Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Realistic portrayal of sisterly love keeps story afloat.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Based on 17 kid reviews
Kids say the book is both loved and criticized for its mature themes, including underage drinking, swearing, and sexual references, which make it unsuitable for younger children. However, many readers appreciate the positive messages of sisterhood and the humor woven throughout, recommending it for tweens and teens who are ready for more complex subject matter.
- mature themes
- positive messages
- suitable for tweens
- mixed reviews
- humor elements
- sisterhood depiction
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Carly thrives on being an individual -- and protecting her younger sister. But when pretty Anna joins her at her exclusive private high school, they begin drifting apart. Carly even finds herself feeling jealous about her sister's looks -- including her developing body, which attracts a lot of attention.
Is It Any Good?
The relationship at the center of this book is well-drawn. Readers will easily relate to Carly, who wants to support and protect her little sister -- but is still jealous of the attention she gets (from their parents, her friends, and later from her crush).
The symbolism can be a bit over-the-top at times (consider the accidental drowning death of the misfit baby duckling the girls adopt, for example). In the end, however, the realistically flawed main characters -- and their struggle to love one another -- will win readers over.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the comments Carly's mother makes about Anna's changing body. Carly stands up for her sister when her mother hints that she is fat, but her mother continues to make comments. Do you think a lot of teens feel body image pressure from their parents?
Why is that?
How can we work to change that?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Book type : Fiction
- Publication date : May 14, 2009
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 192
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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