Amy’s Big Brother is a story geared more toward young kids, but reading it with the family could be a teaching moment, especially for siblings.
Amy’s Big Brother is geared more toward young kids. However, that does not mean it has nothing to offer adult readers. There are conversations about communication, honesty, and space, as well as appreciating loved ones, even if they inspire irritation. The story centers around Amy’s older brother, Andrew, who’s excited to start middle school. But the issue is his annoying younger sister will not leave him alone. Amy’s Big Brother is a sweet children’s story filled with important lessons for navigating relationships.
With story and art by BonHyung Jeong, the slice-of-life story starts with Andrew introducing himself to the readers. The Yen Press comic has eleven chapters filled with full-color illustrations as Andrew prepares to start middle school. For Andrew, the best part about middle school is he’s no longer in the same school as his sister, Amy. While the title doesn’t give too much away, Amy’s Big Brother focuses more on Andrew, but his sister pops up often to annoy him.
Amy’s Big Brother Shows Awkward, Sweet Kid Crushes
Upon first entering middle school, Andrew’s primary goal is basketball. That is until he sees Hannah. As they are all young, their friends, even well-meaning ones, create adorable yet embarrassing moments for them. It’s so innocent how children’s relationships bloom with smiling and handholding. But youthful love can be suffocating when affection levels are not similar. They can also become unhealthy.
Healthy Exploration of Boundaries and Relationships
Oddly enough, what Hannah first likes about Andrew is how tolerant he is with his sister, whom his parents force him to bring along. Little does she know that is hardly the case. For Andrew, everything gets put on the back burner for Hannah. He doesn’t train as much or anything else. While these are kids, adults are just as susceptible to making this mistake. Just as a work-life balance is essential, the balance between a partner, friends, and outside interests matters.
Amy’s Big Brother shows Hannah’s maturity when she chooses to hang out with her friends and her young age as she struggles to convey to Andrew how he smothers her. Moreover, although some of her friends claim she neglects her time with Andrew and should spend more time with him, Hannah knows herself well enough to know she needs her space.
Parents Forcing Kids Together Can Foster Resentment
While any parent wants their kids to get along, it’s not good to force them together. Andrew, who they adopted before they had Amy, starts to wonder if they love her more. After all, they always let her behavior slide, plus ask him to take her with him. All of that raises his irritation with Amy. It’s not until a moment of kindness on her part, where the parents do not force him to deal with her that he realizes he is too harsh on her. In her way, she loves him. It’s why she always wants to be around him.
Amy’s Big Brother is a story geared more toward young kids, but reading it with the family could be a teaching moment, especially for siblings. It’s not something older teens or adults will necessarily revisit, but its target audience might enjoy it more. It talks about sibling conflict, communication, boundaries, and more in a lighthearted tale of first love and moving on. It drags some in the beginning before finding its footing. Still, Amy’s Big Brother is sweet, and the story touches on familiar, comical, and mortifying childhood issues.
