A TALE AS TALL AS JACOB

Once upon a time, a quiet baby was born, and Samantha thought he was perfect—until the day he learned to crawl and her sweet, precious baby brother turned into a tiny tornado.

As the years pass, Jacob struggles with his behavior, impulses, and speech, and Samantha struggles to connect with Jacob. Even after Jacob has surgery to help his speech and receives an ADHD diagnosis, Samantha finds herself increasingly frustrated and expresses guilt when she lashes out. She just wants a brother who won’t destroy her toys, nearly kill her goldfish, and unintentionally hurt her when he’s upset. It’s not all bad, though. Jacob’s fearlessness helps Samantha loosen up, and his quick thinking saves them from bullies. This fictionalized graphic-novel account told from Samantha’s perspective honestly reflects the author’s experiences with her real brother—“and some of those things have nothing to do with ADHD; they’re just pure Jacob-ness.” The paneled illustrations are the ideal format to depict their frenetic relationship. The bright colors and the characters’ animated expressions showcase a simultaneously hilarious, heartbreaking, and loving sibling dynamic many readers will find familiar. Mom and Dad are heavily involved, helping Samantha navigate her feelings and giving her support as needed even as they struggle at times parenting a child with ADHD. The family presents White; there is diversity among secondary characters. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

All the feelings will be felt with this engaging and genuine story of a sister and brother.