Sisters

“It also means ‘bitter one’, but your mom likes it, so that’s that.”

When Dad explains the meaning of Amara’s name, he foreshadows events to come. This is often the case when Dad comments, which is rare and usually in the form of a joke. Amara often has a negative attitude and is regularly in a low mood; she also mocks and bothers Raina. She prefers her own company and often falls into a rage when others try to push themselves on her. 

“Maybe we should feed her to the wolves!”

Dad spends much of his time smiling, laughing, and joking, and this is his means of Connecting with his family. This contrasts with the overall mood and atmosphere of the household, which is usually tense and irritated. Dad’s jokes also irritate Mom, and her unimpressed reactions to his jokes are one of the many subtle clues of the tension in their relationship.

“You’d hear better without those stupid headphones on.”

The first time that Amara mentions Raina’s headphone use, it’s in passing while the family is driving through the mountains. At first, it seems like a meaningless remark, but in the story’s conclusion, Amara voices her opinions on the impact of Raina’s headphone use not only on Raina herself but on the family as a whole. She feels as though Raina purposely isolates herself from the family, and in doing so misses out on vital signals that something is wrong. 

“I dawing a gizzly bear by a stream, an’ a deer, an’ a eagle, an’ another deer… and over here...”

Amara is always trying to outshine her sister, and this is a major source of conflict between the girls. As the older sister, Raina feels that she should automatically excel, and feels jealous and threatened when Amara does better. This scene also shows Amara’s passion for drawing and for wildlife, both of which are prominent motifs in the story.

“Looks like we’re heading into a bit of weather…”

Mom foreshadows upcoming trouble when the family encounters a major thunderstorm on the highway. She refers to the storm, but it is also symbolic of the conflicts that occur along the rest of the trip. The next morning, Raina awakes to see several dead animals washed up after the storm, and it reminds her of a past experience that led to her Fear of snakes. The road trip itself is steeped in conflict and tension, and it does not dissipate until the family is halfway home.

“CAN’T YOU BE EXCITED QUIETLY?!!!”

Telgemeier regularly uses capital letters, larger fonts, and a yellow fill when indicating volume and anger. In her characteristic form, Amara ironically screams at Will for being too loud. Although Will is just being his usual self, Amara and the other members of the family are often dealing with several other stressors, and Will becomes the brunt of their anger.

“It’s not easy having so many of us in one house, huh?”

During her life, many changes occur in Raina’s life that she must Adjust to, and many of these changes are unexpected. When Will is born, the apartment is more crowded than ever, and Amara’s tantrums become significantly worse. Raina’s reaction is to shut down emotionally, but Dad notices she’s struggling and offers to take the kids to the zoo, which turns out to be more helpful for Amara than Raina.

“That’s enough moping, everyone. Get your flashlights—we’re going on a star walk.”

Mom is an assertive individual and someone who wants to maintain a sense of control over her family dynamic. When it becomes apparent that the family is struggling to Overcome Differences and get along with one another, she insists on taking them out to look at the stars in an attempt to reconnect. Ironically, while out stargazing the children are entirely focused on their Dad’s absence. 

“Are they punishing her, or me?”

When Amara is refused her request to eat McDonald’s by Mom, she storms up to her room, screaming. Her screams fill the room and the panels as her eyes widen and become bloodshot. Raina sits with her pillow over her head, wondering why she ever asked for a sister, seeing Amara as more of a punishment than a companion.

“Maybe if I wish hard enough, this will all be a dream...”

When Raina’s father announces that he lost his job, it is as if everything in Raina’s world is grinding to a halt. She feels no connection to her sister (that she desperately wanted), and she knows that her family is headed for a stressful period of time. Along with all of this is baby Will, who takes up most of her parents’ attention. Raina struggles to Adjust to the Unexpected and Navigate the Changes involved in growing up.

“I asked for world peace, some new markers, a job for Dad, and the newest Babysitters Club book!”

When Christmas comes and Dad is still out of work, Raina’s requests are modest and generous, showing a more mature side to her character. It is clear that she cares about her family and hopes that things improve in her home life. This quote also contains a reference to Raina Telgemeier’s love of The Babysitter’s Club, which was a popular series in the 1980s and 1990s that she then turned into her own with her graphic novel series.

“Can’t you sit still, Will?! You’re just like your father!!!”

When Mom says that Will is just like his father, it is clear that she means it in a negative way. The statement hints at Mom’s growing distance with Dad, and how she feels dissatisfied with his parenting. As the road trip progresses, Mom’s mood becomes increasingly tense, eventually leading to her outburst at Will, who was innocently singing.

“I just wish your father could find a job. He’s been looking for months.”

In a flashback, Dad watches TV with Will while Mom and Raina sit in the kitchen. Mom is stressed about money, and Dad is relaxed and happily enjoying a moment with his son. The moment takes place several years ago but is one of the precursors to the issues that Mom and Dad are having in the present. 

“’This calls for a celebration! I’m taking you all out for a nice dinner!’

‘McDonald’s!??!’

‘No, Burger King!!’”

Sisters is full of humorous moments, many of which center around Amara and her quirks. One of these moments happens when Dad announces that he finally found work and suggests going out for a fancy meal. True to her form, Amara’s first thought when she hears about a nice meal is McDonald’s, and Raina’s is Burger King. Both Mom and Dad stare at their daughters in bewilderment.

“Can you guys go away? I’m try’na draw here.”

Amara is an independent person and usually wants to be alone. When Dad brings home a computer, Amara becomes immersed with its Paint application and refuses to let anyone else use it. She isolates herself and the computer under a blanket, not wanting to interact with others at all. Amara and Raina both love drawing, but rather than this being a source of Connection between the girls, it becomes a source of conflict.

“’You ever feel like you don’t fit in?’

‘All the time. The difference between you and me is, I don’t care.’”

Both Raina and Amara feel as though they don’t belong in their own family. Each of them faces their own challenges in regard to Growing Up and Adjusting to the Unexpected. When Raina tries to connect with Amara over this shared difficulty, Amara shuts her out, believing her intentions to be selfish.

“Sigh… The cousin I wished was my sister barely knows me at all. And the sister I actually have hates me. Although I guess it’s nothing personal… She hates everyone.”

Raina is unable to Connect with her family growing up and can’t figure out why. When she goes to the family reunion, she has the same experience, and is severely disappointed. She feels misunderstood and neglected but doesn’t yet realize that she is the one who is misunderstanding and neglecting her family.

“What if it gets out of its… what do they live in, anyway—cages?”

When Raina asks about the possibility of the pet snake escaping, she foreshadows its future escape. Mom ironically replies that it won’t happen, but weeks later, the snake gets loose and trapped in the van. The scenario surrounding the snake problem is something that forces Raina to confront her Fear of snakes.

“Too bad the walls aren’t thicker!”

In this statement, Raina complains about the lack of distance between her and the snake. It also serves as a metaphor for her desire to be isolated from her family and the chaos there—a desire which sprung out of years of disappointment after trying to Connect with her sister.

“You always have to steal my thunder!!”

Amara is always trying to outdo Raina, and this is a major source of conflict between the two sisters. Raina feels that she should be better because she is older, and Amara just wants to be like Raina. When the family leaves the reunion, Amara gifts their cousins some drawings she made, and Raina becomes instantly jealous.

“Now you know the real reason I can’t ride home with you, Will. I’d just drive your mother crazy.”

Dad’s jokes are often veiled truths, and when he departs at the airport, he jokes about how he and Mom are not getting along. Amara sees right through it, causing an awkward moment, and Raina finally starts to realize that something is wrong. Her parents have been growing increasingly distant for a long time, but Raina has been tuned out from the world and her family.

“I don’t want you kids to worry, okay? Everything’s going to be—*SPUTTER*—fine.”

In an ironic twist, the van breaks down in the middle of the desert just as Mom assures the kids that everything will be fine. She is referring to her relationship with Dad, but concrete moments such as the van breaking down are reflective of deeper issues in the family.

“Would it be the end of the world for you to not have your Walkman on for a few hours?!”

Amara is constantly frustrated by Raina’s unwillingness to Connect with People. This usually manifests in the form of bullying or bothering Raina, which only pushes her further away. Raina’s refusal to connect is most obvious in her consistent use of headphones to block out the tension and chaos in her family. The conflict between the girls spans over several years, but finally starts to break down at the end of the road trip.