“I was a bad sister.”

From Charise Mericle Harper’s Bad Sister.

Ever since she was a very young girl and her parents brought home her baby brother, Daniel, home, Charise has known she want a good sister. Talked with keeping an eye on Daniel, Charise tries to use the various powers that she has, such as coming up with fun games, tricking Daniel, and throwing blame off herself, but she still finds herself being bad at being a big sister. While Daniel is younger, more annoying, and often accident prone, Charise can’t deny that he possesses some powers—like recognizing people and forgiveness—that she just can’t manage to understand. As they grow older, Charise and Daniel overcome several challenges, but Charise’s struggle with thinking before acting continues to leave Daniel getting hurt. However, when Charise’s overwhelming desire to win results in Daniel being seriously injured, she strives to totally change her ways, think before she acts, and become the best sister she can be… if it’s not too late.

Inspired by the author’s childhood with her brother, this graphic novel is an enjoyable read that offers a deeper look at the struggles of growing up than most books. While any younger reader will find something to enjoy about the book, those with younger siblings will connect most with the main character. The illustrations are engaging and pairs well with the story, making Bad Sister an enjoyable weekend read.