7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #447: Featuring Simona Ciraolo

h1 August 30th, 2015 by jules



 

“I’d had my suspicions for a while that someone had replaced my sister with a girl who looked a lot like her. It had to be! …” Thus opens the new book from author-illustrator Simona Ciraolo (who brought us last year’s Hug Me), Whatever Happened to My Sister? This will be on shelves, come November, from Flying Eye Books. It’s the story of a young girl whose teenage sister is keeping her distance, as teenage sisters are wont to do. The girl, however, is filled with confusion and sorrow, given that they used to play together closely. “I am rather observant,” the girl notes, “yet the moment of the switch must have passed me by.”

There’s a real tender pain here as we follow the girl watching her sister, the latter fully engaged in typical teen activities (listening to music, watching television, hanging with her friends). The younger one tries to engage her sister yet can’t — and eventually she is moved to tears and hides behind the living room couch. But fear not: Her older sister finds her and they spend time together.

There’s humor here, as well as hurt feelings. The family cat brings some comic relief, for one. Ciraolo’s characters are expressive and her palette, intriguing. The colors are fairly limited, but this serves the story well. The bright oranges are fitting for the intense moments of either frustration or loneliness, and the final spread—where the two girls sit and talk on the couch—are washed in a brilliant, intense red. As always, I’ve got some spreads here to show you (sans the text, in this case) so that you can see for yourself.

Enjoy the art!



“I’d had my suspicions for a while that someone had replaced my sister
with a girl who looked a lot like her. It had to be!”

(Click bottom image to see spread in its entirety)


 


“My sister was never so tall. Did it happen overnight? I am rather observant,
yet the moment of the switch must have passed me by.”

(Click to enlarge)


 


“I suppose there were the signs. She’d been incredibly boring on several occasions
but I guess I didn’t give it much thought …”

(Click to enlarge)


 


“… at least until I noticed her sense of fashion had gone.
This new sister showed no interest in pretty things.”

(Click to enlarge)


 

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO MY SISTER? Copyright © 2015 by Simona Ciraolo. Illustrations used by permission of the publisher, Flying Eye Books, New York.

* * *

Note for any new readers: 7-Imp’s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome.

* * * Jules’ Kicks * * *

1) The care that Flying Eye Books puts into the production of their books.

2) Exploding Kittens, the card game, has arrived — and it’s like it was made EXPRESSLY for my daughters.

3) The girls and I are reading Anne of Green Gables aloud (first time for each of us), and it’s a HOOT.

4) Solutions that work.

5) Kindnesses extended to me.

6) Helping hands.

7) This has been a good listen.

What are YOUR kicks this week?





13 comments to “7-Imp’s 7 Kicks #447: Featuring Simona Ciraolo”

  1. Your kicks made me smile! And, now, I have to get that book!
    My kicks
    1. being on time for all my deadlines this week
    2. My constant companion, Spike the cat
    3. Lattes in the morning
    4. New second graders who laughed so hard at The Dullards that they had to take a break in the middle
    5. Watching my son and future daughter-in-law plan their wedding
    6. Watermelon salsa on fish
    7. New babies everywhere I look


  2. This book looks like a perfect addition for the library. Thank you Simona Ciraolo.
    Jules, kindness and solutions.
    Robin, lattes and second graders.
    My kicks:
    1. Blustery, cooler weather this weekend.
    2. A new school year
    3. While I love using the computer for most things, I bought a 2016 organizer for school.
    4. Lunch with a library colleague.
    5. Anticipation
    6. A surprise box in the mail.
    7. Book club tonight where we decide books.
    Have a great week.


  3. Love the looks of this book and the subject matter hits close to home with a teen girl in the house.

    Jules – Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorites. I read it when I was 23 and working in a little toy store in New York. I’m going to have to be on the lookout for the exploding kittens game. Sounds fun.
    Robin – I haven’t had a morning latte in a while but now that summer is winding down I might get off my porch and get one.

    Kicks
    1. This summer has been so beautiful and relaxing and yet I was still somehow productive. Proof that you don’t have to be stressed out to get things done.
    2. I’ve been invited to put up some artwork at my favorite library in town. That’s right my small town has five public libraries.
    3. Got my recent promotional postcards in the mail.
    4. Bittersweet feeling about the kids going back to school this week.
    5. Getting as much swimming in as possible.
    6. Sunsets and walks along the beach 🙂
    7. Supportive friends and famille all the difference.

    Have a great week everyone.
    3.


  4. Hi Jone.
    I just missed you.


  5. Anne of Green Gables RULES. I’m so glad that your family is enjoying it, Jules!

    This is a fly-by posting as I have a meeting in 60 seconds… 🙂


  6. What a sweet book! Some of my older sibs left for college when I was still small, so I can totally relate to the younger sister.

    Jules – Exploding Kittens! OMG. I just shared on fb and I think I will be ordering some for friends and some for me. How awesome. I have never read Anne of Green Gables, but now am thinking it should go on my list.

    Robin – meeting deadlines and lattes in the morning are great kicks.

    Jone – isn’t the rain so lovely? Anticipation can be so delicious. Hooray for boxes in the mail!

    Moira – productive and relaxing summer sounds like an amazing summer. Yay for the library inviting you to exhibit!

    LW – Hi!

    My kicks this week:
    1) Waking up to the gentle sound of rain. So soothing and we really need it right now.
    2) Last night’s Super Moon/Sturgeon Moon – it was huge and oh so lovely.
    3) Happiness and Joy. Spreading it and feeling it.
    4) Reorganizing the home office. Not done yet, but it’s getting there.
    5) A good friend and her girls came over for dinner and a movie Friday. The girls got pizza and the grownups got homemade tomato/mozzarella/chicken sausage crostini & spicy sautéed shrimp and red wine.
    6) Dinner and a movie turned into a sleepover and Daisy and the girls were very happy about that. Daisy really loves kids.
    7) Reading all the 10 year Katrina anniversary posts – and being reminded that I am so lucky that so many friends and family survived it.
    7.5) Cannot wait to see this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0dZ_2ICpJE

    Have a wonderful week everyone!


  7. Robin: New daughter-in-law!

    Also, SPIKE!

    Jone, may your book club pick good books.

    Moira: LOVE your new postcards. I like kick #1, too.

    LW: That book is crackin’ us UP. Happy meeting.

    Rachel: Sounds like a lovely week. Also: HELEN MIRREN! p.s. Did you see this, speaking of Cranston? I laughed so hard.


  8. That. Is. Awesome. He is so great! And yes, I have such a girl crush on Helen Mirren – she is so amazing in everything she does.


  9. My favorite posts over at Go Fug Yourself are always the Helen Mirren posts.


  10. Jules,

    Once you and your girls have finished Anne, you might want to read Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson. It is a prequel to Anne by a Canadian author who has loved Anne for many years. It is incredibly well written and had many aha moments for me. Anne of Green Gables is one of my all-time favorite books. Enjoy!


  11. Thanks, Sally! Will do.


  12. I’ve been looking forward to seeing this book all summer. There are no teen aged girls in my house, but there is a tall 10 year old boy who is growing up before my eyes. I think I’m bittersweet about him turning into a teenager before it even happens, if that’s possible. So, this book is speaking to me as a mother. I think children who have ever even had an older friend will like it too.
    My kicks this week:
    1. bright sunny weather and white fluffy clouds
    2. upcoming author visit by Jarrett Krosoczka TOMORROW!
    3. watching the US Open with my tennis crazed hubby
    4. reading Nadia Bolz Weber’s book Pastrix
    5. reconnecting with an old friend
    6. hanging out with my library visitors
    7. listening to the NPR story this morning about Denver’s Tattered Cover book store – http://www.npr.org/2015/09/09/437473687/denvers-tattered-cover-bookstore-is-focused-on-succession-not-just-survival
    7+. Reading everyone else’s kicks and framing my week with kicks! Thank you Julie.


  13. Miranda! So glad JJK got to visit. I’ll have to listen to that NPR story, too. Thanks for the link!


Leave a Comment


Should you have trouble posting, please contact sevenimp_blaine@blaine.org. Thanks.