Review by Booklist Review
Getting older was supposed to mean more independence, but Abby feels like she's stuck between co-parent and child. The oldest of five, Abby is fed up with the noise and lack of personal space in her home when a case of chickenpox traps the siblings in quarantine and forces Abby to reevaluate her role in her household and her friendships. Separated from her social life, Abby navigates arguments, chores, and what feels like constant missteps with her friends. In a moment of introspection, Abby notices she's "been feeling conflicted and acting conflicted." Expressive illustrations animate the many emotions and personalities present in the home in a sitcom-style narrative. In this story based on the author's own life and set in Indonesia in the 1990s, younger readers are bound to see themselves in Abby or her siblings, while adult readers will delight in the humorous nostalgia. Relatable banter reflects the ebb and flow of fights to fun within a family. For fans of Raina Telgemeier, this chaotic and comforting family story emphasizes emotional intelligence and healthy communication.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Set in Indonesia, this semi-autobiographical narrative by Lai (Read at Your Own Risk) follows the creator's eldest sister Abby, who's forced into quarantine with her four younger siblings after they all contract chickenpox. Lai casts her eight-year-old self in a supporting role to 12-year-old Abby (whose dislikes include brain freeze alongside "being a big sister") as Abby confronts developing conflicts with her friends, all while navigating the bodily discomfort of illness and mind-numbing monotony of being stuck at home. The sibling relationships form the core of this bustling narrative, demonstrating the unique blend of affection and exasperation that can accompany growing up with a large family. Expressive cartoon-style illustrations render exaggerated physical comedy to highlight the situation's absurdity, while a bright color palette infuses the sometimes bittersweet character dynamics with an upbeat vibe. Depictions of 1990s communication and entertainment (landlines and VHS tapes) inject nostalgia into this touching and humorous graphic novel interpretation of a chaotic familial experience. A concluding author's note provides historical context surrounding the chickenpox vaccine. Ages 8--12. (Jan.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--6--Abby Lai is a big sister and just wants time away from her four loud, obnoxious younger siblings. Abby loves going to school, particularly when she can spend time with her friends Monica and Julia, who want to know why they never hang out at Abby's house. Abby eventually gives in and invites them over, warning them that her siblings are quite immature. However, Abby's behavior toward her siblings isn't exactly the picture of maturity, leading to her friends being standoffish at school. To make matters worse, one of those friends unknowingly had chickenpox during the visit, and now Abby and her siblings all have chickenpox, too. What could be worse than being stuck in the "wild zoo" of her house for the next two weeks? Lai perfectly captures the feelings of sibling drama and the 1990s, with bright, neon background colors, lots of onomatopoeia, and often exaggerated sibling facial expressions. This story, which is fictional but based on events from the author's childhood, provides a unique point of view, with Abby taking the lead and Remy--the author--being one of the annoying younger siblings. This title is perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier, or readers who enjoy graphic novels akin to Megan Wagner Lloyd's Allergic and Varian Johnson's Twins. VERDICT Heartwarming and fun, this holds its own as a solid graphic novel about siblings and family.--Annamarie Carlson
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
In this story loosely based on the author's childhood, a tween stuck at home with her younger siblings while they all recover from chickenpox must summon patience while struggling with anxiety from shifting friendships. It's 1994 in Indonesia, and 12-year-old Abby Lai is irritated that her younger brothers and sisters--Amy, 11, Remy, 8, Andy, 6, and Tommy, 3--make her house feel like "a wild zoo." They take (and sometimes ruin) her things, and there's never a moment's peace amid the bickering and fart jokes. After a disastrous visit with best friends Monica Chandra and Julia Hartono, during which Abby spectacularly lost her temper at her siblings, she's embarrassed to overhear Julia telling someone at school that she was "acting like such a fourth grader." But then Julia succumbs to chickenpox--and it emerges that when she was over, she infected the Lai kids as well. Abby, who's already feeling isolated, now faces quarantining at home with her pesky siblings. The expressive art and clear sequencing in this humor-filled, emotionally intelligent story highlight Abby's journey as she finds her footing as a better big sister and friend who can give and receive grace for human missteps. Iconic aspects of '90s life (like eavesdropping on someone's conversation on a landline phone extension) and facets of life in Indonesia (jaywalking when there are no crosswalks) add to the strong sense of time and place. Honest, atmospheric, and full of heart. (author's note)(Graphic fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
