My Sister, the Freak

Gr 6 Up–In their hometown of Pleasant Valley, middle schooler Mary is obnoxiously taking over the school play while her older sister Allison “Al” is getting a viral proposal for the upcoming high school dance by the most popular boy in school. These sisters could not be more different, and conflict arises whenever they are both home. When aliens invade their small town and Al reveals a secret that will change everything, these sisters must go from brawling to bonding to save their home and each other. The ­panels and lettering are clear and easy to read and follow, along with the storyline. There is a ton of action, especially when the alien fighting starts, and a big twist is revealed as to why exactly Mary’s sister Al is a “Freak,” like the title suggests. The story dives into bullying and treating others poorly just because they may seem like outcasts, which ­parallels the alien action part of the story. Real ­feelings of sibling misunderstandings and connection are also at the heart of the story and create a nice balance to an ­otherwise lighthearted science fiction graphic ­novel.