THE OTHER SISTER by CHERI PARIS EDWARDS

A family is a miraculous system of people. In one family so many different issues can happen to different family members at the same time. People think it's amazing when families don't get along with one another. I am beginning to wonder if it's amazing when families do continue to love and stick together through thick and thin. In THE OTHER SISTER by CHERI PARIS EDWARDS, there are two sisters who are very different in character. Carla fights a weight problem. Every candy bar calls to her. I think she eats to deal with the emotional pain in her life. Sanita Jasmine deals with her problems by running away from them. In one way both sisters are the same in outlook. You see both sisters fall for the same guy, Terrence Catchings. I couldn't help but think how stressful life must become when two siblings are attracted to the same person because of course, the guy can only pick one sister to love.

"Carla was introverted and naturally gifted academically while Sanita was outgoing and athletic."

To make the probems more difficult the girls' father is a Bishop. Yes, they are preacher's kids. So, the whole community in the Midwest, the outskirts of Chicago, think the two women should live perfect lives. There lives in the novel are alway under scrutiny especially by Marcella. Marcella is one of those church members who love to talk and talk and talk about anybody and anything except herself. Lo and behold, she is a part of the past that the parents have to face in their marriage. Lena, the mother, is wonderful. She seems to know how to battle with the LORD'S help every situation that enters her home under the flag of negativity.

" It's not easy being a preacher's kid," Sanita shot back. "People think we're not supposed to make any mistakes."

I think Sanita is the one who really stirs up the brew in the book. I liked Sanita. Simply because she had been through big messes and kept on walking. Crying, complaining, frightened but still walking. Sanita's life took me from California back to the Midwest. Sanita thinks she has witnessed the death of a boyfriend. Not knowing anything about drug overdoses or alcohol when she finds him passed out her first thought is he's dead. Known as Jazzy in California she takes off for home. She runs. However, big problems follow her. It seems like once she gets home the battle just begins.

"...she'd have little time to think about leaving Nathan in that hotel room in California. In fact, it was just just the first part of her..."

Throughout the novel there are scriptures. Each person deals with coming back to the LORD in their own way except for Preacher who never changes. Preacher is definitely not a preacher. Preacher is his nickname. So many types of characters to love or hate. I also loved the scenic passages in the book. The seasons are described in beautiful detail. I looked forward to each day picking up THE OTHER SISTER by CHERI PARIS EDWARDS. cheriparisedwards

"A breeze stirred golden red leaves from the oak tree branches above, sending them spiraling downward to the driveway."