Spectacular Sisters: Amazing Stories of Sisters from Around the World

by Aura Lewis, Aura Lewis (Illustrator)

Overview

Starring the special bond between sisters throughout history, with beautiful full-color illustrations, this fun and inspiring 208-page biography collection from author-illustrator Aura Lewis is perfect for fans of Rad American Women A-Z and the Women in Art/Science/Sports series.

Sisters are spectacular! They can be your biggest cheerleaders, your most trusted confidants, and your much-needed fashion advisors (as long as they’re not stealing your clothes!).

But sisterhood can also be complex: full of rivalry, jealousy, and not-so-friendly competition. From pop culture sensations like the Kardashians/Jenners to civil rights activists Coretta Scott King and Edythe Scott Bagley to tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams, these sisters—and so many others throughout history—have not only impacted art, culture, and society, but also illustrate the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.

At the end of the day, whether you’re mortal enemies or best friends, spectacular sisters will always have your back. Share this book at home or in the classroom. It's a great source for capsule biographies of a wide variety of powerful women.

Featured in Mother Mag's "50+ Crowd-Pleasing Gifts for Kids" guide!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062947659
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	11/09/2021
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	643,182
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Aura Lewis is an author-illustrator with an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She is inspired by fashion and culture from all over the world, playful color, vintage design, and social activism. Aura’s work has been featured in books for children and adults, on TV, on stationery, and in editorial publications. Visit her online at www.auralewis.com.

Aura Lewis is an author-illustrator with an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She is inspired by fashion and culture from all over the world, playful color, vintage design, and social activism. Aura’s work has been featured in books for children and adults, on TV, on stationery, and in editorial publications. Visit her online at www.auralewis.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Louisa May & Abigail May Alcott 4

LaVerne, Maxene & Patty Andrews 8

The Azmi Sisters 12

Anna & Elena Balbusso 16

Harriet Beecher Stowe & Catharine Esther Beecher 20

Emily & Elizabeth Blackwell 24

The Bouvier Sisters: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis & Lee Radziwill 28

Charlotte, Emily & Anne Brontë 32

Claribel & Etta Cone 36

Ida & Louise Cook 40

Mary & Carrie Dann 44

Annie Elizabeth & Sarah Louise Delany 48

Amelia & Muriel Earhart 52

Mary & Emily Edmonson 56

Magda, Zsa Zsa & Eva Gabor 60

Sarah & Angelina Grimké 64

Kamala & Maya Harris 68

Anna & Emma Hyers 72

Norah Jones & Anoushka Shankar 76

The Kardashian/Jenner Sisters: Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall & Kylie 80

Beyoncé & Solange Knowles 84

Ann Landers & Dear Abby 88

Margaret & Frances MacDonald 92

Tashi & Nungshi Malik 96

Susanna & Linda Manziaris 100

Hannah & Tatyana McFadden 104

Kate & Pippa Middleton 108

Patria, Minerva María Teresa & Dedé Mirabal 112

Kate & Laura Mulleavy 116

Malia & Sasha Obama 120

Mary-Kate, Ashley & Elizabeth Olsen 124

Margaret & Matilda Roumania Peters, a.k.a. "Pete" & "Repeat" 128

Stefania & Helena Podgórska 132

Diana Ross & Barbara Ross-Lee 136

Angelica, Eliza & Peggy Schuyler 140

Coretta Scott King & Edythe Scott Bagley 144

Ai-ling, Qing-ling & Mei-ling Soong 148

The Seven Sutherland Sisters 152

Trung Trac & Trung Nhi 156

"Bloody" Mary & Elizabeth I Tudor 160

Venus & Serena Williams 164

Virginia Woolf & Vanessa Bell 168

Suggested Further Reading 173

Sources 175

Acknowledaments 193

Editorial Reviews

"The author is keen to note the humanity in the women’s interpersonal relationships by sharing instances of sibling rivalry, jealousy, and discord as well as the moments that celebrate the firm bonds of sisterhood. The work may inspire appreciation and further interest. A salute to sisterhood.” — Kirkus Reviews

"This collection offers fresh takes on sisters. Engaging and accessible essays set up historical and social contexts and offer details about personal relationships. An entertaining first stop for researchers, this unique collection should also attract plenty of browsers." — Booklist

"Beautiful full-color illustrations. A unique take on history." — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

"This collection offers fresh takes on sisters. Engaging and accessible essays set up historical and social contexts and offer details about personal relationships. An entertaining first stop for researchers, this unique collection should also attract plenty of browsers."

Booklist

"This collection offers fresh takes on sisters. Engaging and accessible essays set up historical and social contexts and offer details about personal relationships. An entertaining first stop for researchers, this unique collection should also attract plenty of browsers."

Booklist

12/01/2021

Gr 4–8—A sister should have your back, be your biggest cheerleader and a shoulder to cry on, and share in your greatest joys. This collection highlights famous sisters throughout time. Readers will learn about those such as the Shoshone activist sisters, Mary and Carrie Dann, and Anna and Emma Hyers, American singers and pioneers of Black musical theater. Organized alphabetically by subject, biographies span the gamut of ancient to contemporary time, including famous sisters of today such as the Kardashians. This biographical collection includes beautiful full-color illustrations by the author-illustrator. Fifty-two sibling sets are described and source materials are listed. VERDICT This book would be a good additional purchase for libraries looking for a unique take on history.—Lisa Gieskes, Richland County P.L., Columbia, SC

School Library Journal

2021-09-15
A collection of profiles of sisters who have influenced culture, inspired change, and made history.

Choosing subjects connected by the bond of sisterhood, Lewis offers an overview of the lives of some of the most influential and famous women in history whose lives span continents and centuries. From tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams and the Azmi sisters, Pakistani Canadian field hockey players, to politician Kamala Harris and her civil rights lawyer sister, Maya, readers are introduced to women who have established names for themselves in their respective fields. Alongside towering literary, artistic, and political figures, readers will find the Kardashians and Kate and Pippa Middleton. The author is keen to note the humanity in the women’s interpersonal relationships by sharing instances of sibling rivalry, jealousy, and discord as well as the moments that celebrate the firm bonds of sisterhood. The very brief nature of each profile—consisting of a title page, an attractive full-page portrait, and two scant pages of text offering cursory information—means that the book reads like a series of Wikipedia entries. Indeed, the author drew heavily upon secondary sources such as general news websites for material. Although the profiles are not in-depth enough to serve as material for school reports, the work may inspire appreciation and further interest.

A surface-level salute to sisterhood. (further reading, sources) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews