I first caught sight of this book while browsing for a new paperback to get lost in at my local Barnes & Noble, and I’m very glad that I did. Eleanor Brown’s The Weird Sisters is a super easy read that I think anyone working through their own adolescence can relate to. The book introduces us to the Andreas sisters – three young women, two of whom are in their twenties and one in her early thirties – who reunite in the small college town where they were raised to care for their now-ill mother. The three sisters must now deal with their past, present, and future while simultaneously dealing with each other, something they haven’t done since they were little.
I think what first really pulled me into this one was a tiny quote from the story, right at the top of the back cover of the book, which read, “See, we love each other. We just don’t like each other very much.” As someone who can completely identify with having a “love-hate relationship” with their sibling, I totally got this, and I knew I needed to read more. Further down the back, another quote completely solidified that I was buying this book immediately: “There is no problem that a library card can’t solve.” Done deal. Couple these small hints of awesomeness with the weird (see what I did there?) resemblance the title held with the “Weird Sisters” wizarding rock band from Harry Potter, and $12 later I was home and on page 30.
The story follows the lives of Bianca (Bean), Rosalind (Rose), and Cordelia (Cordy). Bean, who had been living her dream basking in the glamorous city lights of New York, returns home after becoming too overwhelmed to deal with what she has done. Cordy, a true hippie who had wandered from state to state for years sets out for home after coming to a surprising realization. And Rose – the sister who’d never left – lets the weight of the resentment she feels hold her back from a life full of happiness. Once home, the three must confront not only each other but also their own secrets and shortcomings.
I found this book to be a reasonably real description of what it’s like to deal with adolescence, life, and the impending possibility of death. Brown truly takes us on the journey of coming to terms with one’s past and shows us just how essential this is in procuring a future. I loved the tension and relationship strains between the sisters and even their parents since I think this was as “real” as they come. If you’ve ever fought with a sibling or your own inner-demons, felt lost in life or have dealt with the illness of a loved one, you’ll truly enjoy this book.
Buy the book!
Eleanor Brown’s website
Recommended Age: 16+
