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Smile #2
Sisters
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Middle Grade & Children's (2014)Three weeks. Two sisters. One car. A True Story
Raina can’t wait to be a big sister. But once Amara is born, things aren’t quite how she expected them to be. Amara is cute, but she’s also a cranky, grouchy baby, and mostly prefers to play by herself. Their relationship doesn’t improve much over the years, but when a baby brother enters the picture and later, when something doesn’t seem right between their parents, they realize they must figure out how to get along. They are sisters, after all.
Raina uses her signature humor and charm in both present-day narrative and perfectly placed flashbacks to tell the story of her relationship with her sister, which unfolds during the course of a road trip from their home in San Francisco to a family reunion in Colorado.
Raina can’t wait to be a big sister. But once Amara is born, things aren’t quite how she expected them to be. Amara is cute, but she’s also a cranky, grouchy baby, and mostly prefers to play by herself. Their relationship doesn’t improve much over the years, but when a baby brother enters the picture and later, when something doesn’t seem right between their parents, they realize they must figure out how to get along. They are sisters, after all.
Raina uses her signature humor and charm in both present-day narrative and perfectly placed flashbacks to tell the story of her relationship with her sister, which unfolds during the course of a road trip from their home in San Francisco to a family reunion in Colorado.
199 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2014
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May 15, 2014A 2nd book?
August 2, 2018
Telgemeier's books just keep getting better and better in my eyes. My third read, Sisters, in particular resonated with me because of the main notion of sisterhood and its complications/ joys. Also, shoutout to my local library for holding a copy of this graphic novel. I initially picked it up for my little sister, but ended up enjoying it myself in one sitting just before she came home from school.
Raina uses her signature humor and charm in both present-day narrative and perfectly placed flashbacks to tell the story of her relationship with her sister, which unfolds during the course of a road trip from their home in San Francisco to a family reunion in Colorado.
I was incredibly pumped to see what my little sister would think about this read, since it's the perfect visual example of what I felt like during those years before her birth. The whole notion of nagging and begging your mom for a little sister really resonated with me. And then, funnily enough, when the baby finally (and thankfully) arrives, you're hit with the realization that newborns can't play with you just yet.
Another note I loved was the combination of road trips with family and summer vibes thrown in here. Oh, and the art!! We have tons of stunning visuals on a wide range of colors. And I still don’t have the vocabulary to explain how great it is, so here are some examples:
Update: My sister ended up reading Sisters twice back-to-back because of how enjoyable it was.
All in all, I'm so glad that I got to share this book with the two most important people in my life. I definitely recommend this as a compelling, joyful, and quick summer read. I want more like it in my company.
Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Sisters, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!
Support creators you love. Buy a Coffee for nat (bookspoils) with Ko-fi.com/bookspoils
Raina uses her signature humor and charm in both present-day narrative and perfectly placed flashbacks to tell the story of her relationship with her sister, which unfolds during the course of a road trip from their home in San Francisco to a family reunion in Colorado.
I was incredibly pumped to see what my little sister would think about this read, since it's the perfect visual example of what I felt like during those years before her birth. The whole notion of nagging and begging your mom for a little sister really resonated with me. And then, funnily enough, when the baby finally (and thankfully) arrives, you're hit with the realization that newborns can't play with you just yet.
Another note I loved was the combination of road trips with family and summer vibes thrown in here. Oh, and the art!! We have tons of stunning visuals on a wide range of colors. And I still don’t have the vocabulary to explain how great it is, so here are some examples:
Update: My sister ended up reading Sisters twice back-to-back because of how enjoyable it was.
All in all, I'm so glad that I got to share this book with the two most important people in my life. I definitely recommend this as a compelling, joyful, and quick summer read. I want more like it in my company.
Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying Sisters, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!
Support creators you love. Buy a Coffee for nat (bookspoils) with Ko-fi.com/bookspoils
June 8, 2017
4.5 stars!
Raina and Amara are sisters. Raina used to beg her parents for a younger sister, until one day she finally got her wish. From almost day one the two are polar opposites and do not get along very well. As the family goes on a road trip to Colorado, Raina flashes back to memories of growing up, giving back story on the complicated and sometimes frustrating relationship between the two girls. But although the two do not get along, they begin to try and compromise, because they are family.
This is a book easily devoured in one sitting. For a subject such as sibling dynamics it is wildly entertaining, and I found myself chuckling quite a few times. The plot is very basic yet works extremely well; the sibling dynamic is what makes the book so funny even if the reader doesn’t have a sister. The graphics are really well done, some of them more detailed than others but all wonderful.
Told from the perspective of Raina, it’s easy for the reader to find Amara incredibly annoying, although at times I felt really bad for her because she seemed to be misunderstood and had a very difficult time expressing herself in a calm way. It was nice to see a family dynamic and how certain events affect the family as a whole, such as the father losing his job and how the children react to it. There was also the added maybe of the parents leaning toward a divorce which was never explicitly cleared up and it would have been nice to know if they were.
This is a book that can be enjoyed by all ages, and a very quick and fun read.
Raina and Amara are sisters. Raina used to beg her parents for a younger sister, until one day she finally got her wish. From almost day one the two are polar opposites and do not get along very well. As the family goes on a road trip to Colorado, Raina flashes back to memories of growing up, giving back story on the complicated and sometimes frustrating relationship between the two girls. But although the two do not get along, they begin to try and compromise, because they are family.
This is a book easily devoured in one sitting. For a subject such as sibling dynamics it is wildly entertaining, and I found myself chuckling quite a few times. The plot is very basic yet works extremely well; the sibling dynamic is what makes the book so funny even if the reader doesn’t have a sister. The graphics are really well done, some of them more detailed than others but all wonderful.
Told from the perspective of Raina, it’s easy for the reader to find Amara incredibly annoying, although at times I felt really bad for her because she seemed to be misunderstood and had a very difficult time expressing herself in a calm way. It was nice to see a family dynamic and how certain events affect the family as a whole, such as the father losing his job and how the children react to it. There was also the added maybe of the parents leaning toward a divorce which was never explicitly cleared up and it would have been nice to know if they were.
This is a book that can be enjoyed by all ages, and a very quick and fun read.
May 13, 2019
The drama of having a younger sister at its finest for a preteen girl.
I couldn't really relate to this book since I have a younger brother and I had an amazing time with him as a kid. I never wished for a sister.
Likewise my daughter has a younger brother and I think she is absolutely fine with this fact.
The book is cute, though.
I couldn't really relate to this book since I have a younger brother and I had an amazing time with him as a kid. I never wished for a sister.
Likewise my daughter has a younger brother and I think she is absolutely fine with this fact.
The book is cute, though.
June 13, 2022
I've been waiting for the publication of this book since I read Telgemeier's previous graphic novel Smile. This one picks up soon after the previous book, and centers around a family road trip from San Francisco through the Colorado Rockies for a family reunion. Throughout the book, Telgemeier sheds light on the complicated relationship between herself and her younger sister, Amara, which is sort of hinted at in the earlier book.
I especially liked how the author was able to journey back from present to past using different colored panel backgrounds in order to lay the groundwork for the two sisters. Like I said before, I just really, really admire Telgemeier's art style. In its own way, it's a modern twist on a vintage style of comics. Add to that the fact that this series is autobiographical, it is such a unique way to share family history. I highly recommend it to everyone!
I especially liked how the author was able to journey back from present to past using different colored panel backgrounds in order to lay the groundwork for the two sisters. Like I said before, I just really, really admire Telgemeier's art style. In its own way, it's a modern twist on a vintage style of comics. Add to that the fact that this series is autobiographical, it is such a unique way to share family history. I highly recommend it to everyone!
March 29, 2016
Wow.
I love this story so much, it almost makes me cry.
Almost.
It's a simple story. A mom, her two daughters and one son drive from San Francisco to Colorado Springs for a family reunion. Dad flies out separately.
There's road tripping and camping, something predominant in my own childhood. There's family fighting, there's a Walkman, there are Strawberry Shortcake dolls and cousins who are too cool and too many little children running around. There's a rogue snake and Dinosaur National Monument. There's the tension between sisters as one grows up but the other matures, as one gets her own room and the other gets stuck with the little brother, as one tunes out the world and the other is overwhelmed by all the things in the world.
I recognized everything. Every little thing. I'll bet I could even find the house in Colorado Springs where Aunt Mary and cousin Lindsey lived.
This is a middle grade (juvenile) graphic novel about a girl who is in the summer between middle school and high school, who is bothered by her family, and who doesn't really pay attention to what's going on around her. It's also about her sister.
Despite it taking place in the late 80's and early 90's, it's still accessible to people in this stage of transition as well as to oldest and middle siblings. It would probably be pretty enjoyable to their parents, too.
If my sister were on Goodreads, I'd recommend this to her. Actually, I'll probably just buy her a copy. She'll love it as much as I.
I love this story so much, it almost makes me cry.
Almost.
It's a simple story. A mom, her two daughters and one son drive from San Francisco to Colorado Springs for a family reunion. Dad flies out separately.
There's road tripping and camping, something predominant in my own childhood. There's family fighting, there's a Walkman, there are Strawberry Shortcake dolls and cousins who are too cool and too many little children running around. There's a rogue snake and Dinosaur National Monument. There's the tension between sisters as one grows up but the other matures, as one gets her own room and the other gets stuck with the little brother, as one tunes out the world and the other is overwhelmed by all the things in the world.
I recognized everything. Every little thing. I'll bet I could even find the house in Colorado Springs where Aunt Mary and cousin Lindsey lived.
This is a middle grade (juvenile) graphic novel about a girl who is in the summer between middle school and high school, who is bothered by her family, and who doesn't really pay attention to what's going on around her. It's also about her sister.
Despite it taking place in the late 80's and early 90's, it's still accessible to people in this stage of transition as well as to oldest and middle siblings. It would probably be pretty enjoyable to their parents, too.
If my sister were on Goodreads, I'd recommend this to her. Actually, I'll probably just buy her a copy. She'll love it as much as I.
August 6, 2018
I love Raina's work. Smile and Sisters is fantastic; both are memoirs in nature. This is about siblings and family dynamics. I keep telling my niece to be nice to her younger brother; you never know if one day you will be living in his basement. I have to admit that I did not treat my brother well as a child. Someone, he got over it and we get along pretty well now. I live in his basement while I go to school. I am grateful.
The story is also a road trip. They drive from CA to CO. Crazy.
I love the cheerful art. Raina seems to be honest in her depictions of family life. I'm sure there is exaggeration in there and story telling. It is well done and I am good and entertained.
The story is also a road trip. They drive from CA to CO. Crazy.
I love the cheerful art. Raina seems to be honest in her depictions of family life. I'm sure there is exaggeration in there and story telling. It is well done and I am good and entertained.
November 21, 2017
Two bickering sisters, and a little brother to add to the fun.
Graphic memoir, more aimed at teenagers and young adults I suppose, but I enjoyed it anyway.
Funny and cute and will bring a smile to your face, unless you absolutely hate children.
Graphic memoir, more aimed at teenagers and young adults I suppose, but I enjoyed it anyway.
Funny and cute and will bring a smile to your face, unless you absolutely hate children.
November 20, 2020
Do you remember how it feels to spend a long road trip in the car, arguing with your sibling? Telgemeier has been kind enough to document that for the reader, so any time you feel like remembering the many arguments over being hot, or someone kicking your seat, or how bored you were, you can just open up this graphic novel and be reminded of fun times when parents determined when you could pee and eat. Yay.
This made it to my TBR through some friends' reviews and by virtue of being a big sister myself. I was hoping Tegemeier's autobiographical work might give some insight into that relationship. The answer is both yes-and-no; this is more a slice-of-life depiction rather than any introspective piece ala Roz Chast and her graphic book Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?. Sisters is about Amara and her family, and the summer they took a road trip from their home in San Francisco to a family reunion in Colorado. The story is interrupted by flashbacks from a wide variety of time periods through the girls' earlier lives, largely showing how Raina and her little sister Amara are essentially two little people with very different predilections and goals.
The drawings are solidly done, in a semi-realistic style. It's very easy to tell all the characters apart and it's nice they are all proportional.
I give credit to Telgemeier for writing and drawing with total frankness and not sparing her adolescent self from the lens. Both sisters are clearly suffering at times and are crossing swords due to frustration. The road trip--of course--gives them an opportunity to go through a funny hardship together. It ends on a very mixed note, including potential big family changes that are never resolved, but with the sisters reaching a temporary alliance.
Ultimately, a miss, mostly because it is too on target with the conflict without bringing much of a gestalt out of it. Two and a half slug-bugs, rounding up because it's mostly me.
This made it to my TBR through some friends' reviews and by virtue of being a big sister myself. I was hoping Tegemeier's autobiographical work might give some insight into that relationship. The answer is both yes-and-no; this is more a slice-of-life depiction rather than any introspective piece ala Roz Chast and her graphic book Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?. Sisters is about Amara and her family, and the summer they took a road trip from their home in San Francisco to a family reunion in Colorado. The story is interrupted by flashbacks from a wide variety of time periods through the girls' earlier lives, largely showing how Raina and her little sister Amara are essentially two little people with very different predilections and goals.
The drawings are solidly done, in a semi-realistic style. It's very easy to tell all the characters apart and it's nice they are all proportional.
I give credit to Telgemeier for writing and drawing with total frankness and not sparing her adolescent self from the lens. Both sisters are clearly suffering at times and are crossing swords due to frustration. The road trip--of course--gives them an opportunity to go through a funny hardship together. It ends on a very mixed note, including potential big family changes that are never resolved, but with the sisters reaching a temporary alliance.
Ultimately, a miss, mostly because it is too on target with the conflict without bringing much of a gestalt out of it. Two and a half slug-bugs, rounding up because it's mostly me.
June 6, 2017
I need to learn how to post a picture here from Dropbox but on the iPad. If I can post it, there will be no words required for my review because it is artwork my daughter had done for a school project. She chose this book because she is inspired by Raina Telgemeir and after reading this, it is easy to see why. This graphic memoir includes real issues that affect everyone: sibling rivalry, how age gaps affect the sibling relationship, parental conflict, and my personal favorite...fear of snakes. A fun, often funny look at the evolution of the relationship between two sisters presented through engaging illustrations and with a king snake thrown in! Raina Telgemeir owns this market. 4 stars
August 17, 2019
I loved Smile so much a few weeks ago that I rushed to pick up Sisters from the library, too; sadly, though, this one was pretty disappointing in comparison. It's not a bad read by any means (as you can see, I still gave it a pretty neutral rating), but I feel that its storyline is extremely weak compared to its predecessor.
To be fair, maybe it's one of those "it's the reader, not the book" moments happening here because I don't have siblings and can't relate to the struggles of sisterhood — but to be fair, books like this would have only reinforced how much I loved being an only child, had I read this as a kid. These two are so awful to each other and the only resolution found at the ending is minor and bittersweet. I didn't enjoy reading about them being at each other's throats the entire time and found the whole story to be pretty bland. A little too "slice of life" for me, I suppose.
To be fair, maybe it's one of those "it's the reader, not the book" moments happening here because I don't have siblings and can't relate to the struggles of sisterhood — but to be fair, books like this would have only reinforced how much I loved being an only child, had I read this as a kid. These two are so awful to each other and the only resolution found at the ending is minor and bittersweet. I didn't enjoy reading about them being at each other's throats the entire time and found the whole story to be pretty bland. A little too "slice of life" for me, I suppose.
June 20, 2017
Our middle child's recent actions have officially declared her a tween, and part of this declaration has involved her turning her back on almost all picture books and early chapter reads.
We are now coming home with stacks of graphic novels from the library, and some of them are almost painful to read. Well, painful for me.
We are only three weeks into our summer vacation, and if it weren't for the near-miracle of Cece Bell (El Deafo) and this genius, Raina Telgemeier, I'm not sure I'd be able to keep including myself in these mother/daughter reads.
Bless you, woman.
Five stars: both daughter and mother agree.
For now.
We are now coming home with stacks of graphic novels from the library, and some of them are almost painful to read. Well, painful for me.
We are only three weeks into our summer vacation, and if it weren't for the near-miracle of Cece Bell (El Deafo) and this genius, Raina Telgemeier, I'm not sure I'd be able to keep including myself in these mother/daughter reads.
Bless you, woman.
Five stars: both daughter and mother agree.
For now.
December 26, 2022
This was such a great read! I’m slowly working my way through Telgemier’s works and this was next on the docket.
As the second book in a middle grade graphic novel trilogy, Sisters brings readers back to meet with Raina except this time we get to see more of her relationship with her sister as well as her younger brother. Told in present time as well as through a series of flashbacks, readers follow the three siblings and their mom as they take a week long drive from California to Colorado. During this trip, we learn so much about the relationship between Raina and her sister as well the relationships that exists with the rest of the family.
What Worked: EVERYTHING! Raina has such a gift for storytelling. This is a graphic novel that can easily be read in one sitting. Although it’s a quick read, readers will find themselves immersed in the story. Like Raina I always wished for a sibling, but it was definitely more interesting reading about her experience. Watching the two girls struggle with their relationship as well as the relationship with their brother was both interesting and stressful for me as parent. 😂 I loved that their parents did everything they could to create a healthy dynamic amongst the kids, but it just stands that siblings won’t always get along. I loved the flashbacks because it created a greater understanding as to why Raina and Amara never got along. It added depth to the story. They were complete opposites but by the end of the story, they need each other more than they expected. I’m sure their relationship wasn’t perfect after that, but it showed how people can come together during moments of uncertainty. The artwork is classic Telgemeier ! I loved the vibrancy, the way she’s able to show emotion with her characters, and how she always allows the art to drive the narrative. The only thing I wish we could have gotten a little more of was perspective from Amara. She feels like a horrible character but readers have to keep in mind that it’s all from Raina’s perspective.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I can’t wait to dive into the next one. If you haven’t read any of her graphic novels yet, you’re really missing out.
As the second book in a middle grade graphic novel trilogy, Sisters brings readers back to meet with Raina except this time we get to see more of her relationship with her sister as well as her younger brother. Told in present time as well as through a series of flashbacks, readers follow the three siblings and their mom as they take a week long drive from California to Colorado. During this trip, we learn so much about the relationship between Raina and her sister as well the relationships that exists with the rest of the family.
What Worked: EVERYTHING! Raina has such a gift for storytelling. This is a graphic novel that can easily be read in one sitting. Although it’s a quick read, readers will find themselves immersed in the story. Like Raina I always wished for a sibling, but it was definitely more interesting reading about her experience. Watching the two girls struggle with their relationship as well as the relationship with their brother was both interesting and stressful for me as parent. 😂 I loved that their parents did everything they could to create a healthy dynamic amongst the kids, but it just stands that siblings won’t always get along. I loved the flashbacks because it created a greater understanding as to why Raina and Amara never got along. It added depth to the story. They were complete opposites but by the end of the story, they need each other more than they expected. I’m sure their relationship wasn’t perfect after that, but it showed how people can come together during moments of uncertainty. The artwork is classic Telgemeier ! I loved the vibrancy, the way she’s able to show emotion with her characters, and how she always allows the art to drive the narrative. The only thing I wish we could have gotten a little more of was perspective from Amara. She feels like a horrible character but readers have to keep in mind that it’s all from Raina’s perspective.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I can’t wait to dive into the next one. If you haven’t read any of her graphic novels yet, you’re really missing out.
January 16, 2020
Project Learning English by myself! A very interesting plot, but my Raina Telgemeier's favorite book so far is "Smile".
February 21, 2021
Great to revisit Raina's childhood. And what does a sequel do? Expand the parameters--in this case... road trip. Observations of what happens when you are stuck with your family for what seems like an eternity. That is goes by in a flash makes it all the more special, especially in the hands of this very capable cartoonist and anecdote-teller.
July 8, 2020
Brilliant! Family life and sibling rivalry follow two timelines. One present, one beginning just prior to baby sister joining the family. The past timeline pages have a sepia tone to help distinguish them from the present (white) pages. The road trip seat assignments are so on point. When my three boys were growing up, they loved taking trips with me and each boy having his own "row" in our family suburban. They also loved having their own walkmans to listen to books on tape and Adventures From Odyssey. The pet progression also brought back memories. We also had a snake in our house -- a ball python -- who needed to be fed live rodents and also escaped a time or two. Eeek! So many great moments in this book. I think this is my favorite from the author. Thank you for sharing your life in graphic novel form, Raina!
March 14, 2019
Now while I have massively appreciated Raina Telegemeier's autobiographical Sisters (and have once again been very pleasantly surprised at how much I have actually managed to find reading pleasure in a graphic novel, as that has truly only very recently started being the case for me), I also have to admit that I have definitely and truly found Sisters as often hitting way way too close to home for me and being almost uncannily spot on in almost every way regarding Raina's often problematic, sometimes downright nasty relationship with her younger sister Amara.
And yes, while with Sisters, I could therefore relate more than one hundred percent and on an intensely personal and emotional level to Raina and Amara's squabbles and oh so many differences of opinion and views on life, I also have not really all that much been able to totally de-stress and enjoy my reading time (and indeed with the comic book illustrations also my viewing time) of Sisters as I have in fact and actually been continually confronted with and by an often painful and tense sibling relationship that has frustratingly and sadly generally been like a total and almost frighteningly exact mirror image of my own often fraught, dysfunctional relationship with my younger sister (except to say that while in Sisters, at the end of the story, when Amara and Raina are stranded in the desert waiting for their mother to return with help after their car breaks down, they do come to more of an understanding and appreciation of one another, my sister and I even now are still so different that we might as well be inhabiting different planets).
A graphic novel about family relationships and dysfunction is Sisters, with Raina Telgemeier realistically but also sometimes with considerable humour showing that yes indeed, siblings often do not mesh, that siblings can be royal pains in the behind (and I do say that even about myself), that even in close and loving families, there can be a myriad of both problems and seemingly insurmountable differences of personalty, philosophy and emotionality. And yes, I have thus both loved and also indeed at times totally hated and despised Sisters (but even with my occasional fury and bitterness, Sisters is still and totally a five star ranking for me, for as already mentioned above, the one main and really the only reason for my occasional but massive annoyance and frustration is the simple fact that Sisters is just too personally relatable, too realistic at times to be a comforting or relaxing, soothing reading experience).
And yes, while with Sisters, I could therefore relate more than one hundred percent and on an intensely personal and emotional level to Raina and Amara's squabbles and oh so many differences of opinion and views on life, I also have not really all that much been able to totally de-stress and enjoy my reading time (and indeed with the comic book illustrations also my viewing time) of Sisters as I have in fact and actually been continually confronted with and by an often painful and tense sibling relationship that has frustratingly and sadly generally been like a total and almost frighteningly exact mirror image of my own often fraught, dysfunctional relationship with my younger sister (except to say that while in Sisters, at the end of the story, when Amara and Raina are stranded in the desert waiting for their mother to return with help after their car breaks down, they do come to more of an understanding and appreciation of one another, my sister and I even now are still so different that we might as well be inhabiting different planets).
A graphic novel about family relationships and dysfunction is Sisters, with Raina Telgemeier realistically but also sometimes with considerable humour showing that yes indeed, siblings often do not mesh, that siblings can be royal pains in the behind (and I do say that even about myself), that even in close and loving families, there can be a myriad of both problems and seemingly insurmountable differences of personalty, philosophy and emotionality. And yes, I have thus both loved and also indeed at times totally hated and despised Sisters (but even with my occasional fury and bitterness, Sisters is still and totally a five star ranking for me, for as already mentioned above, the one main and really the only reason for my occasional but massive annoyance and frustration is the simple fact that Sisters is just too personally relatable, too realistic at times to be a comforting or relaxing, soothing reading experience).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 18, 2022Fun graphic novel about author Raina Telgemeier's relationship with her sister - told in 'flashbacks' and through a storyline about the sisters going on a road trip with their mom and younger brother. This is a companion novel to Telgemeier's other memoir graphic novels - Smile and Guts. Once you read one, you'll be hooked! – Diana F.
January 6, 2022
Raina is fourteen years old and she has a younger sister, Amara, and a younger brother, Will. Her mum is planning a road trip to Colorado from California with Raina and Raina's siblings. Both Raina and Amara aren't thrilled to be in the car with each other as they constantly fight. They may be sisters but not much is common between them except for their art and drawing.
This was fun and cute. Although the story was quite predictable, I nonetheless loved Raina and Amara's bickering. I loved that they are quite different yet the same. But most of all, I enjoyed Raina Telgemeier's art. It is cheerful, uplifting with subtle colors and displays stunning backdrop scenery from California to Colorado. A good follow-up to Smile.
4 stars
This was fun and cute. Although the story was quite predictable, I nonetheless loved Raina and Amara's bickering. I loved that they are quite different yet the same. But most of all, I enjoyed Raina Telgemeier's art. It is cheerful, uplifting with subtle colors and displays stunning backdrop scenery from California to Colorado. A good follow-up to Smile.
4 stars
September 8, 2022
rereading this as a "adult" hit harder than it was supposed too
August 26, 2014
Raina Telgemeier's SMILE is hugely successful, critically acclaimed, and basically everyone was excited when news of a companion graphic memoir broke. SISTERS is about (surprise surprise) Raina's relationship with her sister Amara. Raina wished for a sister, but the reality wasn't quite what she hoped.
SISTERS moves smoothly back and forth in time, the borders of the panels helping mark flashbacks. The bulk of the action takes place on a family road trip to Colorado. Raina, Amara, their mother, and brother are all in a car (kind of old and broken down), while their father is flying. Between each "present" section is a flashback to the family growing - sister, brother, pets, and all that comes with.
Some of the darker developments might surprise younger readers, but the astute ones will catch on to some of the underlying family tensions. At the same time, SISTERS is just as charming and cheerful as expected. Raina and Amara's combative relationship will be familiar to anyone with a sibling - as will their moment(s) of detente.
As always, Telgemeier's art is expressive, albeit deceptively simple. It's very easy to follow and well laid out, perfect for readers new to or familiar with graphic novels. There have been no radical changes in style; why change what works?
SISTERS is a slightly looser work than SMILE in addition to being slightly more mature. It is an excellent companion. I enjoy Telgemeier's fiction too, but she does a terrific job of mining her own life for story. The events of sisters are mundane, but the telling is funny and affecting. SISTERS is sure to please Telgemeier's many fans.
SISTERS moves smoothly back and forth in time, the borders of the panels helping mark flashbacks. The bulk of the action takes place on a family road trip to Colorado. Raina, Amara, their mother, and brother are all in a car (kind of old and broken down), while their father is flying. Between each "present" section is a flashback to the family growing - sister, brother, pets, and all that comes with.
Some of the darker developments might surprise younger readers, but the astute ones will catch on to some of the underlying family tensions. At the same time, SISTERS is just as charming and cheerful as expected. Raina and Amara's combative relationship will be familiar to anyone with a sibling - as will their moment(s) of detente.
As always, Telgemeier's art is expressive, albeit deceptively simple. It's very easy to follow and well laid out, perfect for readers new to or familiar with graphic novels. There have been no radical changes in style; why change what works?
SISTERS is a slightly looser work than SMILE in addition to being slightly more mature. It is an excellent companion. I enjoy Telgemeier's fiction too, but she does a terrific job of mining her own life for story. The events of sisters are mundane, but the telling is funny and affecting. SISTERS is sure to please Telgemeier's many fans.
July 29, 2014
I am really impressed by this book - Sisters strikes a perfect balance between adorably cute and solemnly heartfelt. Telgemeier’s art is wonderful, and her story is strong. Sisters captures the difficulty of being a kid, and the frustrations and joys of family. It’s funny and it’s sweet and it’s poignant - I highly recommend Sisters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
October 7, 2014
It's really good and I love her artistic style but I wanted to know more. A lot more. Just because the target audience is kids/teens doesn't mean it needs to stay at the shallow end of the pool. I wish she had explored a little deeper.
April 30, 2019
I finished the book. YAY! I thought it was made up story, but the author says that it was her real life story! WA! Never knew THAT! (I dun know why I sound so sarcastic🤥)... However the book was pretty fun and interesting👌👌 Hope you enjoy👍👍 (if you gonna read it)
November 20, 2014
This is a companion to Telgemeier's wonderful Smile, in that it's also about her life. You could very easily read either book without ever having to read the other, but why would you want to do that? They're both great.
Sisters, naturally enough, is about Raina's relationship with her younger sister Amara, from Amara's birth through Raina's teens. And as a big sister, I can so completely and totally relate. Nobody can push your buttons like a younger sibling. Trust me, my sister actually and literally in a very real sense scarred me for life. She was a biter. Anyways. Raina does a great job with showing just how difficult the relationship between siblings can be, and she does it without sparing herself. Yes, Amara is often difficult in this book, but Raina is, too. True, Amara does come off a little better through most of the book, but this is filtered through her own memories. I'm sure it must have been very, very tempting to make herself look better.
This is definitely in Raina's signature style: cartoony, simple, expressive. I like it, it's clean, and it works for what she's doing here. But it is very simple, and verges on plain in spots. Not enough to bother me, but something to keep in mind.
Sisters, naturally enough, is about Raina's relationship with her younger sister Amara, from Amara's birth through Raina's teens. And as a big sister, I can so completely and totally relate. Nobody can push your buttons like a younger sibling. Trust me, my sister actually and literally in a very real sense scarred me for life. She was a biter. Anyways. Raina does a great job with showing just how difficult the relationship between siblings can be, and she does it without sparing herself. Yes, Amara is often difficult in this book, but Raina is, too. True, Amara does come off a little better through most of the book, but this is filtered through her own memories. I'm sure it must have been very, very tempting to make herself look better.
This is definitely in Raina's signature style: cartoony, simple, expressive. I like it, it's clean, and it works for what she's doing here. But it is very simple, and verges on plain in spots. Not enough to bother me, but something to keep in mind.
March 29, 2016
This is really lovely. I recommend it for anyone who has a sister who is just DIFFERENT from them. It just . . . very much captures that dynamic.
And my sister and I went on road trips (er, that is, my family did) and I ignored her to read, so I definitely felt some pangs of guilt over Raina and her Walkman.
AND this has a reference to the sporting goods store my sister works for.
AND I read it at family Easter and when I was done, my sister picked it up and read it straight through. (She is not much of a reader.) We didn't talk about it, but that was nice, too.
And my sister and I went on road trips (er, that is, my family did) and I ignored her to read, so I definitely felt some pangs of guilt over Raina and her Walkman.
AND this has a reference to the sporting goods store my sister works for.
AND I read it at family Easter and when I was done, my sister picked it up and read it straight through. (She is not much of a reader.) We didn't talk about it, but that was nice, too.
September 7, 2020
DIVERTIDO DEMAIS!!! Conta a historia da Raina e sua irmã Amora. A historia intercala com momentos no passado (como antes mesmo da Amora nascer e Raina desejando ter uma irmazinha) e o presente (uma viagem de carro em familia com Raina, Amora, seu irmaozinho Will e sua mae).
Uma leitura leve e divertida sobre familia e relacionamento entre irmãs
Uma leitura leve e divertida sobre familia e relacionamento entre irmãs
March 16, 2017
¿Qué significa tener un hermano?
Un millón de inconvenientes y un millón de ventajas que siempre tardamos más en valorar. Las tiranteces, los problemas de espacio, la diferencia de gustos, de intereses, los conflictos por nimiedades absurdas, los momentos de conexión, las risas compartidas, los miedos saboreados a cuatro carrillos, la cercanía, la distancia, el amor incondicional, el odio irracional que llega en oleadas imparables, la capacidad para ignorar al otro, las fantasías de ser hijo único, la idealización de la soledad, las odiosas comparaciones entre hermanos en las que uno mismo siempre es el damnificado, todos y cada uno de los sentimientos que tener hermanos produce aparecen perfectamente reflejados en la historia que Raina Telgemeier nos cuenta.
Raina reconstruye su relación con su hermana, cinco años más joven que ella, y lo hace contando dos historias de manera paralela. En las páginas marcadas por un tono amarillo reconstruye la historia de su vida; su deseo de tener una hermana, el anuncio de la noticia por sus padres, su ilusión por conocer a su hermana y luego, poco a poco, los desencuentros al chocar con la realidad de esa persona que resulta que ser su hermana. Amara no se parece a lo que ella había imaginado, no responde a sus expectativas ideales. Su hermana tiene criterio, gustos propios que a Raina le resultan repugnantes (su amor por las serpientes y los animales en general), un sentido del humor que ella no comprende, mucho genio y un millón de detalles más que la sacan de quicio.
Intercalada con la historia de su familia, tras Amara sus padres tienen otro hijo, la familia se amontona en una casa demasiado pequeña, el padre se queda sin trabajo, pasan dificultades económicas, etc., Raina nos cuenta el viaje en coche en que su relación con su hermana llegó a un nuevo punto. La madre y los tres hermanos emprenden un viaje en coche de una semana para visitar a su familia en Colorado. Conviven en un espacio reducido durante todo el día. No había móviles, ni tabletas ni se podían ver películas en el coche. Raina lleva un walkman con el que se evade de todo lo que ocurre en el coche, la conversación de su madre, las canciones de su hermano y las impertinencias de su hermana. Si el lector fue adolescente en los ochenta recordará perfectamente esa sensación de aferrarse al walkman como a una tabla de salvación para escapar de la vida familiar que se percibía tan poco real y tan poco interesante. La vida real estaba en aquellas canciones escuchadas hasta la extenuación, la realidad era conocer esa música, esos cantantes, esos grupos que te permitían estar conectada con la vida que ocurría fuera de tu casa, de tu familia, de tu entorno. Música para escapar.
En ese viaje, las hermanas descubren el vínculo que las une y se sorprenden. Ellas, que hasta entonces se habían sentido casi como extrañas condenadas a convivir, se dan cuenta de que es mucho más lo que las une que lo que las separa y, sobre todo, que se necesitan mutuamente para enfrentarse al mundo exterior y para apoyarse en el derrumbe de su mundo interior.
Esta historia de descubrimiento del vínculo fraternal está contada con humor y con realismo. Para cualquiera con hermanos los detalles mínimos están llenos de vitalidad y provocan un destello de «exacto, eso me pasaba a mí». En el lector adulto esta historieta hace asomar alguna sonrisa y se lee rápidamente y sin problemas. Para el lector con hijos adolescentes es una representación gráfica de lo que vive en su casa y para el lector preadolescente es un cómic interesante con un tema que reconoce como propio y con el que se identifica.
El dibujo en esta historia es un mero (...) SIGUE LEYENDO LA RESEÑA EN NUESTRA WEB: https://elbuscalibros.com/hermanas-ra...
Un millón de inconvenientes y un millón de ventajas que siempre tardamos más en valorar. Las tiranteces, los problemas de espacio, la diferencia de gustos, de intereses, los conflictos por nimiedades absurdas, los momentos de conexión, las risas compartidas, los miedos saboreados a cuatro carrillos, la cercanía, la distancia, el amor incondicional, el odio irracional que llega en oleadas imparables, la capacidad para ignorar al otro, las fantasías de ser hijo único, la idealización de la soledad, las odiosas comparaciones entre hermanos en las que uno mismo siempre es el damnificado, todos y cada uno de los sentimientos que tener hermanos produce aparecen perfectamente reflejados en la historia que Raina Telgemeier nos cuenta.
Raina reconstruye su relación con su hermana, cinco años más joven que ella, y lo hace contando dos historias de manera paralela. En las páginas marcadas por un tono amarillo reconstruye la historia de su vida; su deseo de tener una hermana, el anuncio de la noticia por sus padres, su ilusión por conocer a su hermana y luego, poco a poco, los desencuentros al chocar con la realidad de esa persona que resulta que ser su hermana. Amara no se parece a lo que ella había imaginado, no responde a sus expectativas ideales. Su hermana tiene criterio, gustos propios que a Raina le resultan repugnantes (su amor por las serpientes y los animales en general), un sentido del humor que ella no comprende, mucho genio y un millón de detalles más que la sacan de quicio.
Intercalada con la historia de su familia, tras Amara sus padres tienen otro hijo, la familia se amontona en una casa demasiado pequeña, el padre se queda sin trabajo, pasan dificultades económicas, etc., Raina nos cuenta el viaje en coche en que su relación con su hermana llegó a un nuevo punto. La madre y los tres hermanos emprenden un viaje en coche de una semana para visitar a su familia en Colorado. Conviven en un espacio reducido durante todo el día. No había móviles, ni tabletas ni se podían ver películas en el coche. Raina lleva un walkman con el que se evade de todo lo que ocurre en el coche, la conversación de su madre, las canciones de su hermano y las impertinencias de su hermana. Si el lector fue adolescente en los ochenta recordará perfectamente esa sensación de aferrarse al walkman como a una tabla de salvación para escapar de la vida familiar que se percibía tan poco real y tan poco interesante. La vida real estaba en aquellas canciones escuchadas hasta la extenuación, la realidad era conocer esa música, esos cantantes, esos grupos que te permitían estar conectada con la vida que ocurría fuera de tu casa, de tu familia, de tu entorno. Música para escapar.
En ese viaje, las hermanas descubren el vínculo que las une y se sorprenden. Ellas, que hasta entonces se habían sentido casi como extrañas condenadas a convivir, se dan cuenta de que es mucho más lo que las une que lo que las separa y, sobre todo, que se necesitan mutuamente para enfrentarse al mundo exterior y para apoyarse en el derrumbe de su mundo interior.
Esta historia de descubrimiento del vínculo fraternal está contada con humor y con realismo. Para cualquiera con hermanos los detalles mínimos están llenos de vitalidad y provocan un destello de «exacto, eso me pasaba a mí». En el lector adulto esta historieta hace asomar alguna sonrisa y se lee rápidamente y sin problemas. Para el lector con hijos adolescentes es una representación gráfica de lo que vive en su casa y para el lector preadolescente es un cómic interesante con un tema que reconoce como propio y con el que se identifica.
El dibujo en esta historia es un mero (...) SIGUE LEYENDO LA RESEÑA EN NUESTRA WEB: https://elbuscalibros.com/hermanas-ra...
February 24, 2017
Aunque no se tarda demasiado en finalizar la lectura, el tono en el que está narrado el conjunto junto con las viñetas cuentan una historia entre hermanas y su familia que seguro atraerá a lectores que conozcan a la autora y a los que no.
Raina Telgemeier comparte lo difícil que puede ser a veces lidiar con tu hermana menor de una manera muy divertida y cómica, usando un tono y un lenguaje adecuado para lectores más jóvenes, pero igualmente disfrutable por lectores más adultos que quieran disfrutar de una tarde de lo más entretenida.
Reseña completa en THE BEST READ YET BLOG
Raina Telgemeier comparte lo difícil que puede ser a veces lidiar con tu hermana menor de una manera muy divertida y cómica, usando un tono y un lenguaje adecuado para lectores más jóvenes, pero igualmente disfrutable por lectores más adultos que quieran disfrutar de una tarde de lo más entretenida.
Reseña completa en THE BEST READ YET BLOG
November 4, 2014
I thought her first two, Smile, and Drama, were okay to good, and this one I thought was a little better, maybe 3.5 but because Jamie gave it five stars… :)
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