Cute and sassy cilla navigates the trials of a new sibling on the way. Did not really finish. ( )

Cilla Lee-Jenkins is NOT excited about the arrival of her new little sister, a.k.a. The Blob. She decides that she must become a bestselling author before the baby is born, to make sure no one forgets about her, and she writes what she knows: her own life story, including her first day of preschool, eating in Chinatown with her paternal grandparents, a fight with her best friend Colleen, how she made up a story about new student Ben, creative Halloween costumes, difficulty learning to read, and more. Cilla's book concludes with her little sister Gwendolyn's arrival and Cilla's own surprise birthday party - planned by both her grandmothers.

There is so much to love about this book. Cilla's voice is truly laugh-out-loud hilarious (her mom says she has been literal since the day she was born - Labor Day). She has a vivid imaginative world, shared with Colleen and Ben, a close relationship with her parents, and close - but separate - relationships with both sets of grandparents, her white ones and her Chinese-American ones. Fortunately, Cilla is planning a sequel!

Back matter includes a glossary, acknowledgments, writing tips, Q&A with Susan Tan, and an excerpt from the next Cilla book.

See also: Ruby Lu, Brave and True by Lenore Look; Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

Cilla on closets: "Why build a small room just for your clothes?" (12)

However, there is one drawback to preschool - other kids. (47)

...it turns out that when there's a best friend involved, trouble with words isn't all that big a deal. Because your best friend knows that there's more to you than the words you accidentally say, or don't say. And you know the same thing about her. (93)

Cilla on being asked "What are you?": I wonder why people need to know these things. I wonder why they're always so surprised to know the answers. And I wonder if I'm doing something wrong that makes them need to ask. (105)

Because even though I was with some of the people I love most and know best in the whole world, things didn't feel right....What were we going to talk about, and what if I was different around each of them? (194) ( )