My Sister the Werebeast

Gr 4-8–Three sisters discover that magic, long rumored to have disappeared from the world, is alive and well in this enchanting new graphic novel. Rosie and Mira live with their adventuring parents and ­younger sister, Peanut, in Whisper Cove, which ­informs readers with a wink and a nod that “no magical beasts live anymore. ­Definitely not.” But something is up with Peanut: she cries so hard that the house floods, and she’s been turning into a blue-furred beast. As they try to hide Peanut’s emerging abilities until their parents ­return, Mira and Rosie must navigate bullies and crushes while keeping their grades up at Whisper Cove High. Filled with briskly comical moments, Tysoe's story is fast-paced and compulsively readable. Sibling ­frustrations are relatable and resolved in good time. Bright, bold illustrations are eye-catching and playful, and the Big Bad villain promises a return somewhere down the line. Rosie and Peanut have tan skin like their mother, and Mira has pale skin like their father. ­