Always Sisters

June 15, 2023
A young girl copes with the loss of a baby sister who passes away in utero. Raya's mother is having a baby, and Raya can't wait to meet her new little sister, Nura (Arabic for "beautiful light"). Although she loves her brother, Samir, Raya is excited at the idea of having a sister--she can't wait for the two of them to play dress-up and watch cartoons together and to give her sister piggyback rides. Dreaming about the future, Raya delights in imagining her future sister's love of chocolate ice cream and dolphins. Everything changes when her parents return home after a doctor's appointment with the news that "Nura won't be coming home." The news plunges Raya into grief, and she wonders if her love for Nura is now "trapped inside" her heart. When Raya's father gently counsels her to spread all her love, she realizes that she doesn't have to mourn her sister all alone, and she opens up to her parents, her school counselor, and other children who have experienced loss. This tender, thoughtful story is a much-needed tool for discussing pregnancy loss with young children. The smudgy illustrations blur in and out of focus, perfectly reflecting the foggy confusion that Raya feels. Raya and her family are brown-skinned and cued as being of Arab descent; given the relative lack of stories about miscarriage that center characters of color, this is a needed and important title. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A sensitively told story of a child grappling with her family's pregnancy loss. (Picture book. 3-8)

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Starred review from September 15, 2023

PreS-Gr 2-A heartrending and heartfelt work from the perspective of a child who has lost a sibling because of pregnancy loss. Raya and her family are excitedly anticipating the birth of a little sister. The narrator likes playing with her little brother, but he bothers her, too. Raya makes plans on what she'll do with Nura when she's born-run through the sprinklers, eat ice cream, and give Nura piggyback rides. But when her parents get home from a doctor's appointment in tears, they share that Nura won't be coming home after all. Raya is devastated and confused. The adults in her life help Raya with her grief-she draws pictures, sees a guidance counselor, attends a grief group with other kids, and plants a tree in Nura's memory. Mir respects and understands her audience, and it shows in the simple but honest text. Maydani's chalk pastel and watercolor illustrations are affecting. The blurred and soft images (with lots of pinks, oranges, and greens) give the girl's narration an ephemeral quality. When she is immersed in her grief, Raya's figure becomes a dark silhouette. The text and images work together seamlessly, and the pages are designed thoughtfully, with strategic white space and evenly paced and powerful page turns. VERDICT There aren't many offerings on this topic, and none as effective or beautiful. An excellent choice for all SEL collections.-Shelley M. Diaz

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