Book Description
for Smaller Sister by Maggie Edkins Willis
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Lucy and her older sister, Livy, only 20 months apart, have always been close. But when they start at a new school, Livy develops an eating disorder that gradually becomes apparent to Lucy. Livy, short-tempered and unapproachable, no longer wants to spend time with or confide in her younger sister. Her anorexia becomes a looming, scary presence in the family’s life, but with a lot of therapy and treatment, Livy enters recovery. When the family moves, this time it’s Lucy who begins to grapple with body image, a struggle fueled in part by cruel remarks from her new classmates and a growing awareness of what other people think of her. Fortunately, honest conversations with Livy offer comfort and support when Lucy most needs it. Without getting lost in the details of Livy’s disordered eating, this graphic novel offers a realistic portrayal of the emotional toll that such a disorder can have on a family. Sibling and middle-school friendship drama are perfectly balanced by the renewed warmth and openness that Lucy eventually finds with her older sister. (Ages 8-13)
CCBC Choices 2023. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2023. Used with permission.