Book Review: My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier

My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier

Pages: 398
Publish date: January 27th 2016
Publisher: Allen and Unwin
ISBN: 9781760112226
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon US – Amazon AU

What if the most terrifying person you’d ever met was your ten-year old sister? A spine-chilling psychological thriller from one of Australia’s finest YA authors.

‘I promise,’ said Rosa. ‘I won’t kill and I won’t make anyone else kill.’

I can’t see the loophole. Since the guinea pig there’s been nothing. Months now without Rosa killing as much as a mosquito.

As far as I know.

Che Taylor has four items on his list: 1. He wants to spar, not just train in the boxing gym. 2. He wants a girlfriend. 3. He wants to go home. 4. He wants to keep Rosa under control.

Che’s little sister Rosa is smart, talented, pretty, and so good at deception that Che’s convinced she must be a psychopath. She hasn’t hurt anyone yet, but he’s certain it’s just a matter of time. And when their parents move them to New York City, Che longs to return to Sydney and his three best friends. But his first duty is to his sister Rosa, who is playing increasingly complex and disturbing games. Can he protect Rosa from the world – and the world from Rosa?

My Sister Rosa

I received an early copy of My Sister Rosa by Justine Larbalestier for review from Allen and Unwin, this has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Before you go into this book be prepared that it is going to mess with your mind, there is no doubt about it. When you think something is going one way, it changes all up and you are back to the start: You know that something is going to happen, however you have no idea what, or when or how.

When I wake up the sun is coming up and Rosa is curled up in a ball on my bedroom floor.
Her face is relaxed, her mouth a little open. She looks like the baby she once was, the one whose tiny fingers curled around mine, who smiled up at me. It’s hard to believe this is a child with no heart.

I haven’t read numerous psychological thrillers, but by far My Sister Rosa is the best that I have read. Justine Larbalestier is brilliant, she knows how to write a book that only the author knows what is going to happen and everyone else that reads it, sits there is shock when they have finished it.

Che is the protagonist of My Sister Rosa, he is trying to be a normal 17-year-old male, which happens to move around quite a bit. Che only wants 4 things:

He wants to spar, not just train in the boxing gym.
He wants a girlfriend.
He wants to go home.
He wants to keep Rosa under control.

And trying to get those 4 things is pretty hard. I loved Che, he is probably one of the sweetest, most nicest protagonists that hasn’t annoyed me to hell. All I wanted to do throughout the whole of My Sister Rosa was hug him.

Che has this characterise about him that you just enjoy reading. I also loved that he was male. You don’t get to see male protagonist much in YA – so whenever I have the chance I pick the book up. I loved that he boxed too. I find boxing quite fascinating.

Rosa on the other hand– man that girl can charm. Who knew a 10 year old could be so nice and yet be a psychopath. But you see that is their speciality. They can manipulate people and boy does Rosa do it well.

I wish I was a psychopath so I wouldn’t hurt, so I wouldn’t care. Right now I wish I had no feelings. If I had no feelings I might be able to survive this.

Rosa frustrated me to know end, especially since we knew what she was doing and no one else could see it, it’s like open your eyes!

Their parents, let’s just say that they are not my favourite people in the world. Apart from being oblivious to Rosa’s behaviour or simply ignoring it – they weren’t the best of parents and so many times when Che tried to tell them about Rosa, they put him down for it and blamed him.

Nevertheless, I also loved the diversity of My Sister Rosa, it stood out. It was nice to see different races, different religions, and different ethnicity.

Overall, My Sister Rosa is a terrifying, fantastic read that will mess with your mind. Be prepared for a book that has many twists and turns that you have no idea what hit you, My Sister Rosa reminds us that sometimes a smile and looking pretty doesn’t mean that the person is not a psychopath. Nevertheless, Larbalestier also reminds us that you not always like your family.