Originally picked this up because of the intriguing cover art. I thought the illustrations were bright and enticing. I really enjoyed the characters in this novel, especially the hilarious and sassy little sister, Susie. I loved the historical aspects of the story and enjoyed the perspective of a Jewish-American family at the end of WW2. While I would love to incorporate this book into my classroom, there is one scene with an inappropriate word that I am sure my students would not be able to handle. There is also a specific part that dealt with death that felt more dreadful than thought-provoking, especially for a middle-age demographic. Overall, I really enjoyed the illustrations and characters but thought this book was too mature for middle-grade students.

A fun and straightforward story about being the youngest in the family and as much as I wanted to enjoy it, it was just okay and fine for me. There was nothing really impactful for me for the story. So, I can't really recommend this book to my audience.

(Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the eARC in exchange for a review)

Little Sister by Johann G Louis is a memoir of Susie Morgenstern as a little sister, set in the 1950s after World War II. Despite what the summary indicated, this book covers the broader topic of family, embracing one's identity and evoking awakening to life than just the "struggle" of being one little sister.

First off, I requested this because I am in love with the illustrations. It feels so nostalgic and reminded me of Madeline and somewhere along with Tim Burton's aesthetic. The novel settles for a light and gentle colour palette which distinguishes the characters and the scenes, evoking emotional responses from readers.

The graphic novel itself was adorable and is suitable for its target audience. However, each scene often started and ended abruptly, consequently leaving me unfulfilling. For one moment, we have Susie coming back from school to her sisters asking her to cook to her grandfather death news in a blink of an eye. I wouldn't be so hard on a children book but I believe the transition could've been better as this would assist children to understand the significance of each of the stories recounted that way. The story was all over the place and I'm starting to wonder where the story is heading.

Overall, it was a quick and light read. Despite the hiccups, the book is not bad of a read.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this eBook.

Little sister is filled with beautiful illustrations and such a pleasing color tone. I did not know that it was autobiographical in the beginning. It deals with issues such as bullying and antisemitism faced by three sisters post-WW II.

This graphic novel is based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by Susie Morgenstern. I didn't know it at the beginning, but I think it gives something extra to the story. The drawings are very nice, with a bit of a watercolour style and very vivid colours. The characters always wear the same colours which makes them easy to distinguish.
Personally, I only have one sister and she is younger than me. This did not prevent me from recognising myself in certain parts of the story. Moreover, I really appreciated the religious dimension of the story. Indeed, Susie is Jewish and this impacts her life in a way that she does not always understand. The story is set in 1950 and I would hope that some things would have been easier for Susie now.
I recommend this graphic novel to those looking for a story about the joys of sisterhood and/or being Jewish in the US in 1950.
3.5/5

Not sure what to think about that one. The tone is strangely surreal and at first I couldn't quite make out if it was absurd or in earnest. It is the adaptation of an autobiography, it turns out, so I was completely off the mark. The
illustrations are cute but I didn't quite get where the story was going or where it was leading. I finished the graphic novel wondering why this was the end rather than any other moment. There are some poignant scenes, especially when the children understand that their relatives escaped the atrocities from WWII, scares and all. and what it means. Sadly I wasn't much engaged by it, I really disliked the 2 older sisters and that probably didn't help.

This was a fun read with nice and colorful illustrations about a Jewish family, three sisters in the 1950s in America after WWII. I like this kind of family relationship, the younger sister was funny and the story was interesting. Young readers learn about the culture, history after the war.

Thanks to Netgalley, I have given an honest review of Little Sister by Script & art by Johann G. LOUIS.

What a wonderful graphic memoir! I loved reading about the author's upbringing in the 50s and how subtle but deep it touches on topics like antisemitism, bullying or the holocaust. Would really recommend for middle grade readers!

Little Sister
by Script & art by Johann G. LOUIS
Pub Date 20 Oct 2021 |
Europe Comics
Biographies & Memoirs | Comics, Graphic Novels, Manga | Middle Grade



I am reviewing a copy of Little Sister through Europe Comics and Netgalley:



Let me start by saying that I found this Graphic novel to be done very well, excellent in fact, I love that this deals with Antisemitism and bullying in a way that will engage Middle Grade readers.





Set in the 1950’s Little Sister is the story of Susie the youngest and her two older sisters the vivacious Effie, and the elegant Sandra. When you are the youngest in the family life can be hard. No one ever lets you do anything. No one ever pays any attention to you. Everyone makes fun of you.





Bestselling children’s author Susie Morgenstern takes readers back to 1950s Newark and all the everyday charms and heartbreaks of the year she turned ten: spelling bees, synagogue, Christmas lights, Halloween candy, nights out at the movies, sneaking fast food. In his joyous art, Johann G. Louis lovingly evokes the era and a young girl awakening to life.






I believe this would be a great way to bring a discussion into the classroom or to have a discussion with your middle grade child about bullying in all its form, in this case in particular antisemitism. And to show them that we are really more alike than we are different.



I give Little Sister five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

3 stars. A touching personal history of those living in the aftermath of World War Two. It incorporated the history of the holocaust in a gentle way to ordinary american life. This is definitely a child appropriate book. I would recommend this to most people especially those wanting to open conversations about European and American history. However the story itself lacks direction and the ending is left ambiguous which may not be for everyone.

really cute book!! this is great for younger children as the protagonist is learning her culture with her family. i loved her relationship with her sisters and all the food and other culture related things that were shown!! the illustrations were also very beautifully done!! 4/5 stars

"Little Sister" is based on the author Susie Morgenstern's memories from when she was 10 years old. The author draws a great picture of her youth, starting from the disadvantages of being the youngest sister among three sisters in a loving family, to being Jewish in America in the 1950s. Throughout the book, little Susie, though coming from a loved, and financially stable family, learns about the truth of WWII and how her relatives from Poland went through literal hell, while she has to go through being bullied and sneered at for being a Jew and the struggles of cultural adaptation due to differences between the belief systems. It is a nice story that urges you to think, while the cute artwork makes you examine every little detail.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for the advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks, NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this amazing book!
Wow, this one was so good. It's a comic book set in the 50s in New Jersey. It's about Susie who is the youngest sister of a Jewish family who has emigrated to the US. It's good as it's actually based on the real story of Susie. Susie always had her nose in a book while her sisters were pretty and funny. I liked how good the living in the 50s was portrayed and the illustrations were soo very vintagey. Being Jewish in the US was portrayed so well as well, especially since this takes place just a decade after the infamous WW2. I recommend this to everyone and I'm so happy I read this!

This was cute. Based on the author's own experiences as a ten year old smallest kid in a Jewish household, this graphic novel is a delight. I loved the art and color scheme. It's not a plot driven book but rather a portrayal of life of this little family, especially the three sisters and they relationship throughout the years. Very sweet.

I just could not take to anyone here, nor the lack of drama and action. And contrary to reports elsewhere, the art style is not up to much, either.

This graphic novel about a Jewish family in the 1950s had the potential to be so much more. I found the artwork style unique to this age group and the time period for historical fiction graphic novels could use this unique fresh perspective. Unfortunately, not much happens. The story is cute, but I’m not sure that my middle schoolers would understand and/or appreciate much of what is going on without more context.

(I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.)

This is a short and sweet story about the day-to-day life of the youngest sister of a jewish family living in the USA during the 1950s. I really liked the portrayal of sisterly love, which I found very endearing and amusing.

The book doesn't really have a solid plot, but rather it focuses on the ordinariness of their daily life, the bonds between them and their connections with their extended family, friends and neighbours. Eventhough I found it charming, I also feel like it had the potencial to be much more.

The illustrations and the colours scheme are lovely and I feel like they do a great job supporting and enhancing the story!

I received a copy of this graphic novel through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I think it was quite a sweet story about a year in a life of a 10-year-old Jewish girl in the 1950s USA. 😊
Many mishaps, funny sisterly rivalry and a few references to the situation in Europe at the time (and before that) depicted in a colourful and whimsical art style... Not too serious but had its share of serious subjects as well! 😉

Wonderful story based in Newark New Jersey.It is a sweet look at Susie her family enjoying their daily life simple things like snack.Her family is Jewish and I wenjoyed reading about their lives.#netgalley #europacomics

The concept of sisters is universal, but it was so interesting to read this is the context of 1950s. As a younger sister and the mom to two girls, I really enjoyed this!