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Bad Sister
This middle grade graphic memoir by Charise Mericle Harper, featuring illustrations by Rory Lucey, follows a young girl who undergoes a crisis of conscience, realizing that she is a “bad sister.”
Meet Charise.
She’s energetic, helpful, a model pet owner and full of inventions.
But she’s also a bad sister. When she goes too far and breaks little brother Daniel’s tooth, can she redeem herself? Is an accident really an accident if you could have stopped it?
But most importantly... What does it mean to be a good sister?
Meet Charise.
She’s energetic, helpful, a model pet owner and full of inventions.
But she’s also a bad sister. When she goes too far and breaks little brother Daniel’s tooth, can she redeem herself? Is an accident really an accident if you could have stopped it?
But most importantly... What does it mean to be a good sister?
240 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 2021
57 people are currently reading
1047 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
November 17, 2021
When you are a big sister, it is so hard to use the right superpowers. That pesky little brother monopolizes the attention of your parents, wants to have everything you have, copies you, and on top of everything else seems to be nicer than you. In Charise Mericle Harper's middle-grade graphic memoir, we get a glimpse of her life as a big sister to brother Daniel. They have some really fun adventures together (like making up games while running errands with the parents) or dumpster diving next to the offices behind their house. There are also plenty of times when their wild ideas for fun end in someone getting hurt -- usually Daniel. When he gets into an accident and damages a tooth, then Charise decides to make a change. She has run out of sorries. Will her brother find his super power of forgiveness? This book is obviously set in the 70's or 80's when kids had more freedom to roam the neighborhood. Readers who have enjoyed Raina Telgemeier, Shannon Hale, and Victoria Jamieson will also want to check this one out.
October 11, 2021
Charise recounts the many occasions when she was mean to her little brother, until one day she goes too far. Now there is a visual reminder to be nicer. A fun read with a few AWW! moments, similar in style and tone to the works of Shannon Hale and Raina Telgemeier.
It's a good thing I was an only child. I'd have been a bad sister, too.
It's a good thing I was an only child. I'd have been a bad sister, too.
June 7, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and First Second Books for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
This middle-grade graphic novel/memoir will no doubt delight today's youthful readers while also triggering many memories of sibling relationships. Like the author, I was the eldest and I wasn't always nice to my younger brother either. This reminded me very much of the sister-brother dynamic of Judy Blume's The Pain and the Great One.
However, I did have some difficulties with parts of it, I felt that sometimes the parents were guilty of shaming Charise for some of her behaviour. Particularly, the episode with the visitor who took them out for a treat. That one was definitely a head-scratcher for me as an adult reader. Secondly, as other reviewers have already pointed out Charise's face blindness is mentioned in one vignette and then never mentioned again.
All in all, I would recommend to young readers.
Goodreads review published 07/06/21
Expected Publication Date 13/07/21
This middle-grade graphic novel/memoir will no doubt delight today's youthful readers while also triggering many memories of sibling relationships. Like the author, I was the eldest and I wasn't always nice to my younger brother either. This reminded me very much of the sister-brother dynamic of Judy Blume's The Pain and the Great One.
However, I did have some difficulties with parts of it, I felt that sometimes the parents were guilty of shaming Charise for some of her behaviour. Particularly, the episode with the visitor who took them out for a treat. That one was definitely a head-scratcher for me as an adult reader. Secondly, as other reviewers have already pointed out Charise's face blindness is mentioned in one vignette and then never mentioned again.
All in all, I would recommend to young readers.
Goodreads review published 07/06/21
Expected Publication Date 13/07/21
November 20, 2025
Graphic memoirs have become a favorite of mine and I enjoy them in any age group I can find them in. This one brought back a lot of memories from my childhood, except I was the youngest and my brother was the one with all the bad ideas. I really liked the funny parts but there was an overall sadness to the book. Back in the 70's and 80's things were different. We got spanked and we didn't talk back, especially to dad. I feel bad for the author that she still holds this trauma. Her parents could have done better and listened to her more. That's usually how it is though. I think they need to start giving parents a little parenting course before their first child is born. 😊
November 5, 2021
I rarely write reviews, but I have to with this one. This is essentially a memoir where the author beats herself up repeatedly for being a bad kid. You know what? Not a single thing she did in the book was all that bad. Most of it wasn't even her fault. You know what was bad? Her god awful parents. Even for the 70s, the dysfunction is evident. Her dad was a terrifying nightmare. I hope someday someone tells her this.
December 15, 2021
Touching graphic novel about the love and relationship between two siblings, Charise (the author) and her brother Daniel. Tween fans of realistic graphic novels will want to give this one a try.
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November 23, 2021When you are a big sister, it is so hard to use the right superpowers. That pesky little brother monopolizes the attention of your parents, wants to have everything you have, copies you, and on top of everything else seems to be nicer than you. In Charise Mericle Harper's middle-grade graphic memoir, we get a glimpse of her life as a big sister to brother Daniel. They have some really fun adventures together (like making up games while running errands with the parents) or dumpster diving next to the offices behind their house. There are also plenty of times when their wild ideas for fun end in someone getting hurt -- usually Daniel. When he gets into an accident and damages a tooth, then Charise decides to make a change. She has run out of sorries. Will her brother find his super power of forgiveness? This book is obviously set in the 70's or 80's when kids had more freedom to roam the neighborhood. Readers who have enjoyed Raina Telgemeier, Shannon Hale, and Victoria Jamieson will also want to check this one out. *Reviewed by Darla from Red Bridge*
September 28, 2021
I don't think she was a bad sister I think people especially her parents expected way too much from her. They made her feel worse after all her mistakes and then they wouldn't even believe her. She was just a kid but they expected her to act like an adult.
October 7, 2021
Graphic Novel
I received an electronic ARC from First Second Books through NetGalley.
Charise tells the story of her interactions with her younger brother, other family members and her friends and community. The primary focus is her tangled feelings about her younger brother. The author offers brief hints that Charise may have some cognitive struggles (can't recognize faces, does not pick up on social cues) but never develops this information far enough for readers to empathise with Charise. Also, while acknowledging this is told from a child's perspective, the parents are not portrayed as loving or supportive. They don't seem to listen or offer encouragement but instead zero in on everything that goes wrong. And, yes, things certainly go wrong throughout this book. The title sets the tone and the story doesn't veer from this one dimensional aspect.
Middle grade readers will connect with the complicated family relationships and may identify with the older or younger sibling.
I received an electronic ARC from First Second Books through NetGalley.
Charise tells the story of her interactions with her younger brother, other family members and her friends and community. The primary focus is her tangled feelings about her younger brother. The author offers brief hints that Charise may have some cognitive struggles (can't recognize faces, does not pick up on social cues) but never develops this information far enough for readers to empathise with Charise. Also, while acknowledging this is told from a child's perspective, the parents are not portrayed as loving or supportive. They don't seem to listen or offer encouragement but instead zero in on everything that goes wrong. And, yes, things certainly go wrong throughout this book. The title sets the tone and the story doesn't veer from this one dimensional aspect.
Middle grade readers will connect with the complicated family relationships and may identify with the older or younger sibling.
December 14, 2020
Is Cherise really a bad sister to her younger brother Daniel? As the oldest, her need to dominate dictates her actions. Whatever the situation, she makes the rules and he plays along. The games (spinning in inner tubes, climbing into dumpsters, playing lawn hockey) end when someone gets hurt, cries, or both -- and it usually isn’t Cherise. She wants to be good and truthful, but she continues to lie and cheat to get her way. Daniel, naturally trusting and empathetic, forgives his sister over and over again, even when she’s downright mean. But two accidents with serious, painful consequences test the limits of Daniel’s (and their parents’) ability to forgive and forget. Rory Lucey’s retro color palette and artwork perfectly represent Cherise’s childhood memories. He depicts their deep sibling bond by portraying them together in almost every panel. It’s unfortunate that the author did not better develop her experience of Prosopagnosia (“face blindness”) or include a note with more information about the cognitive disorder. That criticism aside, Bad Sister is the kind of graphic memoir that leaves the reader longing to know what happens next in the author’s life.
December 22, 2020
Older sister, Charise is a jealous bully to younger brother, Daniel. She always puts him in danger. She can’t understand why she acts without thinking. Once they are older, Daniel shows her the way.
February 25, 2024
Very effectively conveys the feeling of stomach-twisting guilt.
Not sure why I would WANT that
Not sure why I would WANT that
October 19, 2021
Bad Sister is a graphic novel written by Charise Mericle Harper and illustrated by Rory Lucey. From the day baby Daniel arrives, crying so loudly that it hurts Charise's ears and absorbing her mother's attention, Charise starts growing into her role of bad sister.
Charise Mericle Harper has written more than fifty books for children, including the Crafty Cat, Fashion Kitty, and Just Grace series, and The Good For Nothing Button.
The layered and heartfelt vignettes comprising this graphic memoir depict the delights and burdens of older siblinghood, with each section dedicated to a different sisterly superpower. Charise, who has prosopagnosia and sometimes struggles with social cues, leads little brother Daniel on adventures that indicate a pre-helicopter-parent childhood.
The two wrestle and tumble, roll an inclusive set of neighborhood kids around in a giant inner tube, and search for treasure in local dumpsters. However, Daniel is often the victim of Charise’s impulsiveness and power grabs, and she experiences a mix of guilt, envy, and frustration as a result of her actions.
When Charise accidentally knocks Daniel’s tooth out during a rough game of field hockey, his off-color replacement tooth becomes proof that she was bad. Resolution arrives in a subtle, realistic form, as Charise realizes her power to lead and keep Daniel safe. Just as importantly, it becomes clear that her intuitive, gregarious brother has talents of his own.
Bad Sister is written and constructed moderately well. Paired with Lucey's playful Sunday comics-style illustrations, the story takes a resonant dive into the insular world of children – especially siblings. However, some of the actions that the parents take are rather questionable – even in their day and time. Furthermore, her prosopagnosia is mentioned once and never again – as it was no big deal.
Regardless, readers will relate to the rivalry, ambivalent feelings, and raw honesty. By the end, they become partners, with the power to forgive. This is a powerful story of growth, self-awareness, and genuine insight into family relationships.
All in all, Bad Sister is cathartic proof that childhood provides lessons for a lifetime and that change is possible.
Charise Mericle Harper has written more than fifty books for children, including the Crafty Cat, Fashion Kitty, and Just Grace series, and The Good For Nothing Button.
The layered and heartfelt vignettes comprising this graphic memoir depict the delights and burdens of older siblinghood, with each section dedicated to a different sisterly superpower. Charise, who has prosopagnosia and sometimes struggles with social cues, leads little brother Daniel on adventures that indicate a pre-helicopter-parent childhood.
The two wrestle and tumble, roll an inclusive set of neighborhood kids around in a giant inner tube, and search for treasure in local dumpsters. However, Daniel is often the victim of Charise’s impulsiveness and power grabs, and she experiences a mix of guilt, envy, and frustration as a result of her actions.
When Charise accidentally knocks Daniel’s tooth out during a rough game of field hockey, his off-color replacement tooth becomes proof that she was bad. Resolution arrives in a subtle, realistic form, as Charise realizes her power to lead and keep Daniel safe. Just as importantly, it becomes clear that her intuitive, gregarious brother has talents of his own.
Bad Sister is written and constructed moderately well. Paired with Lucey's playful Sunday comics-style illustrations, the story takes a resonant dive into the insular world of children – especially siblings. However, some of the actions that the parents take are rather questionable – even in their day and time. Furthermore, her prosopagnosia is mentioned once and never again – as it was no big deal.
Regardless, readers will relate to the rivalry, ambivalent feelings, and raw honesty. By the end, they become partners, with the power to forgive. This is a powerful story of growth, self-awareness, and genuine insight into family relationships.
All in all, Bad Sister is cathartic proof that childhood provides lessons for a lifetime and that change is possible.
February 3, 2021
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
A fun illustration of the ups and downs of a brother-sister relationship. It reads more like a collection of stories/memories than as a graphic novel with an overarching plot (though there is a main theme of "being bad" and forgiveness). I enjoyed it, though; and I was especially intrigued by the unique mention of the main character's difficulty in recognizing faces (prosopagnosia). (That could probably be turned into a whole book!) I wonder why the author didn't illustrate this one herself since she is an author-illustrator... and I'm also curious about what her relationship with her brother is like now as grown-ups! This will be an easy sell to kids who like graphic novels.
A fun illustration of the ups and downs of a brother-sister relationship. It reads more like a collection of stories/memories than as a graphic novel with an overarching plot (though there is a main theme of "being bad" and forgiveness). I enjoyed it, though; and I was especially intrigued by the unique mention of the main character's difficulty in recognizing faces (prosopagnosia). (That could probably be turned into a whole book!) I wonder why the author didn't illustrate this one herself since she is an author-illustrator... and I'm also curious about what her relationship with her brother is like now as grown-ups! This will be an easy sell to kids who like graphic novels.
November 3, 2020
As an older sister myself, I related all too well to Charise Mericle Harper's story. I, too, had (have!) the kindest and most forgiving younger brother. Yes, he was annoying because he was younger and seemed to always have it easier. I paved the way for him! I didn't like that I had to be responsible, and I took it out on him in all the uncomfortable ways that Cherise takes things out on her brother. It's a tough terrain to navigate, the complicated landscape of siblings. I appreciated the arc and lessons of Harper's memoir graphic novel, thoughtfully illustrated by Rory Lucey.
Eager to share it with students.
Eager to share it with students.
May 3, 2021
As the oldest, Cherise has a need to dominate her younger brother. Whatever the situation, she changes the rules and he plays along. When two bad accidents happen, test her brother’s limits to forgive and Cherise becomes wracked with guilt. Is she a bad sister? The art is well done. The characters are a little underdeveloped and it would’ve been nice to know more about not being able to recognize faces. However, the memoir is fairly well-done and teaches some important lessons about family and forgiveness. Readers who like graphic novels, memoirs, and stories about families will enjoy reading this book. 3 stars, Grades 5 to 8
November 15, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read and review.
Ugh - this one hit me in the heart. Told through chapters of events with her brother, a girl, Charise, feels that she is 'bad'. She learns lessons from her brother on forgiveness and how saying 'sorry' too often makes it loose all meaning. As a parent, there were many times when the story hit home. Children are so fragile and it breaks my heart that Charise felt so alone. I really hope the author writes more; she is definitely one to watch.
Ugh - this one hit me in the heart. Told through chapters of events with her brother, a girl, Charise, feels that she is 'bad'. She learns lessons from her brother on forgiveness and how saying 'sorry' too often makes it loose all meaning. As a parent, there were many times when the story hit home. Children are so fragile and it breaks my heart that Charise felt so alone. I really hope the author writes more; she is definitely one to watch.
October 10, 2021
As an older, reformed “bad” sister myself, I understood this book and saw myself in the main character. I do think that there are some points where the parents amplified the problem, rather than realizing that maybe the older sister cannot always be responsible for the younger sister (which, luckily, my parents did realize).
November 15, 2021
I think I owe my little brother *several* apologies.
January 21, 2022
I feel bad for Charisse. The parents were awful and treated her horribly
It was very strange that her face blindness was mentioned once and then never brought up again
It was very strange that her face blindness was mentioned once and then never brought up again
December 9, 2021
Cross-posted from my blog: http://quietandbusy.blogspot.com
I have a student this year that is really into graphic novels. She asks me almost every day if I have anything new to read. When the answer is yes, she devours whatever it is in record time and rereads it a time or two for good measure. She's been through all the graphic novels in my classroom library and the school library. She is a reader, through and through. Accordingly, I've been buying up new books for her to enjoy a few at a time since the school year began. One of those was Bad Sister, a graphic novel/memoir by Cherise Mericle Harper.
The plot of the novel is pretty simple. It is centered around the relationship between young siblings Cherise and Daniel as they are growing up together. Cherise struggles with feelings of jealousy and sibling rivalry and is often mean to Daniel. They bicker and fight frequently, and Cherise continually feels guilty about it. She knows that she's being a bad sister to him, but she has a lot of trouble controlling her impulses. When she goes too far one day and accidentally injures him, she goes through a crisis of conscience and must figure out how to build a healthier relationship with her brother.
This was a very basic story, but it was enjoyable to read and amazingly realistic. Anyone who grew up with a sibling will probably see themselves in the silly fights and semi-dangerous antics Cherise and Daniel get up to. The storyline itself isn't too exciting, but the sheer relatability makes this a sweet read that is perfect for a middle grades audience.
The art style in this actually wasn't my favorite. It definitely got the job done and looked fine, but it didn't stand out as anything especially great or beautiful to me. I usually don't have any issues with that aspect of graphic novels, so the fact that it stood out as something I wasn't wild about felt a little weird to me. That's a very minor criticism though, as I did enjoy the novel overall.
After I finished reading this, I passed it onto my student. She read it twice in the same day, so I'd say that it's a great choice for middle grade readers that enjoy realistic fiction. It makes you think quite a bit as well. I was definitely reflecting as I was reading on how I wasn't the best big sister growing up either. I wouldn't say that this is worth picking up as an adult, but it was a very heartfelt story that is perfect for its intended audience.
On a side note, with this novel, I am officially finished with my Goodreads Reading Challenge of 50 books for 2021!
I have a student this year that is really into graphic novels. She asks me almost every day if I have anything new to read. When the answer is yes, she devours whatever it is in record time and rereads it a time or two for good measure. She's been through all the graphic novels in my classroom library and the school library. She is a reader, through and through. Accordingly, I've been buying up new books for her to enjoy a few at a time since the school year began. One of those was Bad Sister, a graphic novel/memoir by Cherise Mericle Harper.
The plot of the novel is pretty simple. It is centered around the relationship between young siblings Cherise and Daniel as they are growing up together. Cherise struggles with feelings of jealousy and sibling rivalry and is often mean to Daniel. They bicker and fight frequently, and Cherise continually feels guilty about it. She knows that she's being a bad sister to him, but she has a lot of trouble controlling her impulses. When she goes too far one day and accidentally injures him, she goes through a crisis of conscience and must figure out how to build a healthier relationship with her brother.
This was a very basic story, but it was enjoyable to read and amazingly realistic. Anyone who grew up with a sibling will probably see themselves in the silly fights and semi-dangerous antics Cherise and Daniel get up to. The storyline itself isn't too exciting, but the sheer relatability makes this a sweet read that is perfect for a middle grades audience.
The art style in this actually wasn't my favorite. It definitely got the job done and looked fine, but it didn't stand out as anything especially great or beautiful to me. I usually don't have any issues with that aspect of graphic novels, so the fact that it stood out as something I wasn't wild about felt a little weird to me. That's a very minor criticism though, as I did enjoy the novel overall.
After I finished reading this, I passed it onto my student. She read it twice in the same day, so I'd say that it's a great choice for middle grade readers that enjoy realistic fiction. It makes you think quite a bit as well. I was definitely reflecting as I was reading on how I wasn't the best big sister growing up either. I wouldn't say that this is worth picking up as an adult, but it was a very heartfelt story that is perfect for its intended audience.
On a side note, with this novel, I am officially finished with my Goodreads Reading Challenge of 50 books for 2021!
June 9, 2023
A little painful to read. The amount of guilt and shame she felt as a child was unbearable. She briefly touches on her undiagnosed psychological disorders - I get that the story focuses more on her and her brother’s relationship, but I wish she had included an epilogue or afterword explaining more about her psychological health journey or at least something about how shame can be debilitating - something to steer young readers to help if they identify with similar feelings and/or experiences.
March 4, 2022
Similar to Raina Telgemeier, Charise Mericle Harper pens a memoir of her childhood with her brother, Daniel, and all the sibling rivalry and sibling togetherness that they experienced. Harper does an excellent job of showing the family dynamics. I wasn't extremely impressed with the artwork (by Rory Lucey), but it did a great job of depicting action and emotions. However, the font of the words was very small, and I had to use a magnifying glass to read it.
August 3, 2022
Where are my older sisters at? This reminded me a lot of my relationship with my younger brother Definitely not as much blood (!), but the constant bickering, annoying each other, play-fighting, imaginative games were all very relatable. Overall, I really loved seeing Charise's growth throughout the story and sweet little Daniel is just a gem. I really liked the illustrations by Rory Lucey and hope he creates more, too.
February 16, 2022
This graphic novel was riveting to me as it deals with the author's own childhood and how she felt so guilty that she was incredibly mean to her little brother (more than the average mean, or at least we see what is in her head). As the reader, you see her struggling internally with her decisions and the guilt she feels, especially when something bigger happens to him because of her. As I was reading, I kept thinking of how kids read graphic novels over and over again, and how each time they will get a bit more of the story which is one that many can relate to.
May 22, 2024
Not enough about the trying to be better and how it takes incremental, persistence to change. I think that would have been so helpful to have in a book for kids/adolescents, especially with how relatable the story telling and situations were in this book.
November 9, 2022
It was a very good book, I give it 100 stars!
November 13, 2021
Autobiographical graphic novel that churned up all the feels (and all the memories) about being a big sister. Really good.
September 10, 2021
The thing about being an older sibling is that you dont' realize how much you can hurt your younger brother or sister. I was a middle child, and while I dont' think my brothers ever cared if I got hurt or not, I certainly cared if I injured my younger sister.
And while it isn't a major point of the book, the incident where she breaks his front tooth by accident reminds me of when I broke my sister's front tooth. Let me tell you, face injuries cause a *lot* of blood. It looks as though they are dying. I really thought I had killed her.
But, that isn't a reason to think that you should feel guilty the rest of your childhood, as this sister seems to.
It is an interesting memoir, but other than the tooth incident, and the resulting guilt, it just appears to be a series of fights and activities she did with her brother. The face blindness is brought up once, but never brought up again. The ability to read people is also brought up, but never explored.
Not one that I'll probably reread, as I do with other books. But interesting one time read.
And while it isn't a major point of the book, the incident where she breaks his front tooth by accident reminds me of when I broke my sister's front tooth. Let me tell you, face injuries cause a *lot* of blood. It looks as though they are dying. I really thought I had killed her.
But, that isn't a reason to think that you should feel guilty the rest of your childhood, as this sister seems to.
It is an interesting memoir, but other than the tooth incident, and the resulting guilt, it just appears to be a series of fights and activities she did with her brother. The face blindness is brought up once, but never brought up again. The ability to read people is also brought up, but never explored.
Not one that I'll probably reread, as I do with other books. But interesting one time read.
April 13, 2022
Yet another powerful memoir.
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