Saturday, 17 November 2012

The Worst Thing About My Sister by Jacqueline Wilson (Children's, 9 years +, 10/10)



6th December 2012, Corgi Yearling
282 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Themes: sibling rivalry, having to share a bedroom, being total opposites with your sister, fighting, bickering, being mean, being bullied, getting into trouble, tragic accident, lots of laughs, a tissue will be needed


Marty and her sister Melissa couldn't be more different. Marty loves her Converse trainers, playing football, hiding in her secret den and helping her dad with his DIY. But Melissa loves Justin Bieber and all things pink, girly and pretty.

The sisters can manage to live together, despite their occasional scraps but then Mum tells them they have to share a room. For Marty, having to share her bunk beds and lose her private sanctuary turns out to be the very worst thing about having a sister. But the girls soon discover that being too close for comfort can have unexpected consequences, and when an accident happens, the sisters realise they are closer than they thought.

Nayuleska's thoughts

This was a scary read because it was so realistic. It's easy to relate to how Marty feels about being the youngest, and feeling not quite good enough. The way she reacts to being bullied - and also the way her parents and teachers react - is an accurate example of the consequences of bullying can be. 

It is normal for siblings to dislike each other, but as Marty and Melissa show they both love each other deep down. Sometimes it takes something awful to happen for people to realise their behaviour isn't quite as right as they assume it to be. Whether you have a sister or not, this is a 10/10 read.

You can find out more on Jacqueline's website

Suggested read

Another book about sisters try Summer's Dream by Cathy Cassidy


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