My Sister Rosa Summary
Justine Larbalestier

My Sister Rosa Overview

In My Sister Rosa, a coming of age novel by Justine Larbalestier, Che Taylor has thought that something is mentally wrong with his little sister Rosa since she was small. Suspecting that she is psychotic, he is afraid she might hurt someone. The seriousness of Rosa’s illness becomes clear when her plan to hurt her friend’s sister results in the death of that girl. As Che learns more about his background in the aftermath of the fatal prank, Che realizes his brain functions are more like Rosa’s than he thought. Themes in the novel include the effects of nature and nurture in the development of a psychiatric condition, the dangers of labeling, and the responsibility for a family member's mental health.