting the world out. Once their mom returns with help and they hit the road again Raina decides not to listen to her music anymore but to instead enjoy the road trip with her family.