Bad Sister

Anyone with a sibling or a relative who’s close to their age has likely been both ringmaster and unknowing victim of seemingly harmless games. As Cherise reflects on her childhood fun with her brother in her graphic memoir Bad Sister, readers will feel her guilt building up: she knew just the right buttons to push to get her kind, rule-abiding brother to get him to bend to do what she wanted. From bouncing a little too vigorously on a giant inner tube their father brought home, to crawling into dumpsters looking for their next haul of free office supplies, Cherise never hesitates to push her ever-reluctant little brother into risky and entertaining situations. Like most fun and games, their adventures often end in injury, with Daniel getting hurt and Cherise pleading with him not to tell.

Like many siblings, Cherise didn’t encourage her little brother to behave recklessly so he’d get hurt. He may have been a bit reluctant, but he was always a willing participant. Acknowledging she reveled in the power she had over her brother, she also admits to being jealous of what she saw as his superpowers: his ability to recognize people out of context, always know the right thing to do in social situations, and his endless supply of kindness. He would never have tried to convince her to eat cat food or put her in a situation where she could easily get hurt. The results of her behaviour leave Cherise and her parents frequently asking what’s wrong with her, although the answer is simple: she’s just a kid.

Action-packed colour illustrations bring the personalities of each character to life. Readers will feel like part of the family, feeling joy and shame along with them, and cringing with Cherise as she relives agonizing childhood memories. Eldest siblings will feel for Cherise, knowing the joy that comes with getting younger sibling to do what you want, and younger siblings will, perhaps, understand why elder siblings do what they do. Bad Sister would be perfect to read with a parent, voicing the characters and sharing some memories, and maybe becoming a little more forgiving when children get up to mischief. A terrific roller coaster of a read!