Chickenpox by Remy Lai is a delightful and relatable middle-grade graphic novel that captures the essence of growing up with siblings. Abby, the eldest in a family of five, is stuck at home with her four younger siblings as they all suffer through chickenpox. While this may sound like a typical “sick day” story, it’s so much more as it explores the dynamic of sibling relationships, growing pains, and the challenges of preteen life.

Abby’s role as the responsible older sister is both amusing and insightful, and readers of all ages will connect with the ups and downs of being in charge while still figuring out their own identity. On top of managing her siblings, Abby navigates her friendships and a potential first crush, all while dealing with the itchy chaos of chickenpox. It’s a perfect mix of humor and heart.

What I loved most about Chickenpox is how it balances the universal experiences of family, friendship, and self-discovery without feeling heavy-handed. The cultural representation adds an extra layer of depth, offering readers a perspective that is both familiar and refreshing.

This book is sure to be a hit with middle-grade readers and anyone who can relate to the sometimes messy but always meaningful role of being a big sibling. I’ll definitely be recommending it.

super cute look into life with multiple siblings. great for only kids wanting a window into another type of family, or a family with many members needing some solidarity. a little dated (since chickenpox isn't as prevalent anymore) but still a great look into family dynamics and how sicknesses can bond you in big ways! would def recommend to middle schoolers

This was a good read. I love tween/youth graphic novels, and this one was super relatable for so many reasons. The main protagonist is not only balancing potential puberty and school pressures, but has to navigate social situation with friends and at home with 4 siblings. Being the oldest is never easy, but throw into the pot a family chicken pox party and we have the recipe for this excellent story. It is a self-contained book and each character is unique and relatable in a way, and the story gives you enough to want more but also to be satisfied with what we were given. I also appreciate the sidenotes that explained the culture (like seatbelt laws in that country) and time period (I remember the 90s, but anyone reading the book who is the age of the characters definitely missed that era) and it was nostalgic to see the 90s memorabilia and fashions. Remy Lai is a great storyteller (shoutout to Pie in the Sky!) and this talent transitioned fantastically to graphic novels!

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Remy Lai, and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was such a cute read! This book was about more than just chickenpox, it was about the complicated relationships one has with friends and siblings. I loved seeing the main character’s perspective change within the few days of her having the chicken pox. I would recommend this book to all middle grade readers at my library.

As an oldest sister myself, I really connected with Amy's feelings towards her siblings and the frustrations involved in needing to be the "responsible one.” I grew up just as kids were starting to no longer get chickenpox, and I enjoyed the way the educational/informational components of the text taught about chickenpox without detracting from the overall story, In addition to navigating her role as the oldest siblings Amy is also navigating her middle school friendships. She has a lot to figure out with her closest girlfriends who have never seen the "sister" side of her before. She also has a good friendship with a boy (gasp!) and needs to figure out how these friendships should look.
Despite seemingly little happening, chickenpox is a lovely snapshot of a moment in time full of tween angst and the love-hate-love dynamics of siblings. I’ll definitely be adding this to my classroom library once it’s out. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Abby, the oldest of FIVE kids, gets blamed for everything her younger siblings do and, quite frankly, she is SICK of it. That is until they all actually do get sick with the chickenpox. Will Abby be able to survive being trapped at home for more than a week while they are all in quarantine or will she lose her mind? As the oldest of four who was a teenager at roughly the same time this takes place, I can say that this story feels deeply authentic. It is that beautiful mix of painfully funny, deeply embarrassing, righteously frustrating, and heartwarmingly full of love.

Abby is the oldest in a family of five kids. She loves school and hanging out with her friends, anything not to be at home with her younger siblings. Abby is trying to navigate being a middle schooler and being more mature, but she easily gets pulled back to acting like a little kid, bickering with her sisters and brothers. Then, the worst happens - the chickenpox! Now, they are sick and all stuck together. A very relatable story for anyone with with siblings, and who experienced trying to become an individual beyond your family.

I received an ARC from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via NetGalley. I am continuously impressed by Remy Lai’s easy to read middle grade graphic novels. As someone who didn’t have siblings it was fun to get a sense of what it is like to be the oldest of many siblings. The chickenpox was not easy when I was young and though it isn’t a concern today, it was interesting to see a depiction it. The banter and gossip between tween girls seemed very realistic. Even though the book was set in Indonesia it feels like it could have happened anywhere, though I wished I learned more about the culture.

Kids are going to love this book! While kids these days don't have the experience of being trapped at home with chickenpox, they do know what it's like to be trapped at home with COVID. I think they will relate strongly to this book and be entertained while reading it!

Another win for Remy Lai. My daughter read this book in an entire sitting. She had it down before I even had a chance to sit down and enjoy it myself.

I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting to get a different perspective on culture through the shared experience of having chickenpox and being an eldest sibling. Chickenpox in the United States is so rare nowadays so I don't know how it would be received by young readers reading about it, however, I think the themes about what it means to be an older sibling are relevant and spot on!

4 stars

This is a great middle grade novel for its target audience, but it's also a rock-solid trip in the way back machine for those of us who are contemporaries with the author (or...have even lived a little longer).

Abby is giving oldest child energy from cover to cover (literally), and any reader with siblings will be immediately drawn to the complex ways that sibling dynamics evolve, even at very young ages. My suspicion is that solo kids will also find these relationships fascinating. Like all good middle grade protagonists, Abby isn't just learning to balance one challenge. In addition to her big sister role, Abby is also struggling to navigate her friendships, potential burgeoning romance (this is so chaste and level appropriate), and questions about where and how she does and does not fit in throughout the various areas of her young life. You thought chickenpox were irritating? They cannot compare to the horrors of preteen life.

I enjoyed this so much, even considering the periodic phantom itching it provoked! There's great character development, multiple issues get covered without feeling didactic, and there is also some cultural representation I don't often access. I'll definitely be recommending this one to students.

Chickenpox.
I had them as a child, and I vividly remember all of the stages I had to endure. UGH!
I had so much empathy for Abby and her sibling situation, but I also felt the sting of frustration with her friendship troubles. I felt as if I was immediately transported back to my middle grade years, reliving all of the confusing emotions.
Remy Lai is an expert in graphic novel storytelling, and Chickenpox will become a cherished favorite!
My readers will love this one.

This one was just okay for me. The protagonist is the eldest of five rather chaotic children. Often frustrated by her siblings and the expectations placed on the oldest child, she is less than thrilled to spend two weeks with them as they all recover from chicken pox. Drama associated with her friends and a few simple misunderstandings further exacerbate the situation. Younger readers (or those with siblings, I have none) may get more out of it than I did.

Thank you Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this wonderful book. This highly relatable story with great graphics very accurately describes what it is like to be stuck home with your siblings when all of you have chickenpox. Looking forward to sharing it with my students.

Lai can do no wrong-- especially when it's the experiences that are shared with plenty of other people. In this case, it's about a big family with lots of siblings and she being the biggest/oldest sister. AND it's about getting chickenpox and having to hang out together in the house, not being able to go to school but also going mad spending all the together time with her siblings that drive her batty.

It is sweet and hilarious at every turn. It also talks about the stages of chickenpox and sibling relationships. Then snuck in there among the family drama is Remy's friendships as a fourth grader which include a friend "accusing" her of liking a boy and then saying the wrong things that are misinterpreted including birthday plans and unnecessary but oh-so-relatable drama. It's as realistic as it could be and that's why the book is to be adored. Who wouldn't fall in love with it? And shares bits and pieces of Indonesia life along the way.

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC!

From friendship miscommunications to sibling squabbles to struggling to learn to be a good person while going through puberty, this graphic novel has it all. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, which perfectly captured what it's like to be an oldest sibling and the pressures that come with it. As someone who has never had chickenpox, I can't speak to the reality of that aspect of the book, but it certainly seemed to be realistically awful in its depiction! The illustrations were charming and dynamic, and I love Abby as the main character. I loved her realistic flaws and her struggle to be a good sibling while sick and quarantined. Set in the 90s in Indonesia, the author has little notes throughout the book to explain things that readers might not understand like a lack of a remote for the TV or a cassette player. This is perfect for fans of Shannon Hale's Real Friends series or Raina Telgemeier! I can't wait to add this to my library's collection!

This graphic novel perfectly encapsulates what it feels like to be an oldest sister, a middle schooler, and go through have the chicken pox. I was impressed with how much I related to it as an almost 30yr old.

Perfect middle grade graphic novel! Abby is the oldest sibling of a family of 5; she finds herself constantly frustrated by her younger siblings. When the whole family is quarantined with chickenpox, Abby copes with friend drama, a potential love interest, and her super annoying siblings. The 90s setting and relatable characters will be a big hit with kids today. Highly recommend!

Chickenpox is a graphic novel based on the real life experience of the author. It was somewhat entertaining for a story about a large group of siblings infected with chickenpox. They learn about each other while quarantined.