The Addams Family meets The Incredibles in this hilarious story about a little kid with supernatural powers and the sisters who watch over her, from the creator of What's Up Beanie!
Something strange is happening to Peanut…
But Mira and Rosie can handle it! These two perfectly ordinary, capable sisters are fully confident they can study for their school’s upcoming combat trials and care for their adorable baby sister, Peanut. So what if she cries so hard she floods the entire house? Or randomly breathes fire? Or transforms into a (very soft) menacing creature? Mira and Rosie will just hide Peanut’s powers until their parents come back, and they’ll know what to do. Right?
To make matters worse, rumors of a werebeast attract the attention of a monster hunter. And there’s something unusual about their seemingly quiet town…
This is such a cute book. If anyone has read “What’s Up Beanie,” you know how Alina Tysoe draws cute, and Peanut, the werebeast, is very cute. The problem is, her sisters don’t know how to handle the fact that she suddenly has magical powers, just as their parents have gone off to hunt for magic items.
The world they live in was supposed to have no more magic. It was all chased away, and everyone is normal, and human.
And yet, Peanut is not, suddenly.
Peanut doesn’t seem to realize that there is anything odd with her changing into a furry blue beast, or crying a river of tears that flood the house, or animating leaves so they can be her friends. It is all just part of her day.
It wouldn’t be quite so bad, if her sisters didn’t have to train for the combat trials at school, but they do, and so leave her with a babysitter.
This book has it all. It has bullies. It has cute beasts. It had girls training for combat. All rolled up into one. And, it appears that this is the start of a series. We shall see.
This book surprised me, as to where it ended up going, which was fun. And little Peanut is so cute. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got stuffies soon based on her.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 7th of October 2025.
Wow, this was great!! Adventurous, heartfelt, and a little silly too. I'm familiar with Tysoe's work having read What's Up Beanie, and her art is always fun and expressive. In Werebeast though we get to see more of the breadth of her illustration abilities, including more expansive and detailed environments in the intro, character design, and in the magical worldbuilding. The more detailed aspects of her art still blended well with the funny and over the top facial expressions that I associate with her style. I figured this would be a cute and quick read and wasn't expecting to be so thoroughly invested (though I know Tysoe is great at relatable and sweet content). There is a surprising amount of information packed into this story, from the older sisters and their ambitions and relationships with classmates, to the secret lives of neighbors, all in addition to Peanut's magical and unpredictable powers. I think this strikes an enjoyable balance of action and intrigue with more emotional moments, and has a range of ages represented as well. A fantastic addition to a middle grade GN collection.
Many thanks to NetGalley and First Second Books for the ARC!
Gosh, gossamer and goddesses, what a cute all-ages fantasy graphic novel!
'My Sister the Werebeast' is one of those things where any of its flaws can be forgiven because of its cuteness.
Or, one specific cute character.
The graphic novel starts out pretty much perfectly, but then it is let down somewhat by the end, with a few plot points, details, character presences and character motivations that are left unexplained, or they just disappear, and despite how it is advertised and that 'The end.' on the final page, it is not a standalone. Things are being set up for a sequel, and it is clear it is big fantasy world, with plenty of history, mystery, build up, plots, and other aspects to explore yet.
But I can't be disappointed, because 'My Sister the Werebeast' does everything else so well. It is just my type of graphic novel.
Oh, and Peanut is the cutest cartoon character to ever exist.
Seriously, that blue-haired magical toddler is a star and a sweetie. Her two older sisters - the stressed-out, tired academic students Mira and Rosie - are great and complex, too, but Peanut...Peanut is an irresistibly adorable, fluffy, cuddly, squishy, funny, and precious little, well, peanut! She's a precious little beanbag!
She can transform into a blue soft, furry werebeast, and perform spontaneous magic - playtime, playing pretend and imagination literally come to life for this preschooler.
How will Mira and Rosie cope?! When their parents are away exploring ruins, treasure hunting...and monster hunting?!
There is dark mage magic afoot, as well. An ancient evil - a dangerous magician, long ago buried - will be after Peanut for her power...
I won't reveal anymore, but great giddy gillyflowers, what heartwarming, huggable adorableness!
There is POC and LBGTQ+ rep (Rosie has a crush on Yana, a battle rival schoolmate), as well as unicorns, dragons, vampires, mermaids, werewolves (of course), fairies, and the sisters' pet llama, Rhino, who disappears halfway through the book. There is an anti-prejudice theme throughout, with monsters and magical/supernatural beings forced into hiding from monster hunters, in a world where magic has been forbidden. Always appreciated in a children's story, and relevant.
A sisterhood and close-knit family theme, family love, and a community theme, are present, and a huge plus.
I had never heard of Alina Tysoe's work before 'My Sister the Werebeast', much less her webcomic series, 'What's Up, Beanie?'. However, I will definitely be picking up 'What's Up, Beanie?: Acutely Relatable Comics' now. I can't wait to see what I've been missing out on!
Sometimes, cuteness, and adorable, likeable and relatable characters, are enough.
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Peanut the precious ickle beanbag!
(Really, I'm asking: Where did Rhino the llama go?)
Set in a world where magic has been defeated and outlawed, My Sister the Werebeast, opens in the home of Mira, Rosie, and Peanut where their parents are off on an adventure leaving the two older siblings to care for toddler Peanut while also juggling school and adventurer trials. But something's not quite right with her. Strange things happen when Peanut gets emotional, like flooding the entire house with her tears or breathing fire when she’s angry. When she transforms into a soft and fluffy, possibly menacing creature, Mira and Rosie decide to keep her home until they can reach their parents. Chaos ensues as Peanut’s powers become more unpredictable and a monster hunter shows up to town.
My Sister the Werebeast has the perfect blend of humor and fantasy mixed with sibling dynamics. Tysoe also carefully depicts the issues kids face - struggling with absent parents and being suddenly thrown into adulthood when they’re still children - with humor and care. This title releases in October and is perfect for readers who like fantasy-spooky stories rather than horror.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was such a fun & cute middle grade fantasy graphic novel! I really enjoyed the art style. The expressions on the characters faces were incredibly realistic, humorous, and relatable. All of the characters were realistic and had distinct personalities. I found myself giggling multiple times throughout the story. I’m very interested in learning more about the world and creatures in it. (Hopefully in the next installment if there will be one!) Peanut is simply adorable and lovable. The author did an amazing job depicting anxiety at such a young age. The teenage sisters deal with normal teenage stuff all while having to parent their younger sister while their parents are MIA. I really appreciated that aspect of the story. It is something a lot of older siblings go through and important to be touched upon. Also loved seeing the LGBTQ rep. I really loved this story. I will be adding it to my favorite graphic novels shelf. I am eager to read more of the author/illustrators works!
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!*
While their parents are on an expedition, sisters Mira and Rosie are in charge of taking care of their baby sister, Peanut. But when magical mayhem affects Peanut, she turns into a werebeast, creating havoc all around her. For Mira and Rosie, surviving high school is tough, especially the combat trials, but taking care of the rambunctious Peanut is even harder. Throw in a monster hunter, a jealous peer, and some obsessive plant fiends, will these three sisters be able to handle it all before their parents come home? This graphic novel, filled with whimsical creatures and hilarious antics, tells the story of three sisters trying to survive on their own. Flashy colors and a house built with booby traps, Mira and Rosie are just trying to get through the days, while Peanut becomes magical in the form of a werebeast. With its adorable hijinks in each delightful chapter, featuring bright colors and sisterhood, this graphic novel is sure to make readers laugh and smile.
My Sister the Werebeast is pure fun! I want to live in the world that Alina Tysoe has created. A mix of our modern world and a fantasy world hiding magic in it's corners, I wanted to explore every panel. The art is beautiful and fun. It's colorful, and there's excellent comedic timing and expressions throughout. I loved every character. Peanut is adorable, and I enjoyed watching her older sisters trying to deal with her emerging powers. There was a good mix of shenanigans and plot that kept the story moving. I was most excited by the introduction of Lydia and her family which added an excellent layer to the plot and the world building. The ending was great, and only made me want to read the next installment. I hope this becomes a series, because I could read about these characters for many more volumes.
Thank you to First Second Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing for an eARC of this graphic novel. My Sister the Werebeast is an absolutely adorable and touching story of three sisters, the youngest of which turns out to be a magical creature. Magical creatures are not supposed to exist in the town of Whisper Cove anymore, but that turns out to be not exactly true on more fronts than just little Peanut. As Mira and Rosie navigate Adventurer Trials at school and their absent parents all while their little sister begins to display a broad range of magical powers, other forces are drawn to the scene as well. There were tender moments of family and sibling love and conflict here, as well as general themes of acceptance and ostracization. Humorous and emotional all in one go, I very much hope we will get more graphic novels in this world!
This was such a fun read and the graphics were really fun and engaging. The story was interesting with this medieval world that has no magic or monster anymore but here comes peanut the little sister of Mira and Rosie that starts exhibiting powers ala jack jack from incredibles. They figure out she is a werebeast and they are overwhelmed trying to help her keep her powers undercover while their parents are out of town and discover that magic and monsters aren’t so extinct as they thought.
Thanks to First Second Books and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.
The PERFECT read for Halloween, and also for the rest of your year. Things I loved as a reader about this: the characters were hilarious yet relatable, the layers of extra detail that will make a re-read even more rewarding, and Peanut (who I would die for). Things I loved as a cartoonist about this: the world building (Tysoe threw in maze FOR FUN??), the diversity of characters and outfits, and Peanut’s facial expressions (again, I would die for her). Get this book for the spooky obsessed kid in your life, or heck, get it for yourself because it's guaranteed to immediately cheer you up. Also, DESPERATE for there to be a book two!!
While their parents are out of town, sisters Mira and Rosie are in charge of their little sister, Peanut. But something odd is happening. Peanut is suddenly showing signs of magic. And magic isn't supposed to exist any more. The girls are stressed out trying to keep Peanut's burgeoning gift under wraps, but at least it only happens at night--until it doesn't. But they can't just hide away. Their school's combat trials are coming up and they have to participate in those! What else could possibly go wrong? Only the sudden appearance of a monster hunter in town. Such a fun introduction to a new series.
I'm not an active reader or What's Up, Beanie, but I've definitely seen some of the comics now and again, to the point where I immediately knew the art style and could guess at the feeling/tone of this book. Obviously, there are some serious differences too- this takes place in a "post"-magical fantasy world! However, it's a cute story that I do think fans of Tyson's other work will enjoy. It was nice seeing Peanut interact with her powers and also her newly learned coping methods, and while there are serious moments and a very freaky villain, the humor shines through enough to keep things from getting too dark
I adored this book!! The illustrations were just the right level of silly, quirky and made it such an easy and enjoyable read!
I think kids from 3rd-7th would be a good age range for this graphic novel. Very cute, I loved Peanut and how “fluffy” her character was + the magical lore/elements. I highly recommend this book for kids that love to read stories full of magic and creatures!
I can’t wait to see if there are more in this series. I’d love a set of books centered around this family or the other magical/beast families in this “town”!
Mira and Rosie are in charge of watching their little sister, Peanut, as their parents are away fighting magical beings. Being in charge shouldn’t be anything they can’t handle - even if Peanut has flooded the house with her tears, or made friends out of the leaves in the backyard, or can now breathe fire, oh, and can shapeshift into an (adorable) fluffy werebeast. No problem! Mira and Rosie will just hide her powers until their parents come back…
I have loved Alina Tysoe for quite some time and have followed their What’s Up Beanie art through Instagram, so as soon as she announced this I knew I needed to get my hands on it ASAP.
I am used to reading shorter stories on Instagram from Tysoe, so it was a fantastic surprise when this graphic novel ended up being 320 pages! This blends the perfect amount of fantasy, sibling dynamics, humor, and cute art. All the characters were pretty flushed out and you really got to understand the family.
Gosh darn it - is Peanut the cutest!!
The way this ended makes it seem like there will be more to the story (I really hope). I also read this as a digital advance copy, I will be purchasing a physical copy of this in early October when it comes out.
Overall, this is a perfect read for all ages who like soft fantasies during the fall weather instead of horror (think Halloweentown!), and those who love adorable and expressive art.
I loved this book! Peanut is such a cute and lovable character, and I love her fluffy alternate. Lots of important themes here for middle-grades readers about family, friendship, responsibility, and bravery. The illustrations are so fun with bright colors, and they really enhance the story a lot and keep the reader engaged. I don't often read graphic novels, but I would definitely read more stories focused on this family.
Thank you to First Second Books and NetGalley for the eARC.
A Cute story about a young child discovering something important about herself: peanut has to work out how to control her powers to prevent her from turning into a werebeast. Along the way, she makes new friends and strengthens her relationship with her older sisters. I am hoping that a second one is on the way to show what happens to the parents!
This is a fantastic first volume in what appears to be a new middle grade graphic novel series. I love the strength of sisters theme. There are also valuable lessons about accepting others as they are and refraining from judging them. This will be a great new addition to the graphic novel world for fantasy graphic novel readers of all ages.
I loved this so much! In a world that used to be ran by witches but now no longer have their influence, magic and magic creatures are hunted and defeated. Two young children of hunters find themselves with a magic creature for a younger sister. While they try to understand her and keep her safe in the world, a long forgotten witch starts to feel her power and magic.
I loved, loved, loved this books. It was such a fun story. The colors scheme and illustrations are so bright and fitting to the story. The hidden magical folk throughout the story and sense of community and friendship makes this book really special. Can't wait for the next in the series!
Thank you to First Second and Netgalley for the ARC.
If you're looking for a cute intermediate read for your kids (or for yourself) this is a great graphic novel. Featuring stunning graphics, easy to read sentences well-spaced out, and fun colors. This Halloween themed graphic novel will have you smiling from ear to ear and going 'awe' more times than you can count.
I've followed Alina Tysoe for a long time, and I love her "What's Up, Beanie?" comics. The comics feature Beanie, and her two older sisters appear quite frequently. This story, and the artwork, reminds me a lot of the comics.
The artwork is beautiful, and the story was a whole lot of fun. I'm looking forward to many more stories from this world.
That was a fun book! I hope there is a sequel because I want to know what happens next! Tysoe makes a fun little world with magical creatures. The pacing is brisk so that the story moves along and keeps the reader engaged. And despite the "monsters," there are some really cute drawings in the book!
Sisters Rosie and Mira are so busy preparing for their trials and taking care of their baby sister Peanut that they don’t notice all the magical creatures living in their town. When Peanut turns into a Werebeast, they have to work even harder to keep Peanut’s emotions in check and to keep her secret hidden from the monster hunters. Peanut is adorable and even more adorable in her werebeast form.
One reading rule I have: if Alina Tysoe is creating it, I'm reading it! What a fun and silly story perfect for the fall season. Every kid is going to want to get their hands on a copy!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
What a delightful and imaginative concept! I love stories that celebrate family and the unexpected, especially with such a creative twist. As a fellow children’s author, I really appreciate the warmth and humor in this premise.
Very cute graphic novel. Mira and Rosie are left to babysit their sister Peanut who seems to have developed magic powers. Can they keep Peanut's powers from destroying their house, interrupting their school work, and drawing the attention of a monster hunter in the neighborhood?
Excellent world building and characterization. The art is fantastic and adorable, the sisters are distinct and so relatable. As the youngest of three sisters I related to this a lot. It was adorable and yet had a lot of depth and heart. A must read for me .
I love Alina's memoir-style slice of life comics so much, so when I recognized her art style on the cover of this book, I was really excited to dive in. This was such an adorable story with a really fun magical premise. I really cannot wait to read book 2!
This is so cute! The cutest illustrations and the most beautifully colored scenes. The story is fun and positive. Hopefully there are more books. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC