by Kevin Henkes
First published 1983
Margaret has it all figured out. When balloons need buying or when Grandfather's birthday present needs choosing, she knows exactly how to come out ahead of her younger brother Taylor. She's the older sister, after all. She's smarter, quicker, and always one step ahead in their daily competitions and schemes. But Taylor might not be as easy to outwit as Margaret assumes. Each situation that seems like a guaranteed win for the clever big sister turns into something more complicated. The balloons don't go according to plan. The birthday present creates unexpected problems. What looked like simple sibling rivalry becomes a series of surprises that challenge everything Margaret thought she knew about being in charge. Kevin Henkes captures the push and pull between siblings who love each other but can't stop trying to get the upper hand. Margaret learns that being the older sister doesn't always mean being the winner, and that sometimes the best victories come from the most unexpected places.
Genres: fiction, family-life, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
64 pages · Unbound · Greenwillow