Review by Karl Verhoven

Abby is the eldest of the five Lai children living in Indonesia in 1994. When she was younger she wished for brothers and sisters to play with, but at twelve finds the reality a burden. She’s embarrassed to have her friends round because they’re such a nuisance, and takes every opportunity to be away from home. So what’s it going to be like when all children are quarantined at home for ten days to recover from chickenpox? Well, the sample art provides the initial reaction.

Based on how a chickenpox infection impacted on her family, it seems a strange choice for author Remy Lai to present events not from her own viewpoint, but that of her older sister, a decision not explained after the story when much else is. Chickenpox is also extremely meagre for a book stretching to over two hundred pages, which can be summed up as all children being cooped up together and the extra stresses that develop. Along the way Lai explains the stages of chickenpox, and a subplot of Abby having difficulties with her friends briefly becomes the main point. The message of taking responsibility is better presented via the subplot, where Abby’s carelessness has had consequences.

The saving grace is Lai’s lively cartooning, which is simple with an emotional strength. She creates a range of wonderful expressions for Abby as she faces her torments and conveys the frustrations of a constantly busy household.

Inevitably the phrase “I wish I was an only child” is screamed in anger after a particularly stressful incident, but Chickenpox is a generally cheery graphic novel that surely reflects the tensions experienced by potential readers with multiple brothers and sisters. However, more story would have been desirable as it’s also a repetitive cycle of irritating incidents with no great pay-off.