Readers looking for recommendations similar in theme to Jacob Have I Loved might enjoy the following books focusing on sisterly relationships and family ties:
Sixteen year old Novah has six siblings and an older sister named Ariana, with whom she has a complicated relationship. When their parents are killed in a terrible car accident, Novah’s caretaking responsibilities multiply and her already strained relationship with Ariana becomes even more fraught. Together they navigate grief, young and new adulthood, and take care of their household.
Three different narratives are interwoven in this story about three biological siblings who are living in separate placements. Their experiences are all very different. Joaquin, the eldest, has spent seventeen years in foster care and is not particularly interested in learning more about his biological mother. The middle child, Grace, was adopted as a baby, and goes looking for her biological family after having her own child.. Maya, the youngest, has grown up in a full household of adopted siblings and is curious about how she connects to these strangers that she is biologically related to.
This Newbery Award winning classic is the second book in Voigt’s Tillerman series. Dicey and her siblings have found a home with their grandmother after their mother abandoned them in a mall parking lot and they had to struggle to survive and get to safety. Dicey can now finally step back from being the caretaker for everyone. Or can she?
Living with their troubled and neglectful parents, two sisters attempt to sort out their very strained relationship. Gem grew up taking care of her sister when no one else could: not their mother, whose issues make it hard for her to keep food on the table, and definitely not their father. When their dad returns home for the first time in years and tries to insert himself back into their lives, Gem finds herself with an unexpected opportunity: three days with Dixie — on their own in Seattle and beyond. But this short trip soon becomes something more, as Gem discovers that to save herself, she may have to sever the one bond she’s tried so hard to keep.
Iselia “Seelie” Graygrove looks just like her twin, Isolde, but upon her discovery as an autistic changeling left in the human world by the fae as an infant, she has always known she is different. Shunned, Seelie is trying to find her place, while Isolde is a professional rogue. When Seelie and Isolde are caught up in a heist gone wrong and make some unexpected allies, they find themselves unraveling a larger mystery that has its roots in the history of humans and fae alike. Both sisters soon discover that the secrets of the faeries may be more valuable than any pile of gold and jewels. But can Seelie harness her magic in time to protect her sister and herself?
Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They’re not just any letters, though; they’re love letters, one for every boy she’s ever loved — five in all. Lara Jean has kept them safe, that is until someone mails out her letters causing all of her crushes from her past to confront her. Lara Jean’s first kiss, the boy from summer camp, and even her sister’s recent ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.
Quiz Time!
It is no secret that Maryland is known for the Chesapeake Bay, but did you know that Old Bay is a way of life here? Find out…
Which Food Gratuitously Covered in Old Bay Are You?
- There’s a storm brewing and a chance for flooding, how do you prepare?
A) Pft! I was born on a stormy night, I’ve got this!
B) Get ready to hunker down with a good book. There should still be candles in the kitchen drawer…
C) You run to the store before the rush to make sure that you have enough bleu cheese
D) You don’t notice because you are too busy doing your taxes, cleaning the bathroom, or something else boring and responsible.
2. Which Baltimore cultural attraction speaks to you the most?
A) Fishies! — The National Aquarium
B) Books! — The George Peabody Museum
C) A taste for the macabre — Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum
D) “Oral” History — Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry
3. Pick a Maryland sport pastime:
A) Jousting — for real, it’s our state sport
B) Baseball
C) Lacrosse
D) Walking
4. What state symbols stand out to you?
A) Blue Crab
Scroll down for your results
Mostly A’s — Crab
You are a classic accompaniment to Maryland’s famous crabs.
Mostly B’s — Fries
You are a creature of habit and love what comforts you. Can’t go wrong with adding a little spice to your fried potatoes
Mostly C’s — Chicken Wings
You are a maximalist when it comes to flavor and you are not afraid of getting messy. Where are the napkins?
Mostly D’s — Grilled Vegetables
You can’t see why you can’t have both nutrients and flavor; you season with purpose.
This blog is created by Hannah and Maria in conjunction with the These Books Made Me podcast, a Prince George’s County Memorial Library System production. Check out the corresponding episode on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you normally listen to podcasts.
