9yo Jacob is the big brother to 3 new babies, Charlotte, Katherine and Elizabeth (Char, Kath and Lizzie) but Jacob calls them the Trips. He wanted a litter of puppies, instead he got sisters - identical, triplet sisters. Mr. Kelly, Jacob's teacher wants the students to do a year long research project, so Jacob is going to study the trips. He watches them change from identical babies to individuals.

I loved this story. I loved how Jacob sets a new beginning for himself as well. A positive beautiful book.

This is the sweetest book! I think it is a wonderful bridge between picture book and chapter book. have new siblings is something that lots of kids will enjoy reading about. It's such a refreshing take and so well and sensitively written. I almost hated to see it end. Wonder if we'll get another book about the Trips!

Patricia MacLachlan has, once again, added a charming, sensitive story to her collection.
9 year old Jacob, an only child, welcomes triplets to his family. The exploration of familial relationships is dissected in such a loving and entertaining fashion. Names play an interesting role in the book and Jake perseverance to find a name that reflects his personality is so deftly done.
Every sibling has a place in a family. The author helps to explain those roles. The journey is a delightful one!

Patricia MacLachlan's latest Middle grade book, My Life Begins!, is an exploration of unexpected sibling relationships. The main character, Jacob has been an only child for nine years when his parents have triplets. And not just any triplets, they bring home three baby girls. MacLachlan is spot on about the disruption and change that this brings into Jacob's ordered existence. He goes from being the main focus of attention to being one of four and the other three need a lot of the parent's time and attention. The author gently explores how Jacob copes with the change, and then builds relationships with his three sisters. This book is highly recommended for readers who wish to learn about families.

Patricia MacLachlan writes a touching family narrative about a young boy whose life is transformed by the arrival of his triplet siblings. Jacob is 9 and determined to write up his observations of his baby sisters for a school science project. With the help of his understanding parents and a French Nanny, Mimi, Jacob learns about what it means to grow up and the special importance of names. I recommend this book for only children and those with lots of brothers and sisters. In deceptively simple prose MacLachlan shares some powerful truths that would benefit all children and indeed readers of all ages.

I have loved reading Patricia MacLachlan since I was in grade school. I adored this one with Jacob as he learns and figures out how to be a sibling of triplets. This is an adorable family story that can be read slowly or all in one sitting.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

My Life Begins! is another wonderful addition to the stories by Patricia MacLachlan. Her writings are always heartfelt and this one really captures the relationship between older brother Jacob and his triplet sisters. I would recommend this for both children and adults as I would any of her other books. Thank you for another wonderful story.

Jacob wants a litter of puppies, BUT his parents have triplets. Jacob then says his lie begins. He writes a year-long school report about living with “The Trips.”

Such a sweet story, Mom and Dad are tired after the babies’ arrival, Mom smiles and laughs a lot. Jacob helps out.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for permitting me to read this.

Jacob isn’t sure what he thinks when his parents tell him they’re expecting. All he cares about is getting a puppy. When his mom has triplets, Jacob thinks a puppy would be cuter and more fun. One night when Liz cries while his parents are sleeping, he picks her up and sings to her and she smiles at him! When a a research project at school is assigned, Jacob writes about the trips, as he calls them. He realizes the trips don’t call him by his name and wonders if they ever will. As the triplets begin to crawl and then stand, he realizes his life is changing for the better and that the trips are now his friends and family. One day he comes home, and there is a puppy and he feels “my life begins again! “