My Sister the Werebeast
Mira and Rosie are perfectly capable of babysitting their little sister Peanut… usually. But their parents have been gone for a week now, longer than their expedition was supposed to last, and Peanut is, well, manifesting magical powers. Hiding them is beginning to be a problem.
Mira and Rosie’s whole world was built on the ruins of a civilization destroyed by magic, and the few remaining magical beings are considered dangerous monsters. If Peanut is actually one of them, then Mira and Rosie have to keep that a secret. That’s getting more difficult all the time: Peanut is shapeshifting, bringing toys to life, and creating fires and floods. She’s a sweet, well-meaning little kid, but she has a toddler’s emotional volatility combined with powerful magic she can’t always control. Mira and Rosie are scrambling to keep her abilities hidden while also trying to pass the all-important combat trials at their high school.
Then a monster hunter arrives in town. Which isn’t even the sisters’ biggest concern, because Peanut’s magic has attracted the attention of something even more dangerous. Luckily, Rosie and Mira are joined by some unexpected allies as they fight to protect their beloved little werebeast of a sister.
Mira and Rosie are both patient and loving with Peanut. They sometimes get frustrated with her or with each other, which is understandable given their stress levels. Besides keeping Peanut safe, they have to compete in the combat trials at school, which determine who will be accepted at the prestigious Adventure Academy. Rosie is desperate to get in and be like their mother, an adventurer who makes expeditions into the dangerous Depths to recover artifacts from the age of magic. But while Rosie is determined to follow in her footsteps, Mira isn’t so sure that adventuring is for her. This adds to the strain on the two sisters as they navigate the combat trials.
The setting is a fun, vibrant mishmash of modern elements and fantasy. Rosie and Mira attend high school, but their classes include lessons on adventuring and magical versus mechanical artifacts. Their house is equipped with familiar technology like plumbing and kitchen appliances, but it also has a security system with booby traps like spiked floors and swinging axes. Sometimes the technology levels seem curiously mismatched – Mira and Rosie have a cell phone but also an old-fashioned rotary phone and a TV with rabbit ear antennae – which adds to the quirky feel of the setting. (Or possibly it’s just their family that’s quirky.)
The art is colorful and really showcases the setting’s blend of modern and fantasy elements. For example, the clothes range from modern-looking t-shirts to school uniforms to the hooded cloak of the Monster Hunter. There is also some interesting architecture. The characters are all highly expressive and a bit cartoony, especially during silly scenes, like when Rosie babbles at her crush. The depictions of magic range from fun and joyful to menacing: Peanut’s powers are glowy, bubbly, and brightly colored, while the magical creature that stalks her has a gloopy, tar-like appearance and, eventually, a creepy mask.
There is a little scariness in the book: the shadowy creature that pursues Peanut lurks in the background, seen by the reader but not by the sisters, growing as it feeds on magic. Ultimately, the creature tries to kidnap Peanut, leading to a big fight between it and the sisters and their allies. There are a few injuries, but no blood, and all the good guys are okay in the end.
The book has lots of fantasy action and some fun silliness, like when Peanut uses her powers to resist taking a bath. It also has lots of heart: it’s a story about two girls struggling to protect their sister and then discovering supportive friends in their community. There is some nice casual inclusiveness: the cast includes people of different races, and Rosie has a crush on a female classmate.
Some readers may be familiar with author Alina Tysoe from her webcomic, What’s Up, Beanie? That comic’s cute style carries over into elements of this book. Hand it to readers who like gentle fantasy adventures and sweet family stories.
My Sister the Werebeast
By Alina Tysoe
Macmillan First Second, 2025
ISBN: 9781250896681
Company Age Rating:Â 8-12
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11), Tween (10-13)
Character Representation:Â Queer,
