I’ve missed libraries so much ever since the British Library shut down!
On a recent visit to Bangalore, I visited Kahaani Box, and I made a decision to join on the spur of the moment. There’s nothing like receiving a parcel of books I’m very unlikely to have read otherwise!
Neha from Kahaani Box recommended Dear Sister to me, so it was the first book I picked up. For one, I take librarian recommendations very seriously. For another, she and I both have a sister, and that was one of the reasons for the recommendation. And it was such a gorgeous read!
The first thing to love about Dear Sister is the way it is designed. It looks like letters written by a child who is growing up! Some letters are in pencil; others are in pen. We can see sections that have been erased, but where the marks of earlier words remain. And of course, the pictures and doodles. As the writer of the letters grows through the book, the handwriting changes slightly, as does the quality of his drawing. And for me, this makes the book even more impressive!
The way the story progresses is heart-warming too. The relationship between the siblings is not in the least like the relationship I have with my sister, but it’s a treat to read nonetheless. The brother rates his sister on her whininess, her crying and her loudness. He wants her to stay out of his room, and he doesn’t want to keep reading the same book to her. And yet, as they grow up, fondness creeps in.
A lovely, completely believable read, Dear Sister is the perfect way to introduce epistolary novels to young readers!
| Title | Dear Sister |
| Author Illustrator | Alison McGhee Joe Bluhm |
| Tags | Epistolary Novel, Chapter Book |
| Rating (out of 5) | 4.5 |
| Ages | 7+ |
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