Chickenpox | Review

Chickenpox by Remy Lai
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, January 2025, $14.99
Grades 4 and up

I don’t remember having chickenpox, but there is a constant reminder above my nose, between my brows, on the right. I must have scratched and scratched one of the pox and left a tiny scar. Growing up, having chickenpox was a rite of passage. One family member had it? Then a mother dreamed that all the children went through it simultaneously.

It’s been approximately 30 years since the Varivax vaccine was introduced in the United States and by now, children have no idea what chickenpox is. (I asked my children if they had heard of chickenpox. Answer: Barely. They knew it was a disease with pimples.) So I found it very entertaining to read an entire graphic novel devoted to a family that has chickenpox.

The Lai siblings are a rambunctious bunch. Oldest sibling Abby is grateful to get away from her lively home life, whether it’s piano lessons or going to friends. She is mortified to bring her friends around the house, because one of her siblings is likely to embarrass her. But when she comes down with chickenpox and passes it on to all of her siblings, they are all in quarantine together for the duration.

The time together is turbulent as Abby, a pre-teen, navigates annoying siblings who invade her space and don’t give her time to herself. But the time together allows her to grow into a relationship with her family. The themes in the story transcend time and location. While this semi-biographical story relates to sibling relationships over 30 years ago, it could nearly mimic my own household and their sibling relationships.

The characters are genuine and most important, growing. Readers from all over will be able to identify. The brightly colored artwork pops. The exaggerated drawings convey the frustration, turbulence, and sometimes contrite feelings. This will be a very popular read and a perfect fit for readers who enjoyed Squished and Allergic as well as Raina Telgemeier fans. They will find Chickenpox a satisfying and humorous read.

Filed under: Graphic Novels, Reviews