
Reach for this book when you hear the familiar refrain of 'That's not fair!' or 'You love them more than me' echoing through your hallways. Judy Blume perfectly captures the prickly, competitive, yet deeply bonded relationship between siblings through two distinct points of view. By giving a voice to both the younger brother (The Pain) and the older sister (The Great One), the book validates the frustration children feel when they think a sibling is getting a better deal. This is an essential read for families navigating the 'fairness' phase of childhood. It moves beyond simple lessons to provide a mirror for a child's complex feelings of jealousy and belonging. Parents will appreciate how it uses humor to de-escalate sibling tension, ultimately showing that while parents might treat children differently based on their needs, love is never a limited resource. It is a gentle, funny tool for opening a dialogue about family dynamics and the unique pros and cons of being the oldest or the youngest.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewThe book deals exclusively with domestic sibling rivalry. There are no heavy topics like death or divorce. The approach is secular and realistic, focusing on the everyday micro-aggressions of childhood. The resolution is hopeful and validating.
An elementary-aged child who is currently struggling with a 'favored' sibling or feels 'sandwiched' and overlooked. It is particularly effective for children aged 6 to 8 who are beginning to track 'fairness' with mathematical precision.
No specific scenes need previewing, but parents should be ready to answer the question: 'Do you really love them more?' after reading. It can be read cold easily. A parent might reach for this after a bedtime blowout where one child claims the other is the 'favorite' or after a day of constant bickering over toys and attention.
A 5-year-old will identify with the slapstick annoyances (the cat, the blocks). An 8 or 9-year-old will deeply resonate with the psychological injustice of the 'Great One' label and the social hierarchy of the family.
Unlike many sibling books that end with a forced 'I love you,' Blume allows the characters to remain annoyed with each other, which feels much more authentic to children. The dual-perspective structure is its greatest strength.
The book is split into two halves. The first is told from the perspective of an eight-year-old girl who views her younger brother as a 'Pain' who gets away with everything because he is little. The second half is told by the six-year-old brother, who views his sister as a 'Great One' who thinks she is better than everyone else and gets special privileges because she is older. Both conclude that their parents must love the other sibling more.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.