‘Half a Sister’

Lots and lots of children have step-sisters, step-brothers, half-sisters and half-brothers…but ‘Half a Sister’ by Kelly McKain provides a different, unique insight into the family dynamic when everything familiar changes for good.

A half-sister is better than none – or is it?

The book is written in diary format, which is brilliant because it is really easy to read and also gives you the feeling that the main character is telling you everything. It’s also reflective of the fact that often, the feelings of the ‘original’ children in the family are overlooked in favour of those coming into the family, so the diary-style allows the main character (Hannah) to tell us what’s on her mind, even if she cannot tell her parents…

So, the book starts with Hannah introducing herself and her family…and we get a sense that she’s having BFF troubles too…never good! It’s difficult when someone new joins the friendship group…as the saying goes ‘two’s company, three’s a crowd’ and Hannah knows this all too well. Her best friend Maya doesn’t seem to notice (or care) that Hannah is constantly being left out and that newcomer Beth is trying to steal her away. This leaves Hannah feeling awful! But then suddenly, she finds out that she has a half-sister, Ellie and she is given a burst of confidence…which unfortunately doesn’t last very long…

This book deals with two of the main issues worrying pre-teen girls, families and friendship, whilst also looking at the other things that many girls think about – boys and makeup! It’s really easy to read and I’m sure many girls (and even women) can relate to the stress that Hannah is faced with! Pre-teen is a difficult enough time anyway without adding all of that on top! This is a fantastic book which deals with quite a hard to talk about issue, but is also a brilliant book in its own right with a narrator that we can empathise with and a great plot!