What do you think?
Rate this book
When My Sister Started Kissing
Claire and Abi have always loved their summers at the lake house, but this year, everything's different. Dad and Pam, their stepmom, are expecting a new baby, and they've cleared out all of Mom's belongings to make room. And last summer, Abi was looking at boys, but this summer, boys are looking back at her. While Abi sneaks around, Claire is left behind to make excuses and cover up for her. Claire doesn't want her family to change, but there doesn't seem to be a way of stopping it. By the end of their time at the house, the two sisters have learned that growing up doesn't have to mean their family growing apart.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published March 14, 2017
11 people are currently reading
638 people want to read
About the author
Helen Frost
191 books225 followersI'm dipping my toes into goodreads to see how it works. Thanks for finding me here, and thanks to everyone who has read and written about my books. I love to know you're there, even if I don't come here too often to say so.
Helen Frost is the author of eleven novels-in-poems and seven picture books for children and young adults. She lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/helenf...
Helen Frost is the author of eleven novels-in-poems and seven picture books for children and young adults. She lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/helenf...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
April 7, 2020
WHEN MY SISTER STARTED KISSING is supposed to be a story in verse, but it reads more like prose that has been formatted to look like free verse.
Sisters Claire,11 and Abigail, 13 wait the birth of their half-brother at their deceased mother’s lake cabin. Claire bemoans changes in her family and that Abigail is interested in boys.
The book had so many disconnects. Their supposedly strict father leaves the girls on their own for two days when his wife has her baby, for example.
Aside from poor writing, the story was boring. I can’t think of a reason to read WHEN MY SISTER STARTED KISSING.
Sisters Claire,11 and Abigail, 13 wait the birth of their half-brother at their deceased mother’s lake cabin. Claire bemoans changes in her family and that Abigail is interested in boys.
The book had so many disconnects. Their supposedly strict father leaves the girls on their own for two days when his wife has her baby, for example.
Aside from poor writing, the story was boring. I can’t think of a reason to read WHEN MY SISTER STARTED KISSING.
January 23, 2018
Claire always loved spending summers at her family's lake house. She felt close to her late mother there, but this year is different. Her father and new stepmother Pam have cleared out all of her mother's belongings. They are expecting a baby and for them a new and exciting period has started. Claire hopes to find support with her sister Abi, but Abi has other things on her mind. She has just discovered that boys are liking her back and she regularly sneaks out to be with someone she finds more interesting than her sister. Claire spends a lot of time on her own and keeps having to cover up for Abi. Claire is feeling lonely and left out, but is this really justified or are her own actions also part of the problem? Will her summer be a disaster or will she be able to have fun in a different way by giving new experiences a chance?
Claire and Abi were always really close, but Abi is older and she's discovered boys. Pam is someone Abi can learn from, while Claire doesn't want to have anything to do with her. That's a fantastic subject for a story. I could easily feel Claire's pain and frustration. Everything and everyone around her is changing and she desperately wants things to remain the same, because she misses her mother and doesn't want to let go of the past. I loved the way Helen Frost explores her feelings. Claire is more sensitive than her sister and this gives quite a bit of friction, but there's a lot of love as well, which is the first step towards making things right. I love books about siblings and When My Sister Started Kissing is definitely a good one.
When My Sister Started Kissing is an impressive story about growing up. I was immediately mesmerized by Helen Frost's beautiful words. Her writing is absolutely stunning. I love stories in verse and I liked that she's given each character she writes about their own form. It brings variety and the structure is clear and interesting. Because of the way she writes her story is deep and meaningful, which is something I loved about it. When My Sister Started Kissing is a gorgeous story about change, grief, hope and happiness. I really enjoyed reading this fantastic book.
Claire and Abi were always really close, but Abi is older and she's discovered boys. Pam is someone Abi can learn from, while Claire doesn't want to have anything to do with her. That's a fantastic subject for a story. I could easily feel Claire's pain and frustration. Everything and everyone around her is changing and she desperately wants things to remain the same, because she misses her mother and doesn't want to let go of the past. I loved the way Helen Frost explores her feelings. Claire is more sensitive than her sister and this gives quite a bit of friction, but there's a lot of love as well, which is the first step towards making things right. I love books about siblings and When My Sister Started Kissing is definitely a good one.
When My Sister Started Kissing is an impressive story about growing up. I was immediately mesmerized by Helen Frost's beautiful words. Her writing is absolutely stunning. I love stories in verse and I liked that she's given each character she writes about their own form. It brings variety and the structure is clear and interesting. Because of the way she writes her story is deep and meaningful, which is something I loved about it. When My Sister Started Kissing is a gorgeous story about change, grief, hope and happiness. I really enjoyed reading this fantastic book.
July 27, 2017
A thoughtful verse novel about two sisters, Claire and Abigail, and their annual summer vacation at the family cabin at Heartstone Lake. The story is told from Claire, Abigail, and the lake's points of view with each perspective using a different poetic form. This is a carefully crafted coming of age narrative about mothers, sisters, and the cycles of life.
February 20, 2018
I feel like I should like this author's work more than I do. I keep trying, and I admire what she sets out to do, but the overall effect is always flat for me. I feel like she has no sense of humor. I'm pretty sure it's just me though. I think others might well love this book!
August 29, 2017
First sentence: The baby, Claire, in a sunsuit and yellow hat, sat on her father's shoulders, the great wide world spread out before them. Two egrets flew home to their nest as thunder rumbled, far off in the distance.
Premise/plot: If you read many verse novels, then chances are good you're familiar with Helen Frost. When My Sister Started Kissing is her newest verse novel; it has multiple narrators. Claire and her older sister, Abigail, have always spent the summer at the cabin with their dad. This year is the first year that the girls' stepmother, Pam, will be joining them. And this family of four is about to become a family of FIVE. Claire who is nearly eleven isn't a fan of change. Abigail is all about change. For example, she now wants to be called Abi. She doesn't want to hang out with her sister; she wants to spend time with Brock and the other teenagers. She doesn't want to spend every moment with her family; she wants to be allowed to go off with her friends and do whatever/whenever. Claire and Abigail are obvious narrators. The third narrator is the LAKE.
My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this one. The writing is excellent. The verse aspects of this one are essential. There are at least three different poetry forms used throughout the book. Each narrator has their own poetic form that suits the story, the character, best.
This novel is set over one summer vacation. Claire's narration keeps the novel focused on the family. Abigail's narration, on the other hand, keeps the novel focused on BOYS. TJ is a family friend; the two families have vacationed near one another for years. Last summer, Abigail and TJ kissed--"for practice." This summer, Abigail thinks kissing should be reserved for someone that you really like-like. She's nervous to see TJ again. Will he be interested in her still? Does she even like-like him? Is he boyfriend material or like-a-brother? And then there is Brock. He's new. He's cute. He's got FANS. There are half a dozen girls who cling to him. Brock seems to notice HER out of the crowd. And though she doesn't know him, she likes being liked. She feels grown up with Brock, perhaps because she hasn't grown up with him. Claire doesn't get why Abi is ignoring TJ and going out of her way to avoid his family and why she's sneaking around to see Brock. This love triangle is resolved--for now--by the end of the novel.
Premise/plot: If you read many verse novels, then chances are good you're familiar with Helen Frost. When My Sister Started Kissing is her newest verse novel; it has multiple narrators. Claire and her older sister, Abigail, have always spent the summer at the cabin with their dad. This year is the first year that the girls' stepmother, Pam, will be joining them. And this family of four is about to become a family of FIVE. Claire who is nearly eleven isn't a fan of change. Abigail is all about change. For example, she now wants to be called Abi. She doesn't want to hang out with her sister; she wants to spend time with Brock and the other teenagers. She doesn't want to spend every moment with her family; she wants to be allowed to go off with her friends and do whatever/whenever. Claire and Abigail are obvious narrators. The third narrator is the LAKE.
My thoughts: I definitely enjoyed this one. The writing is excellent. The verse aspects of this one are essential. There are at least three different poetry forms used throughout the book. Each narrator has their own poetic form that suits the story, the character, best.
This novel is set over one summer vacation. Claire's narration keeps the novel focused on the family. Abigail's narration, on the other hand, keeps the novel focused on BOYS. TJ is a family friend; the two families have vacationed near one another for years. Last summer, Abigail and TJ kissed--"for practice." This summer, Abigail thinks kissing should be reserved for someone that you really like-like. She's nervous to see TJ again. Will he be interested in her still? Does she even like-like him? Is he boyfriend material or like-a-brother? And then there is Brock. He's new. He's cute. He's got FANS. There are half a dozen girls who cling to him. Brock seems to notice HER out of the crowd. And though she doesn't know him, she likes being liked. She feels grown up with Brock, perhaps because she hasn't grown up with him. Claire doesn't get why Abi is ignoring TJ and going out of her way to avoid his family and why she's sneaking around to see Brock. This love triangle is resolved--for now--by the end of the novel.
December 16, 2017
This was a quiet, unassumingly powerful piece. Told from the perspective of Claire, her sister Abi, and the lake they visit every summer, this verse novel sheds light on what it's like to grow up. The girls have been coming to the lake house every summer since they were little, but their mother died there when Abi was 3 and Claire not quite 1. Now, it is 10 years later and they are returning with their new step-mother who is due to have a baby any day. Claire no longer knows where she fits in the family, Abi is suddenly in the midst of liking boys, kissing boys, and sneaking out to meet boys, and their dad has no idea why they would miss all of their mom's stuff that used to clutter up the cabin.
Told in a variety of poetic forms, this was a lovely little read that lets you escape back into the freedom of a summer at the lake, while knowing that every year you come back something will be different.
Recommend for fans of House Arrest, Out of the Dust, & Counting by 7s .
Told in a variety of poetic forms, this was a lovely little read that lets you escape back into the freedom of a summer at the lake, while knowing that every year you come back something will be different.
Recommend for fans of House Arrest, Out of the Dust, & Counting by 7s .
June 19, 2017
Always be sure to read Helen Frost's afterword "before you read her wonderful verse novels. She cleverly adds in extra messages in the text, and this story is no different. I enjoyed the story told by two sisters. Abigail (soon Abi) is the one who starts kissing, a slightly younger Claire is one who sees her sister changing, and the lake where the story occurs. It all happens in the month spent at a family cabin. There is some heartbreak, heavy and light, but it is truly a growing up story I imagine young adolescents will connect with. All those questions about relationships are so hard to answer! And they're compounded by the fact here that they have a new stepmother who just had a baby! There isn't too much drama, just enough to make things interesting, perhaps a life like most?
November 28, 2017
A pretty cute story (in poetry) of growing up.
March 21, 2020
I liked the way she wrote the book. It felt more meaningful and delicate. This was a quick read but interesting.
April 2, 2021
I loved this book so much. It felt like sunshine on your face on a warm summer day sitting by the water. All the stars.
September 4, 2017
This was a sweet, gentle story about two sisters at their summer cabin, told exclusively through poetry and prose. I would imagine it could be a great teaching support for middle school English teachers everywhere.
I really enjoyed it. I feel like the author got everything right-- the slight neglect from sleep-deprived parents, the teenage angst, the awkwardness, the bond between family... it all felt very authentic.
I really enjoyed it. I feel like the author got everything right-- the slight neglect from sleep-deprived parents, the teenage angst, the awkwardness, the bond between family... it all felt very authentic.
Read
April 10, 2017I really loved reading this book, I think that in the classroom younger students will really engage and connect with it because of the young aged girls in the story. Having it be in poem formation for each chapter the reader is going to be experience what it is like to be Claire, a young girl who recently is seeing her older sister go through changes, and being forced into spending the summer with her new step mother that soon is expecting a baby. Having this book in the classroom would be a great idea, you can use it to connect with students who have older sisters, a family with step parents, and new siblings being introduced. I loved how smooth of a read this was and find that really appealing for younger readers when choosing a book. Claire and Abi, her older sister, have always loved going to the lake house for the summer when it was just their mother and father, but now with a baby on the way and the new distractions on the lake, Claire realizes that her life and sisters life are changing year by year. It takes the reader int o the shoes of what it is like to be a younger sibling taking the blame and making excuses for their older sibling. I connected a lot with the theme of this book because I watched my two older brothers grow up and change so much in what seemed like a second. Younger siblings will find a great connection to this book!
March 4, 2018
This is a book writen in verse and is realalistic fiction. This book is about an 10 year girl named Claire her 13 year old sister named Abigal her dad and their new step mom with a baby on the way. This story is in the point of veiw of both Charlie and Abigal showing both sides of whats happening. Charlie and her family are going up to their cabin for part of the summer. Things have started to change since Pam (the stepmom) entered their lives. One day Pam takes Abigal shopping and she comes back with a whole new look, style and aditude and that is just the start. Claire has tryed her best to understand the new Abigail but misses the old one at the same time. Soon after Abigails transformation Claire finds out a secert about Abigail. She decided to look deeper into it and finds way more secrets then she expected.
This was a nice book. It is not suspenceful or sad, just a cute book. It is a nice book to read over the weekend. I feel like the auother did very well of writing this in the perspective of a 10 and 13 year old girls but, I feel like the book was a little boring for me becasue there was no cliff hangers or suspence. I feel like the auothor could have put a little more excitment into the story line but, I loved the book over all.
I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars and I would recomebd this book to people who like short books, books in verse or like very light hearted books.
This was a nice book. It is not suspenceful or sad, just a cute book. It is a nice book to read over the weekend. I feel like the auother did very well of writing this in the perspective of a 10 and 13 year old girls but, I feel like the book was a little boring for me becasue there was no cliff hangers or suspence. I feel like the auothor could have put a little more excitment into the story line but, I loved the book over all.
I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars and I would recomebd this book to people who like short books, books in verse or like very light hearted books.
November 12, 2017
I'm a sucker for novels told in verse, and this one was no exception. I'm always amazed at the thought that goes into creating novels like this one. I am also happy that I've still got it in me and caught the William Blake connection right away. That always makes the English major in me happy.
I liked the different poetic forms and perspectives (the lake had an interesting perspective) and the setting. The first two pages reeled me in from the start. If it wasn't so darn depressing, it would be a great mentor text for story beginnings.
Most of our books by Helen Frost don't circulate as well as they should. I pushed Salt toward the end of the year and got a couple readers. With a little hand selling, I think this one will go out okay.
This is the perfect book to read while you are at your summer lake house. Now if only I owned a lake house...
I liked the different poetic forms and perspectives (the lake had an interesting perspective) and the setting. The first two pages reeled me in from the start. If it wasn't so darn depressing, it would be a great mentor text for story beginnings.
Most of our books by Helen Frost don't circulate as well as they should. I pushed Salt toward the end of the year and got a couple readers. With a little hand selling, I think this one will go out okay.
This is the perfect book to read while you are at your summer lake house. Now if only I owned a lake house...
May 23, 2017
This novel in verse is told from 3 different perspectives: Abi, Claire, and the lake. Each voice is in a different poetical format (which I did not notice until I read the afterword).
Claire, Abigail (who now wants to be called Abi) and their dad have always spent a month at the cabin on the lake every summer. A terrible accident there involving their mom happened when Abi was little and Claire was just a baby, but they still go every year. Now dad has remarried and Pam is expecting a baby any day now. All these changes, plus the fact that Abi is interested in boys, make things really hard for Claire.
Sweet story about sisters and family.
One poem style has bolded letters and words to form additional messages. I didn't notice it right away, but it is a really interesting effect and adds just a little something special to the story.
Claire, Abigail (who now wants to be called Abi) and their dad have always spent a month at the cabin on the lake every summer. A terrible accident there involving their mom happened when Abi was little and Claire was just a baby, but they still go every year. Now dad has remarried and Pam is expecting a baby any day now. All these changes, plus the fact that Abi is interested in boys, make things really hard for Claire.
Sweet story about sisters and family.
One poem style has bolded letters and words to form additional messages. I didn't notice it right away, but it is a really interesting effect and adds just a little something special to the story.
Read
January 31, 2017Reviewed for VOYA magazine.
January 16, 2018
When My Sister Started Kissing by Helen Frost is a great, entertaining book for young teens. It told a great story about the connection between sisters and how their bond became stronger over the course of an interesting summer.
It all starts on a lake where Claire's family goes every summer. In Claire's family there is her dad, her stepmother, her older sister Abigail and herself. Every summer they go up north and spend a month at the lake. They have done this since they were little, they even kept going up there after their mom died. When they first get to the lake neither one of the girls are very interested in doing anything, but Abigail spent one day with their stepmom and now has changed into a whole different person. She likes boys and the boys like her back. Through the course of the summer Abigail shortens her name to Abi and starts sneaking out to see the boy she likes, Brock. Claire start to feel sad and lonely because she feels like everyone has forgotten about her, she thinks she only has her dad left, but he's always dealing with the newborn baby. When Abi starts to have trouble with boys Abi tells Claire everything, Abi can't decide between Brock (the guy she just met) or Tj (the guys she's know forever and is family friends with his family). Claire is starting to get annoyed because Abi just expects Claire to cover for her, but Claire just keeps getting left out. Claire has no interest, through most of the book, in bonding with her stepmother either.
The conflict in this book is how Claire felt kind of alone and how she thought she was losing her family, another conflict I see in this book for Abi is the boys and how Abi has to decide on these two boys she likes. I think Claire is trying to solve the conflict by creating any connection she can with her sister, also by spending time with her stepmother and the baby and she ends up realizing they weren't that bad. Abi is solving her conflict by talking it out with her sister and but seeing how it all played out, and how she was feeling. At the end of the book she went with the boy that she knew was right for her.
I think that the author definitely delivered her primary purpose, it was very entertaining. There was not a part of the book where I was bored. I think she taught a good lesson, which is to keep those important relations and connection with the important people in your life. I think the text was beautiful, not only did she tell a good story but the way they book was formed. First, the text was in poetic form and I thought that has a impact on the mood of the book, it made the book always feel calm. Second, in the book she had different point of views telling the story, there was Claire, Abi and the lake all telling the story. The strengths in this book was how it was targeted towards a age group and was very entertaining, also is had different emotions in the book which I thought was very nice. There was heartache, loneliness and happiness and much more. The weaknesses in this book for me was how there was secret messages in some of the pages and I didn't like how I had to go back on that page and try and figure out the message also I think there should have been more parts where Abi talked, I feel like it was more of Claire telling the story. Yes I agree with the conclusion, I think it was a happy ending for almost everyone in the book and I think that book needed a happy ending.
I recommend this book too mostly all girl juniors. Overall I think is was a amazing, entertaining book with very few critics in it. I wish I could reread it. This book had a good impression because I think it could help me in future connections I have with people.
It all starts on a lake where Claire's family goes every summer. In Claire's family there is her dad, her stepmother, her older sister Abigail and herself. Every summer they go up north and spend a month at the lake. They have done this since they were little, they even kept going up there after their mom died. When they first get to the lake neither one of the girls are very interested in doing anything, but Abigail spent one day with their stepmom and now has changed into a whole different person. She likes boys and the boys like her back. Through the course of the summer Abigail shortens her name to Abi and starts sneaking out to see the boy she likes, Brock. Claire start to feel sad and lonely because she feels like everyone has forgotten about her, she thinks she only has her dad left, but he's always dealing with the newborn baby. When Abi starts to have trouble with boys Abi tells Claire everything, Abi can't decide between Brock (the guy she just met) or Tj (the guys she's know forever and is family friends with his family). Claire is starting to get annoyed because Abi just expects Claire to cover for her, but Claire just keeps getting left out. Claire has no interest, through most of the book, in bonding with her stepmother either.
The conflict in this book is how Claire felt kind of alone and how she thought she was losing her family, another conflict I see in this book for Abi is the boys and how Abi has to decide on these two boys she likes. I think Claire is trying to solve the conflict by creating any connection she can with her sister, also by spending time with her stepmother and the baby and she ends up realizing they weren't that bad. Abi is solving her conflict by talking it out with her sister and but seeing how it all played out, and how she was feeling. At the end of the book she went with the boy that she knew was right for her.
I think that the author definitely delivered her primary purpose, it was very entertaining. There was not a part of the book where I was bored. I think she taught a good lesson, which is to keep those important relations and connection with the important people in your life. I think the text was beautiful, not only did she tell a good story but the way they book was formed. First, the text was in poetic form and I thought that has a impact on the mood of the book, it made the book always feel calm. Second, in the book she had different point of views telling the story, there was Claire, Abi and the lake all telling the story. The strengths in this book was how it was targeted towards a age group and was very entertaining, also is had different emotions in the book which I thought was very nice. There was heartache, loneliness and happiness and much more. The weaknesses in this book for me was how there was secret messages in some of the pages and I didn't like how I had to go back on that page and try and figure out the message also I think there should have been more parts where Abi talked, I feel like it was more of Claire telling the story. Yes I agree with the conclusion, I think it was a happy ending for almost everyone in the book and I think that book needed a happy ending.
I recommend this book too mostly all girl juniors. Overall I think is was a amazing, entertaining book with very few critics in it. I wish I could reread it. This book had a good impression because I think it could help me in future connections I have with people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2017
Previously posted on The Young Girl Who Loved Books
UPDATE: After thinking about this book so much, I have new details to input. The first review was written in July 2017, the updated version was finished in August 2017.
I was sold on this book when I realized that this book was told in verse. This one sort of felt boring at times for me. I also realize that this is more a middle-grade novel, so I am not really the desired audience for this one. This book is told in three different perspectives, which is the lake, Abi, and Claire. What is unique is that each perspective has a different poetical format. Out of all of them, I found the lake to be the most interesting one. I didn't really like how depressive this book was.
These girls have always spent a month at the cabin on the lake every single summer. A terrible accident has happened and their mother has passed away. What was weird to me was the girls seemed to have issues going to the lake after this with their dad and new mother, but the mom died when they were just babies which made it seem out of the ordinary for them to be so distressed by this trip. I felt like this book was "trying" to solve a problem when there wasn't one.
The biggest problem is the fact that Abi is becoming interested in boys, which is having a negative effect on Claire. Which I think is a cute part of the story, but it certainly doesn't feel like the point of this story. I will admit this is a sweet story about sisters and family.
Another major issue why I couldn't give this book more than two stars is that the younger sisters voice is really annoying, and seems a bit immature for a girl her age. It made the whole seem ridiculous and made me lose interest. My next issue is that these sisters are just odd and slightly immature for their age. Some of the characters are just so annoying and I very much disliked many of the characters.
The last thing that seemed weird was that he continued to come to this little cabin after all the pain that was associated with this place. Which is something I cannot get over, it just seemed odd to take your new woman to some place as special as where your late wife was often. I believed also that the dad sort of forced this on the girls and failed to get enough grief counseling.
Also while the writing is quite delightful and interesting, the fact that you really can;t seem to decide where to read the page when some poems have bolded parts, this was just rather frustrating as I have a reading issue when faced with challenges like that.
The title is sort of click bait. Yes there is a love story in here, and someone wants to kiss a boy but it really didn't go anywhere at all. I thought it was cool how the first letter in each poem spells out something. That must have taken the author a long time to finish. You can tell lots of love went into this book.
Even though I didn't love it like I thought I would, It does not reflect the book in any way, these opinions are my own. I encourage you to read this book and the comment on the post your thoughts. I would be delighted to have a conversation. It is, however, a cute middle grade, coming of age story
I checked this book out at my library, on a whim. Sometimes I get gems other times I get disappointed. How many books do you get at a time from the library, share your answer in the comment section!
UPDATE: After thinking about this book so much, I have new details to input. The first review was written in July 2017, the updated version was finished in August 2017.
I was sold on this book when I realized that this book was told in verse. This one sort of felt boring at times for me. I also realize that this is more a middle-grade novel, so I am not really the desired audience for this one. This book is told in three different perspectives, which is the lake, Abi, and Claire. What is unique is that each perspective has a different poetical format. Out of all of them, I found the lake to be the most interesting one. I didn't really like how depressive this book was.
These girls have always spent a month at the cabin on the lake every single summer. A terrible accident has happened and their mother has passed away. What was weird to me was the girls seemed to have issues going to the lake after this with their dad and new mother, but the mom died when they were just babies which made it seem out of the ordinary for them to be so distressed by this trip. I felt like this book was "trying" to solve a problem when there wasn't one.
The biggest problem is the fact that Abi is becoming interested in boys, which is having a negative effect on Claire. Which I think is a cute part of the story, but it certainly doesn't feel like the point of this story. I will admit this is a sweet story about sisters and family.
Another major issue why I couldn't give this book more than two stars is that the younger sisters voice is really annoying, and seems a bit immature for a girl her age. It made the whole seem ridiculous and made me lose interest. My next issue is that these sisters are just odd and slightly immature for their age. Some of the characters are just so annoying and I very much disliked many of the characters.
The last thing that seemed weird was that he continued to come to this little cabin after all the pain that was associated with this place. Which is something I cannot get over, it just seemed odd to take your new woman to some place as special as where your late wife was often. I believed also that the dad sort of forced this on the girls and failed to get enough grief counseling.
Also while the writing is quite delightful and interesting, the fact that you really can;t seem to decide where to read the page when some poems have bolded parts, this was just rather frustrating as I have a reading issue when faced with challenges like that.
The title is sort of click bait. Yes there is a love story in here, and someone wants to kiss a boy but it really didn't go anywhere at all. I thought it was cool how the first letter in each poem spells out something. That must have taken the author a long time to finish. You can tell lots of love went into this book.
Even though I didn't love it like I thought I would, It does not reflect the book in any way, these opinions are my own. I encourage you to read this book and the comment on the post your thoughts. I would be delighted to have a conversation. It is, however, a cute middle grade, coming of age story
I checked this book out at my library, on a whim. Sometimes I get gems other times I get disappointed. How many books do you get at a time from the library, share your answer in the comment section!
August 20, 2017
When My Sister Started Kissing (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2017) is a coming of age story involving two sisters—Claire (10) and Abigail (13).
Having lost their mother at a very young age, Claire and Abigail have always been close, and until now, they've always enjoyed their summers together at the family lake house. But this year things are different. Mom's belongings have been replaced by a new stepmom and a baby on the way. Also, Abigail is exploring her identity, her independence, and her budding interest in boys, while Claire is not quite sure what to make of any of it. The novel is insightful and sensitive to the complex nature of family relationships in transition, and sympathetic to the trials of becoming a teenager and the personal growth entailed.
If you're familiar with any of Helen Frost's distinctive novels-in-poems, you already know the importance she places on using language and structured form to help convey story. For her, the structure of poetry and the sound of language is a "precise paintbrush" used to illustrate the essence of different characters. For example, in When My Sister Started Kissing, Claire's rhyming quatrains are set against Abi's free verse poems that resemble lightning; Claire's kayak poems show movement through water; and then there's my favorite—the voice of the lake. Lake poems are centered on the page to appear lake-like, but they are also acrostics. Reading down the first letters of each line spells out lines from other poems by William Blake, Gwendolyn Brooks, Pablo Neruda, William Stafford, Emily Dickinson, William Butler Yeats, and others. According to the "Notes on Form" at the back of the book, they represent the current running through the lake.
While novels-in-verse have clearly been gaining momentum in recent years, there are some verse novelists who have been writing narrative poetry well before it became trendy to do so. These are the verse novelists I will return to again and again, and Helen Frost is among them.
Having lost their mother at a very young age, Claire and Abigail have always been close, and until now, they've always enjoyed their summers together at the family lake house. But this year things are different. Mom's belongings have been replaced by a new stepmom and a baby on the way. Also, Abigail is exploring her identity, her independence, and her budding interest in boys, while Claire is not quite sure what to make of any of it. The novel is insightful and sensitive to the complex nature of family relationships in transition, and sympathetic to the trials of becoming a teenager and the personal growth entailed.
If you're familiar with any of Helen Frost's distinctive novels-in-poems, you already know the importance she places on using language and structured form to help convey story. For her, the structure of poetry and the sound of language is a "precise paintbrush" used to illustrate the essence of different characters. For example, in When My Sister Started Kissing, Claire's rhyming quatrains are set against Abi's free verse poems that resemble lightning; Claire's kayak poems show movement through water; and then there's my favorite—the voice of the lake. Lake poems are centered on the page to appear lake-like, but they are also acrostics. Reading down the first letters of each line spells out lines from other poems by William Blake, Gwendolyn Brooks, Pablo Neruda, William Stafford, Emily Dickinson, William Butler Yeats, and others. According to the "Notes on Form" at the back of the book, they represent the current running through the lake.
While novels-in-verse have clearly been gaining momentum in recent years, there are some verse novelists who have been writing narrative poetry well before it became trendy to do so. These are the verse novelists I will return to again and again, and Helen Frost is among them.
January 2, 2018
This novel written in verse is a wonderful summer read (or a winter read when you're dreaming of the warm, lazy days of summer).
Claire is just about to turn eleven. Every summer, she stays at the family cabin with her sister, Abigail, and her dad, but this year things are very different. For the first time, her dad's new wife, Pam, is coming with them, and Pam is expecting a baby any day. Claire isn't very happy to find her mother's things removed, and the cabin set up to Pam's liking. And she's even less excited about the changes that she starts to see in Abigail, who now insists on being called Abi. Boys, kissing, sneaking out, keeping secrets...this is a new world for Claire, and she doesn't understand why everything can't just stay the same.
This is a book about learning to adapt to change, and it is told in Claire, Abi, and the lake's points of view (I LOVE the lake's perspective on the girls and what's happening in their lives). I like how this book captures Claire's innocence; she's not interested in boys, and doesn't understand all the fuss about them, and yet she (and also the reader) get their first glimpse into Abi's new feelings. We watch as Claire copes with Abi's transition from her playmate, to a teenager who wants to spend time with friends and is interested in boys. It also addresses the feelings that many kids experience when a parent has a child with a new partner.
I'd recommend this book for an upper elementary, lower middle grade read.
Claire is just about to turn eleven. Every summer, she stays at the family cabin with her sister, Abigail, and her dad, but this year things are very different. For the first time, her dad's new wife, Pam, is coming with them, and Pam is expecting a baby any day. Claire isn't very happy to find her mother's things removed, and the cabin set up to Pam's liking. And she's even less excited about the changes that she starts to see in Abigail, who now insists on being called Abi. Boys, kissing, sneaking out, keeping secrets...this is a new world for Claire, and she doesn't understand why everything can't just stay the same.
This is a book about learning to adapt to change, and it is told in Claire, Abi, and the lake's points of view (I LOVE the lake's perspective on the girls and what's happening in their lives). I like how this book captures Claire's innocence; she's not interested in boys, and doesn't understand all the fuss about them, and yet she (and also the reader) get their first glimpse into Abi's new feelings. We watch as Claire copes with Abi's transition from her playmate, to a teenager who wants to spend time with friends and is interested in boys. It also addresses the feelings that many kids experience when a parent has a child with a new partner.
I'd recommend this book for an upper elementary, lower middle grade read.
May 9, 2018
Frost, Helen When My Sister Started Kissing, 187 pages. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2017. $17. Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG.
Claire and Abigail always look forward to their vacations at their cabin. This year however, is a little different. Ten year old Claire and thirteen year old Abigail are going to their cabin with their dad and their new pregnant mom, Pam. The family is having a good time so far, but Claire is not comfortable with Pam yet. Claire also notices that her sister is acting different, she spends most of her time at the beach and mall than ever before. Claire just wishes things were back to normal.
This book was great! I loved the characters and their personalities! I also liked how the story is very relatable. The one thing I did not like about it was the layout of the book. I do not like how the pages are typed like a poem would be typed. It is very annoying to flip a page every three seconds. Over all, it is a great book!
EL, MS - ADVISABLE 7th grade Student RW
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Claire and Abigail always look forward to their vacations at their cabin. This year however, is a little different. Ten year old Claire and thirteen year old Abigail are going to their cabin with their dad and their new pregnant mom, Pam. The family is having a good time so far, but Claire is not comfortable with Pam yet. Claire also notices that her sister is acting different, she spends most of her time at the beach and mall than ever before. Claire just wishes things were back to normal.
This book was great! I loved the characters and their personalities! I also liked how the story is very relatable. The one thing I did not like about it was the layout of the book. I do not like how the pages are typed like a poem would be typed. It is very annoying to flip a page every three seconds. Over all, it is a great book!
EL, MS - ADVISABLE 7th grade Student RW
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
December 18, 2017
I loved this book. And it is not about a bunch of kissing. Even though the book is written from three different perspectives--Claire (the younger sister), Abi (the older sister-the one interested in kissing) and the lake, I still feel the main focus on the book is on Claire and how her life changed that summer her family went to the family cabin at the lake (and her sister got really interested in boys). I love that this is written in poetry. The author writes each perspective using a different form of poetry--(Abi) free-verse but also shaped at the same time, (Claire) quatrains (most of the lines rhyming) and (the lake)acrostics. When Claire takes the kayak out on the lake, the author includes shapes in those poems.
The author also makes subtle hints about the character of the boy, T.J. Even though he is not a main character at the beginning, you seem to find yourself rooting for this guy over the new guy, Brock, that Abi meets that summer.
The author also makes subtle hints about the character of the boy, T.J. Even though he is not a main character at the beginning, you seem to find yourself rooting for this guy over the new guy, Brock, that Abi meets that summer.
November 9, 2017
Full admission... I’m a huge fan of Helen Frost’s books, always intrigued by her finesse with both story and poetic forms.
This is no exception.
The tender transition from girl to adolescent is a tricky one to write about in any form. This shift in hormones and hungers is viewed through the eyes of Clair, the younger sister, and Abi, the older one. Even the LAKE has a voice, one which uses acrostics to layer poetic quotations onto the deep currents of the all-seeing waters.
The variety and suitability of various forms provide a rhythm and repetition to the shifting voices and choices of Abi and Clair.
Resolutions of various dramas and relationships are satisfying, but in no way are they simplistic.
This is no exception.
The tender transition from girl to adolescent is a tricky one to write about in any form. This shift in hormones and hungers is viewed through the eyes of Clair, the younger sister, and Abi, the older one. Even the LAKE has a voice, one which uses acrostics to layer poetic quotations onto the deep currents of the all-seeing waters.
The variety and suitability of various forms provide a rhythm and repetition to the shifting voices and choices of Abi and Clair.
Resolutions of various dramas and relationships are satisfying, but in no way are they simplistic.
March 20, 2018
This is a story about two sisters, Abigail and Claire, at their summer cabin, told exclusively through poetry. This verse novel sheds light on what it's like to grow up. The girls have been coming to the lake house every summer since they were little, but their mother died there when Abi was 3 and Claire not quite 1. Now, it is 10 years later and they are returning with their new step-mother who is due to have a baby any day. Claire no longer knows where she fits in the family, Abi is suddenly in the midst of liking boys, kissing boys, and sneaking out to meet boys, and their dad has no idea why they would miss all of their mom's stuff that used to clutter up the cabin. Overall, this would be a good book to have in a middle school classroom or even a high school classroom.
June 10, 2018
Living up to its utterly delightful title, this is a gentle coming-of-age story that captures the bewildering divide between late childhood and early adolescence. The book opens with a shocking scene in which the young mother of a toddler and infant is struck by lightning while on the beach of the family’s cabin. Ten years later, Abigail and Claire are back at the cabin with their father like every summer, yet everything has changed. Dad has remarried and stepmother Pam is expecting a baby boy. As if this hasn’t thrown almost-eleven-year-old Claire off-balance enough, her older sister, now going by Abi, seems more interested in the local boys than in honoring the sisters’ annual rituals. Altogether, a quick, satisfying novel in verse.
January 15, 2023
Beautifully written, the emotions shine through each and every poem in this Novel in Verse. Claire, 10, and Abigail/Abi, 13, have spent a month every summer at the lake house with their dad, but this year is very different because their new stepmother, Pam, is expecting a baby any day now. All signs of their own deceased mother have been removed from the cottage, Abi, as she asks to be called, now is interested in boys, and Claire feels left out and as if she’s lost her whole family. The poems alternate between the girls and the lake and show the angsts of growing up and evolving relationships of a family growing and changing as well. Humor, sadness, loss, the wonders of natures, exploring the multifaceted faces of love make this a heartwarming and satisfying novel.
May 17, 2017
Beautifully written short novel in verse that alternates perspectives among 3 characters: 11-year-old Claire, 13-year-old Abi, and the lake where the girls' father has a cabin. The novel mostly focuses on Claire dealing with her feelings about her older sister growing up and her father's new wife. I couldn't help but wonder if my own little sister felt the same way as she watched me navigate my first crush. Claire and Abi's voices are real and relatable. My middle grade readers will recognize their own sibling & family relationships in this novel. The addition of the lake's voice offers a voice of ageless wisdom.
December 17, 2017
I enjoyed this book! The story alternates between the viewpoints of Claire, her older sister Abigail, and the lake. Claire is battling with her emotions about her new step-family and her distancing relationship with her older sister. Abigail is discovering her interest in boys and in relationships. The lake reminiscences about the sister's past visits and gives a third party account of the sisters' actions. Helen Frost masterfully tells the story in different poetry forms to paint a picture of the feelings, emotions, and situations of each character. The story structure flows smoothly, freely, and melodiously like floating on a quiet lake.
May 30, 2017
Simple but appealing verse novel about a summer at a lake. Claire's family- mom, older sister Abigail, and dad have been coming to the lake forever. It was always her mother's favorite place. And even after her mother's tragic death at the lake it is the place that embodies family and tradition for Claire, which is why it's so hard to go there with her new step mom Pam and new little brother. But there are lots of changes the summer Claire turns 11 and sharing the lake with her new family is only one of them.
July 26, 2017
"When My Sister Started Kissing" is a wonderful book, written in different poetry forms. Helen Frost writes the narrative from the Claire's, Abigail's, and the lake's perspective, using a different style of poetry for each point of view. The flow and the tone of the story really captures the feeling of kayaking on a lake, taking the reader through the characters' experience of family, romance, emotions, and change.
Recommended for grades 4-7. Lexile level 690.
Reviewed by Christine Hwang, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
Recommended for grades 4-7. Lexile level 690.
Reviewed by Christine Hwang, Youth and School Services, Vernon Area Public Library
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews