MY SISTER THE WEREBEAST

A trio of sisters deals with magical secrets and dangerous trials.

In the wake of a century-long war among magicians, magic has become a matter of history. Tell that to the residents of the Wolf-Drake House, where Rosie and Mira struggle to keep up with their little sister Peanut’s shape-shifting and other magically mischievous abilities. Their parents are away on an important expedition, and the phone line to connect with the older daughters is unreliable. Familial love sees the girls through their parents’ absence, such as when they clean up Peanut’s mess while listening to a recording of their mother’s good-night lullaby. Tysoe portrays the cast members as a pack of charming goofs, all puffy cheeks and doe-eyed expressions. The visual humor helps maintain a sense of levity throughout the story, including when Rosie and Mira engage in combat training at Whisper Cove High’s Adventure Academy and have a showdown with a shadowy creature that seeks to steal Peanut’s magic power. Dashes of warmhearted romance and friendship round out this appealing tale: Rosie has a crush on classmate Yana, and Peanut makes a friend, Lydia, who can also transform. A couple of final plot beats hint at more to come, which readers will welcome like a heartfelt hug. The characters have diverse skin tones and hair textures, a variety that’s present within the Wolf-Drake family.

Delightfully funny and exuberant.