First published 2014
Raina dreamed of becoming a big sister, but baby Amara turns out cranky and difficult. The girls clash constantly as they grow up. Amara prefers solitude while Raina wants connection. Their bond grows more strained over the years. When their parents have a baby brother and marital problems surface, the sisters face bigger challenges. During a family road trip from San Francisco to Colorado for a reunion, Raina reflects on their troubled history through flashbacks. The journey forces both girls to confront their differences and discover what being sisters really means. Telgemeier weaves present day scenes with memories to explore sibling rivalry, family dynamics, and the messy reality of growing up together. Despite their conflicts, Raina and Amara must learn to understand each other.
Genres: contemporary, young-adult, realistic-fiction, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Colorado, San Francisco
Period: 21st-century
208 pages · Paperback · Scholastic, Inc.