Chickenpox

Starred review from November 15, 2024
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)

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December 1, 2024

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

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2025
Grades 5-8 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.

COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2025
Lai (recently Ghost Book, rev. 9/23) crafts a unique and humorous graphic novel based on her recollection of events (with some names and details altered, per an author's note) surrounding her and her siblings' bout with chickenpox. Set in 1994 Indonesia, the tale is related from a surprising first-person viewpoint: that of her oldest sister, Abby. At twelve, Abby finds little peace at home with four little brothers and sisters constantly quarreling and demanding attention. School, piano lessons, and going over to friends' houses provide brief relief from the chaos. Then all the Lai children come down with chickenpox, and Abby is forced to spend a week in "the zoo." Home confinement is stressful: the rash is itchy, her siblings are annoying, and friendship drama ensues over a misunderstanding involving a birthday party. But as the story (and the pox) progresses, the tween begins to see her family in a new light -- and to mature into her role as a more caring big sister and better friend. An entertaining and ultimately heartening slice-of-life comic, illustrated with inviting pastel hues and an approachable loose-lined style, that will appeal to fans of Telgemeier's Guts (rev. 9/19) and Lloyd's Squished (rev. 5/23). Michelle Lee

(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)