Marlyn Spaaij Books

Sisters Kyra, Margot and Janna are off for a wonderful innocent summer at their Grandma’s home in Frygea Forest – a summer of blanket forts, campfires and tree climbing. But after older sister Margot wanders into the forest and looks a Fog Fury in the eye, little do they know, that before the holiday is over, they will all be changed…

This is a story of both light and dark. Literally, in terms of the changing colour schemes as dark forces appear and recede, but also in terms of the challenges the sisters face. Frygea Forest is a mystical place, full of unusual creatures, some friendly and whimsical, such as the Root Goblins, Alfs and Wisps, and some malevolent –Hell Hound, Trolls and, most feared of all, the Fog Furies.

In the other-worldly forest, the dangers are dramatic – baby Janna becomes lost in the dark and Kyra gets sucked deep into the swamp and becomes trapped by Trolls. But back in the farmhouse, the more prosaic changes that face Margot as she enters puberty, as her body changes and as she grows away from her sisters, are more profound.

Sisters of the Mist is a stunning debut from Marlyn Spaaij, reminiscent, in both the graphic style, the themes and the emotional depth leavened with humour, of Raina Telgemeier’s work.

There is some mild language (butt, boobies) and older themes (specifically periods), which means Sisters of the Mist is only appropriate for the older end of Primary, and beyond. Many children in the upper primary age group will benefit from its central message and use of metaphors to explore puberty. As the book itself ends, ”Change can be very scary. And even though you’re afraid, sometimes you have to let your biggest fears come true. You’ll see afterwards, it’s not so scary. Not anymore”.