Remy Lai's graphic novels are all very different. This one is a memoir of the time when her family was quarantined at home due to chickenpox in 1995. While the book is written from the perspective of oldest sister Abby, Remi is actually in the middle of the pecking order with two older sisters and two younger brothers.

At the time when the Lai family was afflicted, there were some fascinating cultural icons still around. Like home phones with extensions, renting laser discs and VHS tapes from the video store, and TVs without remotes. I really enjoyed all the clues to what life was like in the 90's in this graphic novel. Lai also includes some facts about the virus with a page for each stage inserted throughout to show the progression.

For older folks like me this book about when chickenpox invades a family is so relatable. I had the virus in the 70's along with my three siblings. When my own kids were little the vaccine was only available for my third child. In fact my oldest son came down with chickenpox the day I brought his youngest brother home from the hospital. Not the greatest timing, but we survived.

It will be interesting to see how kids who are the same age as the Lai kids embrace this new release. I thought it was very well done. Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I recieved a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it!

It’s hard being a big sister, especially when you’re the oldest of 5 kids. And even harder when everyone has chicken pox! Older siblings everywhere will relate to Abby, who just wants to spend time with her friends. This is also a nostalgic look back at life in an earlier era, one parents will remember but kids won’t, and a nice look at life in Singapore. All told, this is a sweet graphic novel that I think many kids will enjoy, reminiscent of Rania Telegemier.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley!!

Two sentence review:
Remy Lai genuinely is a delight and so are her works; Chickenpox is definitely included. A great dive into a pocket of time where a preteen struggles with family, friends, puberty, and a long forgotten itch fest.

This was a charming children’s story about relationships between Abby and her siblings & friends. While it may be a bit hard for kids today to relate to a time before cell phones and streaming platforms, it’s still a sweet and enjoyable tale. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader's copy.

A story about growing up, friendships, and of course, the distant memory of life with chicken pox. Remy captures the tween drama of younger siblings, the anxiety of tween friendships, and the horror of being quarantined at home with chicken pox. The illustrations are styled well to add to the story as a graphic novel should.

I felt the emotions as I read and while i was only 5 when I had chicken pox, i could still feel that itch reading. I went through so many emotions reading just like the ups and downs of a tween going through the same events would.

A cute middle grade graphic novel about Abby and her siblings all having chickenpox at the same time. While it brought back memories of my own chickenpox in kindergarten, this will be a novelty for my students because of the vaccine. Students may connect it to their experiences during the COVID pandemic though.

This book centers around a family who gets chicken pox. The older sister is already tired of her siblings and is upset that she now has to quarantine with them. Meanwhile, she is navigating her friendships who have determined she is too immature. A great story for upper elementary and middle school students.

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.