When Will We Be Sisters?

by Virginia L. Kroll, Rudy Gutierrez (Illustrator)

When Paula's family adopts a five-year-old girl, Paula wonders when the new girl will become her sister. After the girls have a disagreement, Paula finds the answer to her question.

Genres: Realistic Fiction, Childrens

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Kroll has written numerous children's books since her career started in the mid-80's. Her first book was published in 1992. She started writing when she had her fourth child. Before that, she taught elementary school in Buffalo, NY. She also has written a number of books under the pseudonym Melrose Cooper to mask her tremendous output in so short a time.

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A picture book about adoption that is as much about as Lisa the adopted child as it is about Paula the birth child of Lisa's new parents. Bonds are built through love and forgiveness in this story about how family bonds are created through both the good times and not-so-good times.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book seems as though it would have a good message about becoming sisters even though you're not blood related. It gets a little twisted, however, when we consider what the author's perspective of being sisters is.

Throughout the book, the young girl wonders when the girl her parents adopted will actually become her sister. When the adopted girl is living with them, the sisters start bickering. They fight with each other and argue. It is when the sisters are fighting that the parents then say, "Now you are sisters."

The problem I have with this book isn't until Kroll defines what sisters are. Sisters, in Kroll's perspective, are two girls that live in a family that fight together. The fighting is what makes them sisters.

I have a problem with this because when they are showing love to each other and an interest in each other's lives, the parents do not say that they are sisters yet. The young girl is trying to define when she and her adoptive sister are considered sisters and she does all the nice things to this new sister that a sibling should do. But, the parent's don't recognize it. It is only when they fight does a sisterly bond form.

I have a fundamental problem with this book because of the value that it teaches. Sisters are supposed to love each other and care for one another, not bicker. Sisters become true sisters when they give up their wants for the other and serve each other fairly. Sisterhood is based on love, not bickering.

[Cordell Mathew Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the book!😜😝😍😚😱

[Woody Calhoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was one of the many picture books I had to read for my Children's Literature and, right off the bat, I'll say that this is an odd little book. I don't really like or hate it and, as we were told in class, this is one of the many picture books that some people would consider to be "controversial" and to be honest, I can kind of see where they're coming from. The picture book itself is fine for what it is, it has a simple to understand, heart-warming story and the art provided is very good.

As for the "controversial issue" itself, the book presents the idea that a family with one little girl adopts another little girl and the first girl continually asking "when will we be sisters?" Near the end of the book the two girls get in a fight over the dishes and end up being sent to their room where they makeup. It is then that the father comes in and proclaims that they are now sisters. The issue most people take with this is the fact that the sisters fight. I personally understand what the author was attempting to do; he wanted to show the sisters finally becoming bonded through what is considered to be a natural part of being sisters i.e. fighting with one another. Can I see where the controversy comes from? Yes, it is a difficult idea to stomach that the author is presenting that fighting is the only way for sisters to become truly sisters is through fighting and I can see why parents wouldn't want their children exposed to that.

So, do I respect what the author was attempting to do? Yes. DO I agree with how he decided to portray it? No. He probably should have gone with a different scenario to show them bonding like working together to do the dishes rather than fight about it. The point is if you're looking to get this as a book for your kid(s) you may want to read it first and put it through your own personal judgement scale. The book is trying to teach a good moral, it just does a poor job of doing it.

[Kelsi Watts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I thought that this was a cute book. I could see how this could be considered as a controversial book but for me I did not take it in the way that others might have. I thought it was sweet that the story was focused on adoption of a girl and the story behind how they became sisters. I thought it was cool to see the progression between the two sisters and how their relationship changed from where it was in the beginning but in a different way. I think that people who read this could interpret it in different ways. In the end it discusses how the two finally became sisters when they had a big fight, and some might think that this teaches the wrong message of forgiveness. I however found it to be a good ending because it summed up the idea that sisters are sisters no matter what, and that your relationship will change over the years but through all the fights, and tears, you will eventually learn to forgive each other, and you will always love each other no matter what! I would suggest this book, because overall I found it to be an enjoyable read with a good message.

[Julianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a cute story and had a lovely idea, but the fact that it implies that we are only sisters/family when we fight with one another is a controversial idea. It would have been a much better book if they had just left that out and made the book more about getting along, and not about when you are considered a sister and when you are not. No matter what you do, you are always a sister, nothing changes that and the idea that you can't be considered a sister when you are mean is not accurate at all.

[Ciara Bean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually liked this book. I think it's really cute and funny. It seems real to me. While some people interpret the end message negatively, I didn't. I think the author is saying even in conflict you love each other enough to let something go and that's what makes you real family. I don't think the intention was just that fighting makes you family, taking away just that message is focusing on a small portion of the big picture.

[Brianna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this book at all. It was basically teaching that in order to be true sisters the two girls needed to fight. I think that it is teaching children ideas that aren't true. I think the author was trying to be realistic but at the same time not all sisters fight and it definitely isn't necessary in order to be sisters.

[Julie Surface · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay. i didn't really understand it. that these two girls lived together with their parents and werent really considered sisters until they fought and started laughing with each other over the silly things.

[Melissa Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an okay book but I could see how it would upset some students especially if they are in foster care or have been adopted. So I don't think this would be an appropriate book to read to a classroom.