By: Courtney Waters
Indonesia, 1994: 12-year-old Abby wishes she were an only child. Her four younger siblings are always cramping her style - getting into Abby’s stuff, being obnoxious, and embarrassing Abby in front of her friends. As such, Abby tries to spend as little time at home with “the zoo animals” as she can, but when her best friends ask to come over to her house, Abby decides the risk of humiliation is worth it and brings them over. Alas, her younger siblings do what younger siblings do and when Abby reacts badly, her friends are shocked and leave abruptly. It appears that, just like her mother, her friends seem to think that being the oldest means taking the blame with grace whenever the younger ones act up. It’s just not fair; Abby is sick of the responsibility of being the oldest when she’s just a kid herself. There’s so much more to her than just being a big sister.
Just as Abby is beginning to adjust to her best friends distancing themselves from her, one of her siblings falls ill with chickenpox. Like dominoes, the rest of her siblings all come down with fevers and itchy bumps. Even Abby starts to show symptoms, earning her a week of lockdown with all four bored and itchy siblings. It’s her worst nightmare! As the week wears on, Abby has plenty of time to ruminate on her role as a big sister, as a friend and as an individual. Can Abby make peace with her siblings, her friends, and most of all, herself?
This charming graphic novel for the middle grade age group will introduce young readers to a time where nearly every kid had to suffer through chickenpox since the vaccine has only been available since 1995. Though the time and place will be unfamiliar to today’s kids, Abby’s relationship with her siblings and friends will ring true to anyone who has been through or is experiencing adolescence. Remy Lai has written numerous books for this age group and deftly captures those awkward in-between years where kids yearn to be seen as mature, yet are unable to quite set aside their more childish impulses. Abby’s growth as an older sister and friend will help young readers, particularly those with brothers and sisters, feel seen and understood. This highly accessible graphic novel is highly recommended for kids who love realistic, humorous, coming-of-age stories.