Book Review: Almost Sisters

By Annell Gerson

Joshilyn Jacksons newest book, Almost Sisters, is a stunning telling of the complicated. It is a story of twos: two sets of almost sisters, two churches, two kinds of fathers, two books in one, two races, and characters, both real and imagined, with two identities. It is also a story of rabbits. While this seems like a jumbled set of ideas that could never make much sense, Jackson aligns themes and plot to create an unforgettable tale.
At 39, Leia Birch is a single, successful comic book artist, living in Virginia near her step-sister, Rachel. One fateful morning, she learns Rachels perfect marriage is coming apart, and her grandmother, Birchie, who lives in Birchville, Alabama, is also experiencing very dramatic behavior outbursts. True to form, Rachel jumps into fix it mode and books a flight to Alabama for Leia and her 13-year-old daughter, Lavender.

Rachel discovers her husbands cowardly plan to run away from their marriage due to his financial collapse. Thus, her plan to send Lavender to Alabama is intended to shield her daughter from the impending family drama. However, her plan is upended when Lavender figures out her Aunt Leia is pregnant with a bi-racial baby, and a skeleton is discovered inside a trunk in Birchies attic that has been there for years. Birchie and Wattie, almost sisters since Watties birth, now live together in Birchies home. Though Birchie keeps them financially afloat, Wattie keeps Birchie emotionally stable, as her mind succumbs Lewy bodies. The Lewy bodies cause Birchie to see rabbits some doing good, and some doing not such good things.

With a skeleton in the attic, the truth of who and why must be laid out for all to hear. But remember, this is a story of twos, and sometimes, life offers up two truths.