Echo's Sister

January 1, 2018

Gr 5-8-The author's latest novel tackles the subject of childhood cancer and offers readers a window into a sibling's point of view. El is a seventh grader from New York who recently found out that her six-year-old sister Echo has cancer. The diagnosis turns the family inside out. El must deal with the swarm of new feelings inside herself and all around her. Mosier writes from the older sibling's perspective which gives this novel a fresh viewpoint over other novels that explore this subject. The details and dialogue ring true and will give middle graders an empathetic window into an emotional and deeply personal familial experience. VERDICT A realistic fiction story that reads like a biography, this poignant tale is a strong addition for any collection serving older elementary and middle school readers.-Elizabeth Pelayo, St. Charles East High School, IL

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2018
Cancer invades a family, but their own strong ties and those of their artistic community provide them with hope and much-needed assistance.It's the first day of school for seventh-grader Laughter--who prefers to be called El--at the same private arts academy in Greenwich Village her parents attended. She is excited about the coming year until she learns from her father that her 6-year-old sister, Echo, has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. El's family is close-knit and loving, but that doesn't protect either sister. El's reaction to the cancer is visceral: "And her tumor is growing. I can practically hear it." She goes through periods of denial, anger, and grief. Fortunately, the family stays resilient and adopts a motto-- "ALL FOR ONE--AND ALL FOUR ONE"--to maintain their focus. Their financial woes are offset by an incredible outpouring of support from the local artistic community and the school. El's friends, both old and new, also join in the efforts. Mosier tells El's story in a first-person narrative that makes it more immediate and heartfelt. The diagnosis, treatment, and outlook for the cancer are explained well and integrated into the narrative. Race and ethnicity are not a factor in the story; they default to white. There is, however, one gratuitous mention of a mother and daughter who "have beautiful coffee-colored skin."Ultimately positive and uplifting, but readers should keep a box of tissues nearby. (Fiction. 9-12)

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Starred review from July 1, 2018
Grades 4-6 *Starred Review* While El dreads starting a new school in seventh grade, the most disturbing part of that first day comes when Dad meets her afterward and delivers the news that her six-year-old sister, Echo, is in the hospital because of a tumor. The coming months bring chemo and surgery for Echo, a lost job for Mom, and hard times for this close-knit family. El can't bear to confide in her old friends, and it takes awhile before she can open up to Octavius, the one classmate who connects with her. By gradually giving up the pretense of normality, she is able to accept the reality of what her family is living through as well as the empathy and the support of those who want to help. Medically, the ending strikes a cautiously optimistic note. The author of Train I Ride? (2017), Mosier creates a network of convincing characters with varied personalities, interests, and relationships. Simple, direct prose makes the writing widely accessible, while the realistic portrayal of emotions and relationships makes it compelling. Written from El's point of view, the story traces a journey that no one would want to take, but readers will follow her through every line of this absorbing novel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)