4 out of 4 stars
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My Sister, My Friend by Barbara Dominick follows Jill and her sometimes-turbulent relationship with her older sister, Chris. One day after school, Jill decides to stick around and play with the other school children who are involved in a snowball fight. Chris is less than impressed with Jill’s dirty appearance after the game and is eager to tell their mother about Jill’s ‘unladylike’ actions. As the two walk home, Jill can’t help but fret about the situation as she tries to convince Chris not to tell. However, Jill catches Chris in an unexpected situation that may give Jill the upper hand she was hoping for.
The message in this book is one about family and mutual understanding. The two main characters, Jill and Chris, realistically represent a sisterhood bond and the many ups and downs associated with the familial relationship. The portrayal of the conflict and subsequent resolution between the two is simple enough that the intended audience will be able to understand, but complicated enough for children to wonder how the story will unfold. Further, the narrative is told from Jill’s perspective. Though she is the younger sister, her point of view will translate well for children as well as younger adolescents. Her thoughts are complex, and her fears and actions are appropriate for her age. Jill and Chris will both be easy for children to connect with.
The balance between pictures and narrative in this book is unusual for a picture book. There are full page pictures in My Sister, My Friend, but there are significantly more pages with just words. That being said, the balance of the two works well. Older independent readers will feel challenged by the word length and find the pictures to be an engaging break from the narrative.
In My Sister, My Friend, the illustrations enrich the story of the two sisters, but they aren’t the main focus. The images are bright, eye-catching, and appear to be drawn at a level suitable for the intended audience. There isn’t an overwhelming amount of detail in each image, but there is enough to hold one’s interest while digesting the events that take place in the story.
Overall, there is nothing to dislike about this book, and nothing prevents me from rating My Sister, My Friend 4 out of 4 stars. The themes are classic, yet relevant; the characters are realistic, and the narrative perspective is relatable for the intended audience. The length of this book and the more mature message the author conveys to the reader make My Sister, My Friend suitable for independent readers with a good grasp of vocabulary and a basic understanding of complex themes. This book would most appeal to female readers between the ages of 6 and 10.
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"My Sister, My Friend"
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