The Good Sister

by Chelsea Bolan

Winner of the HarperCollins/UBC Prize for Best New Fiction Not yet fifteen, Gabriela Amador Prieto has been cast out of the family home by her father, who believes her shameful behaviour has tarnished the family honour. All traces of her have been removed, and not even Lucy, Gabi’s older sister and best friend, knows where she is. Furious at her father and desperate to find her sister, Lucy leaves their small town in Baja California, Mexico, and sets out for the capital to track Gabriela down. While Lucy ventures deep into Mexico City’s most dangerous neighbourhoods, back at home her family members—her brothers, her mother and father, and her brother-in-law, Antonio—struggle with their own roles in Gabi’s banishment. The Good Sister presents a vibrant, captivating portrayal of contemporary Mexico, and of a family torn apart by a father’s hypocrisy. Engaging and emotionally rich, this novel is a fascinating exploration of betrayal and steadfast devotion, and the ways in which our own intolerance can harm what—and whom—we love most.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 14, 2016

About the author

Chelsea Bolan writes a lot about people who long for alternate worlds where they would better belong. In the meantime, they make kites, change genders, play piano, stalk flautists, jump off bridges, and dream of UFOs. Her work has appeared in The Kenyon Review, Seattle Weekly, CutBank, Fourteen Hills, Borderlands, Poetry Northwest, Bayou, and other publications.

Born in Spokane, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Washington and an MFA from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. In 2010 she was Artist-in-Residence at Milkwood International in Český Krumlov, Czech Republic, and in 2011, she was awarded a GAP grant (Grants for Artist Projects) from Artist Trust to work on short stories. Her first novel, The Good Sister, won the 2014 HarperCollins/UBC Prize for Best New Fiction.

Reviews

[Jose Leal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat unrealistic. Switches on and off between the complicated Mexican patriarchal family and social structure and folkloric beliefs and tales. I would have preferred an emphasis on either one. Starts really strong, but dilutes a little. Resolutions came to easily. The writing kind of reminded me of Isabel Allende or Gabriel Garcia Marquez... The writer has lots of future successes.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raul Amador told himself that everything he did was for the good of his family. After all, didn’t he move them from the poverty, squalor and dangers of Mexico City to the prosperity, peacefulness and safety of Santo Nino?

For Raul Amador family was everything.

Family AND honor.

Or maybe it was honor above everything? – the idea that he could hold his head high while tending to his bar full of tourists or walking through town. Why else would he have been able to banish his 14 year-old daughter, Gabriela, on the basis of rumor? That was the day Lucy lost not only her sister but also her best friend. She thought she couldn’t do anything about at the time but when the after shocks of her father’s decision cracked the foundation of her life and family she set out to find her sister. Through the slums and red-light districts of Mexico City to the “gringolandia” of San Diego she searched everywhere. Would she ever find her sister again? And if she did, could she even begin to ask for forgiveness for doing nothing?

“The Good Sister” is in turns heartbreaking and heartwarming, frightening and comforting, full of suspense and danger and then love and redemption. Ms. Bolan has created a gritty yet wonderful world populated by both truly hate-worthy characters and, while not always traditional, equally truly loving and warm characters. Lucy’s quest to find her sister is believable and I found myself cheering for her whenever something went right and despising those who made her journey more difficult. Ms. Bolan managed to grab hold of my emotions from the first page and not let go. Then I felt her squeezing just a little tighter, if that was even possible, when Gabriela’s whole story was finally revealed at the end of the book. Well done for a debut author!

Told in both the first person for Lucy’s story and third person for the rest worked well for this book. “The Good Sister” explores so many themes relevant today – some politics, male/female double standards, tradition versus more modern norms – the list goes on, yet Ms. Bolan managed to combine them all into central plot that had me anxiously turning pages whenever I could get a few minutes to sit down with the book.

This book made me think of “The Kite Runner” and “The Almond Tree” because it has also stayed with me for a while after turning the last page. It too asks the age-old questions “Can you be good again?” “Can you really go home again”? Since both Lucy and Gabriela took turns breaking and mending my heart as I read, my only dilemma was deciding which of the two sisters the title refers to? Which one is “The Good Sister”?

I have to confess to a case of cover love for this book too. The cover so perfectly captures the Mexican setting and after finishing the book I realize that not one of the small illustrations is wasted. Just looking at the cover brings special parts of this book quickly back to mind.

Definitely a 5-star read for me.

I would like to thank Harper Collins and First Look Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Charlene Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delicately written, while calling into question the hypocrisies and consequences of a patriarchal society. In the first chapter I was overwhelmed with emotion, with the suggested hypocrisy, with uncertainty. As the story went on (despite a short lag), I appreciated the beautiful lack of judgment the author achieved by writing the story through varying perspectives. This book displays the humanity in people who may see the world through vastly different eyes than the ones the reader looks through. It shows the characters' flaws, their virtues, and allows the reader to make his or her own conclusions, while also doling out its own form of justice on the characters. Although I didn't care passionately about any of the characters, I certainly felt for them, was interested in them, and rooted for those who (based on my beliefs and worldview) deserved it. A worthwhile read.

For more of my thoughts, check out my Video Book Review

[Jennie Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Juxtaposed against the typical tourist experience of drinking, dancing, and letting loose in Mexico, The Good Sister provides a captivating exploration into a culture I know little about. At its heart, The Good Sister is about family, and how societal expectations can break apart even the closest relationships, which made for a heartbreaking and uplifting read. Bolan goes beneath the surface with her rich and vivid imagery, exposing elements of Mexico that I’d never have access to, and it’s easy to see why this book won the Harper Collins/UBC prize for best new fiction. So if you’re into layered and insightful fiction, you should definitely get yourself a copy!

For a full review and cover mani, check out my blog: http://www.jennieshaw.ca/2016/06/book...

[Autumn Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.65 stars vibes

this isn't necessarily my type of book, and I come from a very white family so my perspective doesn't matter as much as others here. regardless of the story content, I grew very fond of Lucy as a main character and wanted the best for her as the story drew on. I was really pleased that throughout her journey the people who are the kindest to her are often the most marginalized in society - queer men, trans women, retired sex workers and activists - this is a story about the complexities of family dynamics and horrific acts, but also of extreme kindness and community. I dont know if i would read again, but i certainly enjoyed finishing it.

[Yvette Cendes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story about Mexico, family, honor, all woven together. Filled with vivid characters you think about for long after.

[Lauren King · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW. I can’t… this was a revelation. I obviously loved Lucy, the way she saw the world & her determination, but that was the very start of this book’s majesty. Gabi’s enduring innocence, Lucy’s sainthood persona in La Morena, the immense kindness of Lupita, Pilar, Rosa… not to mention the exquisite contrasts & contradictions between & within each family member (Eduardo & Maria Luisa were my favorites). This book positively stole my heart, broke it, & mended it. ♥

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

«  You can hope and wait and pray until the end of time, and maybe something will happen, and maybe it won’t. Looking through the doors of that church, I thought that whatever had happened had little to do with God, or believing, or praying, or the saints and O Nuestra Senora de Gaudalupe, and more to do with our own selves. What we can do. What we’re willing to do « 

[Jara Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really hooked me in the beginning. The plot was really strong, and I couldn’t put it down. I will say though, I am a little disappointed at how quickly the book wrapped up. It seemed like a lot of the different stories were continuously being built up, just to all be resolved in the last couple of pages.

Overall I did enjoy this book. It was a nice easy read!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story about a family living in Baja California, Mexico, narrated by Guadalupe (Lucy), who is the title character. Liked the Rashomon-style deep dives into different characters' lives in this novel. This is the second one I've gotten through Introverts' Retreat.

[Jennifer Slottje · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could give this a 3.75. Ive never read a book like this or a book w Mexican culture...and I very much appreciated it. It was lovely to experience Mexican values and perspectives.

[Geraldine · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice easy flowing novel...

[Kaitlynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not generally the type of book I would read. It wasn't a poorly written novel by any means, it just wasn't for me. I chose it based solely on the cover and sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

[Colline Vinay Kook-Chun · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is told mostly from the viewpoint of Lucy, though we often read about the experiences of the other characters in the story. For reasons that are eventually revealed during the story, Lucy’s sister is no longer at home. Lucy eventually goes out to find her sister, Gabriela, in Mexico City’s most dangerous neighbourhoods. As the story progresses, the part played in Gabi’s fate by her father, brothers, and brother-in-law is revealed.

I was interested to learn the fate of Gabriela, and to see how her sister fared while searching for her sibling. I began the story with eagerness and yet found it difficult to ignore that the sprinkling of Spanish words throughout the text impeded the flow of the story for me. I understand that the author wanted the reader to experience an authentic Mexican environment, but the unknown words did hamper my enjoyment of the novel. I continued reading as I was curious to find out what happened to Gabriella – an event that is hinted at throughout the novel and eventually stated in Gabriella’s voice at the end of the novel.

I enjoyed this novel for the description of the relationship between two sisters and how a life-changing event can eventually bring them closer to one another. I noticed as well that throughout the novel that hints are made about the role that the woman is expected to play in a relationship between a man and a woman, and the role of the woman in a marriage. No commentary is made on this theme, however, and instead is described as what can be seen to exist in the relationship between a man and a woman in the Mexican culture.

[Vanessa Lynn O'Neill · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the culture, the different points of view, loved the way the culture and characters intertwine.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving story of sisterhood, womanhood, and family in a patriarchal society.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

so much goodness that I was sad when parts felt glossed over; some of her decisions felt contrived, necessary for the plot rather than what the characters would actually have made. dang!

[Karena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bolan's writing is solid but the story itself lacked soul. She tackled some women's issues with grace and compassion. Nothing drew to a close at the end of the story though, which was disappointing.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

actual rating 4.5

[Cecilia Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining. The book does some exoticizing (every third word is in Spanish and includes lots of Mexican folklore), but the story is engaging.
Themes: family, forgiveness, sisters

[Miriam Estrada · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the feels of my culture but no resolution

[Pat Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story pulls you right along.

[Nik Doner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my typical genre, but beautifully written, compelling characters, and lovely language.

[Ainslee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a cute story with culture, family, friends and more. Ending was a bit anti-climatic and didn’t really wrap up but overall cute story.

[Melanie Paquette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me forever to finish. I was getting confused with all the characters. Ending was flat.

[choso · Rating 2 out of 5]

All the men are lying cheaters, and it’s that paranoia that makes them accuse every woman of being a ‘puta’, even if you’re a 14 year old girl that was clearly r*ped by her crusty brother-in-law (who is referred to as her Tio because of the age gap). The book is told from the perspective of that girl’s (Gabi) older sister (Lucy) who goes on a journey to find her sister after their father banishes Gabi for ‘tarnishing the family name’. She encounters some shady shit and the book touches upon some themes of human trafficking, but it overall fell flat for me. The ending was rushed with a few chapters told from Gabi’s perspective. Otherwise, I did enjoy the author’s writing style and detailed inclusion of Mexican culture.

[Milana M (acouplereads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welcome to the heart-wrenching story that is The Good Sister written by Chelsea Bolan. This book was extremely heavy so I would suggest you read it when you need a serious read! I wish I had a warning because this book made me sad but also hopeful for the characters.

The book starts out with Lucy the protagonist witnessing her father burning everything her older sister came in contact with. All her possessions, clothes, photographs, anything that reminded him of Gabriela. Lucy as Gabriela’s younger sister is frightened and wants her sister to come back home. You find out that it was their father who banished Gabriela from their home and refuses to let her come back. The book is told from various point of views (POVs) from all family members and although different POVs are a hit or miss for me this one wasn’t too bad in that aspect.

Mother’s POV – the girls’ mother is heartbroken as any mother would be when her daughter goes missing. I found these portions of the book the hardest to read. It really touched my soul and I felt as though I was witnessing the mother’s heartbreak first hand.

Lucy – I was cheering for Lucy throughout the whole book! She was my favourite and I really loved the way she didn’t lose her morals or her fire throughout the trials she endured in this book.

Father’s POV – man did the author do a good job of making you HATE the father. This was really well written and it made me feel for the family the most.

Other POVs – I found them to definitely add to the story but didn’t enjoy some of the other sections. That is the reason I believe POVs ruin certain portions of the books. However, this did not take away from the book in my opinion.

Overall, I enjoyed this one you guys and the entire time I just wanted to know WHERE IS GABRIELA, WHAT DID SHE DO, WHAT IS HAPPENING! Definitely recommend this to any book club that is searching for a book full of hidden secrets by a dysfunctional family.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were things I loved about this novel ... and things I really didn't.

First, the positive - the writing was lovely. I was pulled into the story and found myself reaching for the book whenever I had a minute or two to spare. It truly was an "unputdownable" read for me. The story is told from multiple perspectives, shifting between first and third person ... at first, I found this technique distracting but once I got used to it, I realized how well it worked. The descriptions of Mexico City were superb; I felt as though I was right there with Lucy and all the other characters.

What didn't I like? The male characters. All of them - and there are quite a few. The female characters were well developed, multifaceted and unique ... but the male characters came across as very stereotypical; all archetypes of machismo. You have the sleazy playboy, the gangster, the controlling, dominating father, etc. Most of the men are having affairs; those that aren't still express the belief that affairs are normal and to be expected. I realize the author was trying to portray the sociocultural conditions of Latin America and get the reader to understand what Lucy (the main protagonist) was up against ... but, honestly, it was a bit much. I also found it frustrating that the time period was ambiguous. There were sections that read as though they were set in present day (2016) and others that felt more like early 1990's or even the 80's. I think I would've connected with the story more (and perhaps been more forgiving of the chauvinistic male characters) if I'd been able to pinpoint exactly when this was all taking place.

Bottom line? A captivating read, even if it was incredibly frustrating at times. I think this would be a fabulous book club selection - there are many layers to explore and discuss.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an uncorrected proof (called "The Good Sister" but it has the same summary) in exchange for an honest review. The concept sounded interesting to me, but it isn't a genre I normally choose. The style took a bit of getting used to, but at a certain point I discovered I couldn't put the book down. I found the book strongest when it was focusing on the main character (Guadalupe), but even when it focused on the side characters it was interesting.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent an Advanced Reader's Copy of this title in exchange for honest feedback.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Bolan had a unique writing style that is captivating, and the addition of multiple perspectives adds a layer to the narrative that would be missing if told solely through Lucy's POV. I have very intense feelings about the characters, both positive and negative, which shows how much care and effort Bolan put into creating real multi-faceted characters. Truly a great read!