Skip to main content

The Sister Solution

By

The Sister Solution
by Trudi Trueit
Aladdin, 2015. Fiction. 240p.

Sammi’s little sister, Jorgianna, has always been the brilliant one, winning competitions and awards and getting all the attention. Sammi doesn’t mind so much since she has her own 8th grade life to live. But when Jorgianna’s teachers decide it’s time for her to skip two whole grades, making her Sammi’s new classmate, Sammi feels like her world is ending. Embarrassed by her sister’s outrageous fashion sense and jealous of her immediate entry into the popular clique that Sammi herself has been trying to join for months, Sammi makes Jorgianna agree to a contract that they will have absolutely zero contact at school.

On the other side of things, Jorgianna wishes she had her sister’s beauty, grace, and social skills. She wishes Sammi could be proud of her achievements and would love her help adjusting to 8th grade, but with Sammi’s new hostile attitude, Jorgianna decides to go it alone. Will these two sisters ever discover that they are stronger together?

This is a great tween book told in alternating chapters that presents a realistic sibling relationship: at times combative, often complicated, but deep down, loving and loyal (without being sticky sweet). The story is full of school and popularity struggles, including junior high crushes, a first kiss, and a little “mean girl” action, but mostly it’s about family bonds – with siblings, parents, and grandparents – and how they help us navigate through life.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Faker

By
Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Umami

By
  Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience?  Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five Faves: Easy Readers of 2024

By
Hello world! I know you have been anticipating the release of this list all year... my favorite easy readers! Whether they're funny or sweet, these titles are all great for kids taking their first steps for reading. So without further ado...here are my five favorite easy readers of 2024. Lone Wolf Goes to School Written by Kiah Thomas Illustrated by K-Fai Steele New York: Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2024. Easy Reader.  Lone wolf would spend all of his time alone if he could. Unfortunately, he has to go to school with the "snotty" kids, and even when he leaves school there's people at the beach, on the mountains, and at the movie theater. What's a wolf to do? Invite them all to a party at his house and then leave so that all the places he wants to be are empty, of course! If you're looking for a moralistic read-aloud that will teach the virtues of making friends so that you aren't lonely, you should definitely look elsewhere. However, if you're loo...
Post a Comment
Read more