When Amber, 12, gets the chicken pox along with her four younger siblings, the five of them are quarantined at home and it is a recipe for mayhem. They take her things and never give her a moment's peace if they can help it. At the same time, Amber is having friend problems after overhearing one friend tell another that she had acted like a fourth grader when she got made at her siblings. Now, it seems no one wants to hang out with her. And she's stuck at home. Could things get any worse?

Remy Lai has really captured what it is like to be quarantined when you are in middle school and everything seems so earth shattering important. I loved the clear, colorful illustrations in the graphic novel based on Lai own story. And this is definitely one of my favorite 2025 books so far. When I was in 8th grade, my siblings and I all got the chicken pox at the same time, so I could really relate to Amber's story.

It's a nightmare come true when an outbreak of chickenpox forces Abby to quarantine for two weeks with her four younger siblings. In addition to putting up with the stir-crazy youngsters, and itchy blisters, there's a misunderstanding with her best pals to contend with. How will Abby survive another day in this madhouse?

Packed with warm-hearted good humor, this was a delightful read, and another winner from Lai.
(And, it also made me VERY grateful for the varicella vaccine.)

Teaching the importance of family, this book is a tale of chickenpox and a family in quarantine. Characters struggle through fights with siblings and navigating family dynamics. Readers are sure to relate with the family problems and quarantine after covid shutdowns. Recommended for grades 5-8

Lai, Remy. Chickenpox. Henry Holt and Company, 2025, 9781250863294. $14.99. 236p. Grades 4-8

Description: Abby Lai wants to be outside of her house hanging out with her friends. As the oldest sibling, she is OVER having to deal with her grimey little siblings and just wants to be out of the house, BUT when one of her siblings comes home with the Chickenpox and it rapidly spreads to all of them, they are forced to quarantine in their house for two whole weeks while they are contagious and all work through the various stages of the virus. Amy isn’t sure she will make it through the two weeks with her sanity, but she knows she has no other choice.

Thoughts: I LOVED this book! While I have never personally experienced Chickenpox, there is so much in this book that just hits that nostalgic part of me. From only being able to call people on a landline, to accidentally talking to your friend’s mom instead of your friend because their voices sound familiar, it is full of amazing nods to the 90’s. It also does a great job showing younger generations what it was like to live without constant contact (social media, texting, etc.)

Realistic Fiction; Graphic Novel

Tags: Siblings, Chickenpox, Quarantine, Friendship, Family, Asian American/Pacific Islander Representation

While I don’t remember my own experience with chickenpox (I was two), it was still a nostalgic experience reading about it. I can’t imagine having that many siblings for one, and two, everybody having chickenpox at the same time?? Chaos. I loved the random context notes, like why you had to get up to change the channel; they made me laugh, and I hope younger readers enjoy learning more about life during the 90’s and in Indonesia too. This was a fun read.

A simple story with serious lessons, Chickenpox tells the story of Abby who has to quarantine with her four younger siblings while they all have chickenpox. Stuck in the zoo house, Abby has a lot of time to consider what it means to be an oldest sibling, a friend, and a daughter. As the chicken pox clear, will Abby have what it takes to be her best self? Highly recommend for older siblings who are frequently annoyed by their younger siblings, but this graphic novel is fun and cute enough for anyone to enjoy.

Overall, it's a cute story about learning to love your crazy family & navigate the tough world of tween-age friendships. When all the siblings get taken down by a case of the chickenpox, our MC has to learn how to tolerate the craziness of all her siblings and navigate her way through a friendship misunderstanding...or three. Cute for the middle grade crowd; would recommend for a younger audience.

Remy Lai returns with a graphic novel featuring five kids and one highly contagious virus! It’s Indonesia in 1994 - just before the widespread introduction of the chickenpox vaccine - and 12-year-old Abby Lai’s rambunctious younger siblings have turned their house into a wild zoo! Time at school and with her two best friends is a welcome respite from her chaotic and often embarrassing brothers and sisters. When the younger kids are diagnosed with chickenpox, Abby gets the girls’ bedroom all to herself for one glorious day … until she, too, discovers some telltale red bumps. For the crime of having chickenpox, Abby is sentenced to one week of quarantine in the “maximum security zoo.” As the siblings increasingly grate on each others’ nerves, Abby is torn between needing her own space and wanting to be a helpful big sister and daughter, wrangling the younger kids to ease their mom’s workload. Friend drama also snowballs, exacerbated by misunderstandings and hurt feelings. But, as Abby learns, “relationships grow and change because people grow and change,” and a little communication can go a long way. Chickenpox’s chapters are divided into the stages of the viral rash, and readers will itch just observing its progression through the Lai household! The graphic novel’s energetic panels effectively convey both action and emotion; it’s an all-around crowd pleaser! Fortunately, today’s middle grade readers don’t need to experience chickenpox as a rite of passage. However, there are ample moments that they will relate to in this humorous and heartfelt graphic novel (inspired by the author’s own childhood).

I really enjoyed this! As a 90s kid, I related to a lot of this. The movie rental store, the landline (and talking to your friend's parents), cassette and CD players, so many things! I don't have siblings so I don't know how that feels but I think anyone can relate to being sick and stuck in your house bored. I also really loved the art style. It was cute but it doesn't look cartoony.

I enjoyed the illustrations and how the author explained chicken pox in an educational matter. Some of the illustrations can be gruesome, but this was a wholesome story about family, siblings and learning to appreciate your family.

This was a great graphic novel about family and friendship. I feel as though many people could relate to this story. Older siblings will connect to Abby while many others can relate to Abby and the struggles/misunderstandings that happen in friendships. I cannot wait to add this book to my classroom library.

This was a cute graphic novel focusing on the difficulties of having multiple sibling and the misunderstandings that can happen between friends.

As someone who was nearly the same age as our narrator Abby in 1994, I loved all the nostalgia that the story provided: rotary phones, remote-less TVs, renting video tapes, side pony tails, etc. Lai does a pretty good job of explaining these things to the reader, but it still may make things a little less relatable to Gen Alpha readers. All readers will be able to relate to the challenges that come with family and friendship, though.

Funny and real with appealing artwork and perfect for upper elementary readers.

Although probably most appropriate for Middle School, this graphic novel is so well written and illustrated that it will be an easy sell for anyone who enjoys Raina Telgemeier's books. The characters are charming and likeable. The topic of being a big sister and having to help with siblings will be relatable to many young women.

A new MG graphic novel about five siblings stuck at home with chickenpox!
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Abby just wants to hang out with her friends, away from the chaos for her younger siblings. But when a chickenpox outbreak strikes and leaves the Lai kids covered in itchy red spots, Abby’s plans for peace and quiet are dashed. Stuck at home together for two long weeks, the house is filled with nonstop chaos. Abby blames herself, though, since it’s her best friend who brought the chickenpox into their lives. As the madness of family life threatens to push Abby to the edge, Abby must decide where she’ll let her frustration get the best of her, or she’ll find a way to embrace the role of big sister.
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Anyone who has had chickenpox or lived in a house with someone who has with completely relate to this story. I loved that the book is set in the 90s because that’s when I had chickenpox myself! This was full of hijinks, misunderstandings and family drama! Happy Release Day!

CW: medical content

Remy Lai has crafted another fabulous graphic novel with Chickenpox. In this semi-autobiographical story, Remy recounts a time in her life when she and her 4 siblings were stuck at home with the chickenpox. However, instead of being told from Remy's perspective, it's told from the perspective of her eldest sister. Heartwarming and humorous, Chickenpox delves into adolescent friendships, sibling relationships, and the constant woes and occasional joys of being the eldest sibling.

CHICKENPOX is a graphic novel based on Remy Lai’s family’s experience being quarantined at home with the dreaded chickenpox. The oldest of five siblings, Abby is stuck at home with her younger brothers and sisters when the virus spreads through their home. Friendship drama ensues while Abby is out of school and lots of sibling time leads to plenty of family drama, too. The realistic portrayal of both the peer and sibling relationships and of how her experiences change Abby’s perspective throughout the book stand out here and will resonate with readers. While most kids today can’t relate to having chickenpox, they can relate to the quarantine experience. The nods to 1990’s technology will interest readers, too. A fun and entertaining read!

"Relationships grow and change because people grow and change."

Chickenpox is a delightful read about Abby and her siblings. Set in 1994 Indonesia, we follow Abby as she goes to school, get a glimpse into what life is like with four younger siblings, and start to see some of those friendship pangs that come with growing up. When Abby's younger siblings contract chickenpox and inevitably pass it along to Abby, Abby is forced to stay home for several weeks while the virus works through her body.

I loved this graphic novel. It was so funny in all the right ways while also navigating the challenges of being an older sister to four younger siblings and the challenges that come with growing up and changing friendships. 1994 would have been about the year I got chickenpox myself, so there was a huge sense of nostalgia as I observed the technology available to Abby and her family. I remember having a television in the house that did not have a remote control. I remember CD players and rotary telephones.

The story: I really enjoyed getting to see Abby's life before she caught chickenpox. This helped set the stage for some of the friendship challenges that emerged as the book went on. It also helped the reader visualize what Abby's life was like outside of her house (or as Abby so lovingly called it, jail). Lai included sections that broke down the different stages of chickenpox and what that stage would have been like for the children. I think this is a great way to show today's young people what the journey of this disease was like. This was almost a younger version of a coming of age story and I think that is very appropriate for the age of Abby and her friends. This is exactly the time when friendships start changing and misunderstandings are far more frequent.

The artwork: As I read this book I found that the emotions in my brain were clearly showing on my face. What a rare feat for graphic novels these days. I was giggling at funny lines, absolutely repulsed by the popping of a chickenpox on page, and giddy by how Lai managed to show the emotions of Abby and her siblings in picture form. When Abby was angry, her whole body would change and you could see the anger pouring off her. The teeth! The teeth were constantly changing based off what was happening and how the characters were feeling and I just loved this. It's not something I see frequently in graphic novels and it was a fun touch to really visualize how the characters were feeling. I also loved at the beginning of their chickenpox journey when all of the siblings were tired and feeling like zombies they were shown on page as a zombie or monster. Not just a tired human, but a tired zombie. What a fantastic way to add depth to the images on the page.

Note: There is a line at the beginning of the book that reads "When I was little and still believed in Santa and unicorns, I made a wish." I know this book is being marketed for 8-12 years old but I worry that some 8 year olds may have Santa ruined for them by this line. It definitely gave me pause and I wanted to make sure I mentioned it in my review.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks, and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Chickenpox is based on author Remy Lai’s childhood experiences with her siblings when they were all infected with the disease. Lai has changed the names for privacy and some of the events are out of order, but the book feels authentic in the way that only lived experiences reflect.

Lai’s story is engaging and her characters believable. Readers — especially older siblings — will immediately identify with Abby. And kids who don’t have siblings will be fascinated. Lai’s bright illustrations are expressive and full of movement.

Chickenpox is a fast-moving graphic novel with energy and heart.

Chickenpox had an unique art style and interesting characters. However, the plot was not very interesting and the pacing of the story was off.

This is a lovely story, perfect for those with younger siblings. The artwork is nice, perfectly showcasing the relationship between the oldest child and their younger siblings and how difficult getting along can be at times.