Sisters
2014
- comics & graphic novels
- juvenile nonfiction
- families
- brothers and sisters
- family
- cartoonists
- social topics
- cartoons and comics
- interpersonal relations
- siblings
The story
Raina Telgemeier’s #1 New York Times bestselling, Eisner Award-winning companion to Smile! Raina can't wait to be a big sister. But once Amara is born, things aren't quite how she expected them to be. Amara is cute, but she's also a cranky, grouchy baby, and mostly prefers to play by herself. Their relationship doesn't improve much over the years, but when a baby brother enters the picture and later, something doesn't seem right between their parents, they realize they must figure out how to get along. They are sisters, after all.Raina uses her signature humor and charm in both present-day narrative and perfectly placed flashbacks to tell the story of her relationship with her sister, which unfolds during the course of a road trip from their home in San Francisco to a family reunion in Colorado.
What it’s like
Bright, clean comics panels in soft pastel washes, with the warm, slightly rounded linework of a kid's-eye view and plenty of open white space around the dialogue. The road-trip present plays out in sunny daylight through car windows and motel rooms, while flashbacks drift into softer, more muted tones, so the page itself seems to shift between now and then. The rhythm is brisk and conversational, built from short exchanges and quick visual gags that land a beat before the quieter, more reflective moments. Its vibe is warm, funny and wistful, the kind of gentle sibling comedy that suits a lazy afternoon, a long drive as a passenger, or a comfort reread. Emotional register stays low-stakes and honest: an older sister slowly rethinking a prickly, distant younger sister, and two kids learning that family friction can soften with time. Tension from parental trouble is present but handled quietly, with no violence, no gore and no sexual content, just the mild unease of a changing household. Written for readers who want a tender, humorous story about siblings, especially those who enjoy graphic memoir and all-ages comics.
More books like Sisters
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Sistersand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
