• Age: 11 to 13
• Grade: 6 to 8
• Reading age: 11 to 13

Fifth grader Talia Cohen-Sullivan isn't sure how she feels about boys, crushes, and the love thing even though her best friend, Carmen, is already dreaming about kissing--and it's only September. Losing her mom to cancer a few years ago made Talia afraid of change, though she still has her big sister, Jade, to help her through hard times. But when she sees Jade kissing a girl, Talia is suddenly thrust into a world she doesn't understand and faces important decisions. With the help of her therapist, and Carmen, and Jade herself, Talia learns that love has many faces; love might even be something she's interested in soon . . . for herself.

Teacher resources available on publisher website:https://www.rebelmountainpress.com/my-sisters-girlfriend--teacher-resources.html

Lucie Gagnon et Gail Marlene Schwartz sont passionnées de livres pour enfants. Elles sont les co-auteurs de Clémence au temps du coronavirus (Facile à Lire, 2020) et L'amoureuse de ma sœur (Rebel Mountain Press, à venir). Lucie est retraitée du réseau des Bibliothèques Publiques de Montréal. Elle est un parent-éducateur qui adore les jeux, les pâtes et aime apprendre comment les choses fonctionnent. Gail écrit pour les adultes et est éditeur professionnel. Elle aime chanter, faire du pain challah, et travailler avec des amis sur des projets d'art salissants. En plus d'écrire ensemble, Lucie et Gail partagent une maison, un fils et un chien, tous pleins de sons, à St-Armand, du Québec.

Gail Schwartz's profile page

Lucie Gagnon et Gail Marlene Schwartz sont passionnées de livres pour enfants. Elles sont les co-auteurs de Clémence au temps du coronavirus (Facile à Lire, 2020) et L'amoureuse de ma sœur(Rebel Mountain Press, à venir). Lucie est retraitée du réseau des Bibliothèques Publiques de Montréal. Elle est un parent-éducateur qui adore les jeux, les pâtes et aime apprendre comment les choses fonctionnent. Gail écrit pour les adultes et est éditeur professionnel. Elle aime chanter, faire du pain challah, et travailler avec des amis sur des projets d'art salissants. En plus d'écrire ensemble, Lucie et Gail partagent une maison, un fils et un chien, tous pleins de sons, à St-Armand, du Québec.

Lucie Gagnon's profile page

My Sister's Girlfriend by Gail Marlene Schwartz and Lucie Gagnon was chosen by CBC as one of the top Canadian middle grade books to watch for in fall 2022. https://www.cbc.ca/books/36-canadian-middle-grade-books-to-watch-for-in-fall-2022-1.6595261

A heartwarming story to help children understand the coming-out process of those they love. My Sister's Girlfriend is as much a story about a family coming out, as it is about a young girl opening up and learning to share a beloved family member with others. LS Stone, author of What's in it for ME?

Talia is a likeable character who has lost her mother and is very close to her sister, Jade. When she discovers that her sister has a girlfriend, she struggles with acceptance of this new relationship. This well-written book is a positive introduction for readers who are not part of the LGBTQ+ community. Acceptance is the key theme - not just of others but ourselves." Chantal Hughes, author in Breaking Boundaries- LGBTQ2 Writers Coming Out and Into Canada

Growing up is hard, especially when everyone around you is ready for relationships and having crushes. This couldn't be truer for Talia Cohen-Sullivan, a fifth grader just trying to make it through each day without the guidance of her mother.

Luckily, Talia has Jade, her 16-year-old sister who makes her feel like the centre of the universe. The calmness of Talia's world takes a sharp turn when she sees Jade kissing a girl in their basement. Shocked by this secret part of her sister's life, Talia's world seems to spin out of control as she wonders what this means. She feels like the life her sister has built for her is changing faster than Talia's ready for.

Gail Marlene Schwartz and Lucie Gagnon's novel creates a heartwarming introduction to allyship for middle-grade readers. This story is geared towards readers who are new to the LGBT02+ rainbow. They will find this especially poignant because it tackles some of the misunderstandings that often surface around these types of relationships for those who have not been exposed to them before, such as homophobia.

As the story progresses. Schwartz and Gagnon introduce many trusted adults for Talia to talk to and work through these concepts with. which is a wonderful model for middle-grade readers who are often presented with protagonists who must figure it out for themselves because of absent adults. Schwartz and Gagnon create a welcoming novel for all readers who are looking to better navigate relationships and changes that they may be experiencing through this charming story.

Ashley Pamenter is the co-chair of the Ontario Library Association's Red Maple Steering Committee

MY SISTER'S GIRLFRIEND has made the list of the Canadian School Libraries Journal issue sping 2023 vol. 8 No. 2, "11 Books to Add to Your Classroom If You're Infuriated by Book Bans," https://journal.canadianschoollibraries.ca/11-books-to-add-to-your-classroom-if-youre-infuriated-by-book-bans-canadian-indie-publisher-edition/

The MOMBIAN: https://mombian.com/database/my-sisters-girlfriend/ "A thoughtful story about sibling love, family bonds, and the rippling, sometimes unexpected implications of bias and oppression.
Fifth-grader Talia, who lives in Canada, isn't quite ready to start thinking about crushes and boys, even though her best friend Carmen is. Talia's main attachment is to her high-schooler sister Jade, especially after their mom died several years ago. Jade starts wanting her own space, however, and is spending more time with Emily, another high school student, rather than Talia. When Talia sees Jade and Emily kissing, she isn't sure how she feels.
She knows what being gay is, and her friends seem to think being gay isn't a big deal. But when one friend relates the story of her cousin who was kicked out of his house by his parents who thought his being gay was a sin, Talia gets frightened. She knows Jade hasn't yet told their father about her relationship with Emily. What if that's because he'd kick her out, too? And when Jade and Emily experience homophobic taunting in Talia's presence, Talia is afraid they'll get hurt, even though the two older girls try to explain why they don't want to hide their relationship.
Talia gradually works through her fears, finding support from the therapist she had seen after her mom's death, and unexpected help from a two-mom couple she didn't even realize was within a few degrees of separation. There's also a helpful PFLAG group that makes an appearance. For grown-ups trying to evaluate the book and who want to know, I'll write Talia's dad's actual reaction to Jade's coming out: Their dad is totally fine with it, and had in fact guessed that Jade was queer long ago.
A few references could have been better explained for young readers. For example, Talia tells a queer woman she gets to know about the harassment of Jade and Emily. The woman responds, "It doesn't end. With Matthew Shepard and gay marriage, you'd think we'd be finished, but it just keeps going." The book never explains who Matthew Shepard is; even readers who do know may be confused as to why a young man who was brutally murdered is being paralleled with gay marriage, a good thing. (Presumably the authors intended the reference to be about how Shepard's death has increased awareness about the horrors of homophobia and the need for change, but that's never stated.)
In another instance, Talia's saying that a friend has "two moms. Lesbian moms," might have been better as just "two moms," leaving open the possibility that one or both could be bisexual. (Talia herself might be at too early a stage of understanding to differentiate, but the authors could have set a good example here for their readers about not assuming.) Additionally, one of the characters mentions that while they're lucky living in Canada, "it's not like homophobia just disappeared.. LGBTQ teenagers still have the highest suicide rate in North America." True, but the fact is, trans youth consider suicide at a rate higher than that of LGB youth, and bi youth at a rate higher than of LG youth. It's thus not just homophobia, but also transphobia and biphobia. Listing all that out might be a lot (especially since the book doesn't get into what it means to be trans or bi), but saying something like, "it's not like anti-LGBTQ activity just disappeared" might have been more inclusive.
These are minor tweaks, though, in an engaging narrative that thoughtfully explores the far-reaching impact that bias and hate can have, even in a community that is generally supportive of queer folk. The mere knowledge that it exists can trigger fears, especially in a child's mind. That's a nuance we don't often see, and it is commendable that authors Gail Marlene Schwartz and Lucie Gagnon, queer moms themselves, center this story around it. At the same time, I love that they show Talia's immediate family and friends being nothing but supportive of the queer people they know. Bias may cast a long shadow-but the model of how Talia works through her fears within a circle of support, and how the relationship between her and her sister is ultimately strengthened, should be welcomed by readers and their grown-ups. The publisher, Rebel Mountain Press, is an independent queer press in Canada. They don't have the marketing budget of the industry giants, so if you know someone who might enjoy this tale of sibling love, coming out, and overcoming fear, make sure to pass along a recommendation.
Talia and her family are cued as White. Talia is Jewish on her mom's side and identifies as "half Jewish." (The family seems to be culturally Jewish, but casual about observance. They celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas.)"