Graphic Novel: Sisters

Title: Sisters

Author and Illustrator: Raina Telgemeier

Genre: Non-fiction (memoir)

Major Awards: The Will Eisner Comic Industry Award (Eisner Award), USA Today Bestseller, New York Times Editors Choice, #1 New York Times Bestseller, Indie Bestseller

Age Group: 7-12 years old

Sisters; written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier is a graphic novel that tells the true story of the relationship between Raina and her younger sister Amara. Like most siblings, Raina and her sister have their disagreements and don’t always get along, but their relationship is tested even further when they are forced to be in a car together on their family’s road trip from San Francisco to Colorado for their family reunion. The novel is told both in the present as the family is making their way to Colorado and in flashbacks from when Raina was younger. Her memories are reminiscent of being an only child and begging her parents for a sister, to becoming a big sister, to memories of her childhood with Amara and their brother Will and realizing that being a big sister isn’t exactly as she imagined it would be. The road trip itself doesn’t go perfectly and the family hits some bumps along the road, but when their car breaks down and their mom leaves with their brother to find a tow truck, the two sisters as they wait in the car, learn of compromise and have an endearing moment between the two of them.

This book is a wonderful addition to any 3^rd-7^th grade class library; the graphic novel discusses family dynamics and sibling relationships which are topics that students can connect with on varying levels. The structure of the book itself makes it an easy read for students with the memory pages being a distinct color to differentiate them from the rest of the novel. The illustrations include fun maps and diagrams throughout the story to further draw the reader in and fell as though they are a part of the story. Sisters can be included into the classroom as a fun and innovative way to introduce the class to the genre of non-fiction. The class can read the graphic novel, and after discussing the genre and the various types of non-fiction stories (biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs) the students can write and draw their own narrative piece about a trip they took with their families.