Whatever Happened to My Sister?

by Simona Ciraolo

A young girl sets out to find out exactly what happened to her sister. Who is this new sister? Why does she never want to play anymore?

For anyone who has ever felt left behind, Simona Ciraolo, the best-selling author of Hug Me, paints a touchingly sweet portrayal of the transience of childhood and how adolescence and growing up can be a truly mystifying experience.

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Friendship, Childrens, Fiction, Comics, Juvenile

40 pages, Hardcover

First published November 10, 2015

About the author

Simona Ciraolo studied animation at the National Film School in Turin, Italy, and earned a master's in illustration at the Cambridge School of Art in England, where she was awarded the Sebastian Walker Award in 2014. Simona Ciraolo now lives in London.

Reviews

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Een klein meisje mist haar grote zus. Nee, ze is niet dood, maar ze is opeens heel anders aan het doen. Ze speelt niet meer, zit vaak haar telefoon, is soms opeens boos, geeft meer om jongens, ze geeft veel om leuke kleding en vergeet daarbij haar kleine zus. Ik kan me heel goed voorstellen dat het heel vreemd moet zijn dat je grote zus aan het puberen is. De schrijver/illustrator beeldt dit heel goed uit in prachtige illustraties (waar je echt naar blijft kijken). Ik vond het einde erg zoet en het maakte me enorm blij.

[Alice Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story that explores the relationship between two sisters and how the younger one struggles watching her older sister grow up. This is a great books for siblings and children could look at the feelings and emotions displayed.

[Eloise Battey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not emotionally ready for this book!

[Colona Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very charming book about what happens when your older sister starts to grow up and like different things and there is a gap between you age differences that starts to affect a relationship. But you can never really break the bond of a sisterhood. This book has some really cute illustrations and has subject matter that I'm sure will connect with a lot of readers. I would recommend this book to children who have older siblings especially. ~Ashley

[BrookesEducationLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really beautifully illustrated book about the mystifying experience of having an older sibling growing up and becoming a stranger to you for a while. I must say, I feel somewhat guilty, I probably made my younger sister feel the same way...

[Marta]

sisterhood never dies <3

[Lightwhisper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorei este livro que fala do crescimento, em que apesar de mudarmos, todxs, mesmo na família, há coisas que não mudam.. o amor que nos une ^^

[Shilpa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny. Sensitive. Charming.

There's a bond between sisters that is unexplainable. I spoke about this when I represented Saleema Nawaz's Bone & Bread at CBC's Appel Salon event on March 8th. That book was meant for an older audience. Now, I've stumbled upon another book that will appeal to the younger audience, and it is delightful and heartwarming.

Told from the perspective of the younger sister, Whatever Happened To My Sister by Simona Ciraolo evokes genuine emotions packaged in a straightforward conversational manner. The crux of the story is how while becoming a teen can seem like it will change things between sisters, it doesn't have to. The bond evolves and is strengthen with new behaviours that are just as strong as the previous ones.

Full Review: http://sukasareads.blogspot.ca/2016/0...

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about sisters written from a unique perspective of the little sister wondering about her pubescent older sister. Her sister has changed, doesn't like the same things, or play with her like she used to and she wonders if she has been switched. Just when she gets sad and realizes how much she misses her older sister, big sis comes along and invites her to do a big sister thing with her and comments on how much she has grown! Very sweet. Can't say I'm too fond of the art though, too much grey and brown for my tastes.

[carpe librorum :)]

Dei um salto à biblioteca à procura de novidades na secção infantil. Passo sempre por lá porque gosto de apreciar as ilustrações, degustando as histórias. Deliciei-me com este livro que vou recomendar a meninas com irmãs mais velhas. É um livro sobre as dores e alegrias do crescimento.

[Olivia Dodson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated book about how it can be very easy for us to grow apart from our siblings without realising until it has happened. I feel like this book highlights the importance of us making sure we check in with our loved ones regularly and not taking what we have for granted. A lovely read!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Simona Ciraolo's work, how true it feels. Plus, the illustrations in this book about a younger sister who feels her older sister drifting away are gorgeous and unique—the blue and orange palettes!

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super adorable story about a little girl who thinks her older sister has been replaced by an impostor. How else to explain how she suddenly wants "privacy" and is always on the phone and is friends with BOYS? And she doesn't even like frilly things any more? Impostor. That's the only explanation.

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

#puberty #siblings - a young girl wonders what is happening to her sister as she grows older and goes through puberty.

[Mireille Abbots-Vergnaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a little girl who thinks her sister has been swapped because she’s changed but really she’s just become a teenager! This book has a nice message about growing up and changing.

[Claire Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:

Written by Simona Ciraolo, Whatever Happened to my Sister tells the story of a concerned young girl trying to figure out what happened to her older sister. She’s convinced that her older sister was replaced by someone else because to her, her sister had become boring. Instead of playing with her, her older sister has become very secretive, started liking boys, and growing taller. The young girl even goes to her parents for answers about the sudden change, but does not receive any. In the end, the girl realizes that she herself is growing and changing too.

Themes:

The main theme in this book is family dynamics, shown through the relationship between the two sisters. Both of them are trying to deal with the changes in the older sister, who has aged out of being a child and is now a teenager. There is also a brief moment where you see the parent’s reaction to their daughter becoming a teenager, and you see that the parents are also learning how to handle the changes in their daughter.

Personal Response:

I wish I had read this book when I was in the 3rd grade and my older brother went from being my best friend to being a teenager. It was so hard for me to figure out why my older brother was changing so much, and I had no idea how to deal with it. I think the young girl in this book is cute, and I think it’s really funny how she goes about figuring out what happened to her sister. The illustrations were also really cute, and I liked how the pages went from grey to colorful when the two sisters reconnect and hang out together again.

Recommendation:

I would recommend this book for kids in the 2nd or 3rd grade, and specifically to kids who have older or younger siblings. This book will show kids that their older siblings will most likely change as they become teenagers. This will also remind older siblings to be kind to their younger siblings and hang out with them. I’m only giving this book 4 stars because while it showed some of the changes that can been seen in older siblings, there are a lot of things that this book did not mention that many teenagers go through.

[Gigli · Rating 4 out of 5]

»»» A compra:
Comprado na fantástica livraria Gatafunho, apesar de a capa não me entusiasmar muito, sou fã desta autora, que nunca desapontou… e com este também não.

»»» A aventura:
A irmã mais pequena de uma família começa a reparar que a irmã mais velha não está tanto com ela e tenta investigar o que se passa, porque sente falta das brincadeiras e das conversas de manas.
No final é a irmã maior que vem ao seu encontro, ela cresceu e ganhou outros interesses que a afastaram da irmã mais nova, mas o carinho entre as duas fala mais alto.

»»» Sentimento final:
Excelente história.
Quem cresceu com irmãos vai rever-se neste livro e no carinho fraternal que aqui está tão bem representado.
Também quem se lembra de crescer e de mudarem os seus gostos ou amigos também vai ter um gostinho nostálgico.
Só não dou nota máxima porque não sou muito fã do desenho da irmã mais nova, sai sempre um pouco estranho (como na capa), mas o resto do desenho é muito bom e fofo.

»»» Nota final (capa e outras considerações):
--- [Capa] – A forma como está concebida é fantástica, porém as cores, apesar de corresponderem à palete reduzida dentro do livro, não são muito apelativas na forma como foram aqui aplicadas e, como já referi, o desenho da irmã mais nova, a protagonista é sempre um pouco estranho, que não se percebe porque o resto dos desenhos são todos muito fofos.
--- [Ilustrações] – Fantásticas, com exceção do desenho da irmã, que podia ser melhor, porque tanto a irmã maior como gato são muito ternurentos e bem conseguidos. O interior do livro é uma fofura, como a Simona já nos habituou e, estranhamente, a palete reduzida de cores acaba por funcionar muito bem (não tanto na capa).

»»» Uma espreitadela:

[Amy Stalder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book from the perspective of a younger sister watching her older sister grow up. I feel this book would resonate with a lot of children who have older siblings, it is something they would be familiar with and it is reflecting their reality at that particular point in their lives. Although it doesn’t address any of the reasons why these changes happen, it is clear that it is something that happens as you grow up and get older. The younger sister seems feels left out as her sister grows up and she is left behind having had her sister to play with for years previously - it seems to have come as a shock for her.
A well-illustrated, clearly written book that many children would find relatable and reassuring that it is a ‘phase’ and they haven’t been forgotten about, but recognising that as you grow up your interests change.

[Gabrielle Palmisano · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is great to share to children who have siblings. The author demonstrates that people change over time without even knowing and this happens to be a problem in some families. As the oldest sibling myself i wondered if my younger siblings saw this change in me that i didn’t realize was happening. The illustrations were very simple lines connecting everything. Very minimal colors or details were used while creating the illustrations. I believe the hidden theme of this book is to just be patient with people. You’re never really sure of what that person may be going through. People outgrow things and people all the time. I’m glad this book had a happy ending and the sisters could be happy again.

[FM Family · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one, and my 2.5 year old did too. She was actually rapt with attention throughout, even though she doesn't have a big sister or really any teenagers in her life. The idea of this aloof big kid seemed really interesting to her. I love Simona Ciraolo's other books and I think this is a creative and well put together story for kids with older siblings who just don't want to hang out with them anymore. I could relate, as a former much younger sister!

[JoAnna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three-line review: As a little girl's big sister grows older, she's not nearly as much fun as she used to be. As a big sister myself, I imagine I was guilty of morphing into an unrecognizable person when I became a teenager too, and I appreciate that a picture book addresses this transition for young kids. I loved the pictures too -- especially the cat who remains faithful to the little girl when her big sister does not.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, isn't the title great? Of course, I wanted to read, "Whatever Happened to My Sister?"

Now I'm here to tell you, I'm glad I did.

It's a beautifully crafted, sensitive, acknowledgement of growing into adolescents. Really, can anything prepare a child for a big sister or brother who's going through puberty? Or when that happens to the child, sooner or later?

FIVE STARS to the author Simona Ciraolo.

[Zoe Mobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really loved this book by Simona Ciraolo!! This book is truly unique and written in a beautiful way to show such a relatable situation in a lot of children households. I would really recommend this book to have in a classroom for children who feel lonely about their siblings who are growing up.

[Caroline Dougan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sensitive book that explores the emotions and difficulties of growing older with siblings and not quite understanding why people change as they grow up. This would be a good book to use with children who may be experiencing concerns about older siblings changing. Getting older is often a confusing thing and this book very carefully explores the topic.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little girl, who loves her big sister, can't understand what happened to her. The sister she used to know is gone, and one who is foreign to her shows up instead.

Beautiful story of watching someone you love change.

[Grace Steed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny book about a little girl who notices that her sister seems to have disappeared and in her place is someone who sort of looks like her but acts totally differently. Light-hearted look at how children feel when their older siblings are growing up.

[Daisy Wildman]

This funny, lighthearted book follows a younger girl investigating as her older sister grows up. She is adamant that he sister has been replaced due to the change in her behaviour after becoming a teenager.

[Melissa Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story about a little girl suspecting her sister has been swapped with someone who looks like her but isn’t her. This book is excellent for showing how people grow older and can change but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

[Jackie Ostrowicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this and need to buy.

[Catherine Austen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely, special, kind of sad. Beautiful illustrations and words that capture the feeling of being outgrown.