Introduction

For fans of Jordan Peele’s films, Stranger Things, and The Other Black Girl, Listen To Your Sister is a laugh-out-loud, deeply terrifying, and big-hearted speculative horror novel from electrifying debut talent Neena Viel.

Twenty-five year old Calla Williams is struggling since becoming guardian to her brother, Jamie. Calla is overwhelmed and tired of being the one who makes sacrifices to keep the family together. Jamie, full of good-natured sixteen-year-old recklessness, is usually off fighting for what matters to him or getting into mischief, often at the same time. Dre, their brother, promised he would help raise Jamie–but now the ink is dry on the paperwork and in classic middle-child fashion, he’s off doing his own thing. And through it all, The Nightmare never stops haunting Calla: recurring images of her brothers dying that she is powerless to stop.

When Jamie’s actions at a protest spiral out of control, the siblings must go on the run. Taking refuge in a remote cabin that looks like it belongs on a slasher movie poster rather than an AirBNB, the siblings now face a new threat where their lives–and reality–hang in the balance. Their sister always warned them about her nightmares. They really should have listened.

“A knockout debut." -Ashley Winstead

“Incredibly original and seriously scary.” – Nick Medina

“A brilliant fever-dream of a novel that effortlessly dances between horror, literary, and family saga—sure to appeal to fans of Grady Hendrix, Tananarive Due, Mona Awad, and Stephen King. – Maria Dong

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Discussion Questions

From the publisher:

1. The book opens with Calla as “the responsible one,” managing not only the logistics of Jamie’s care, but also carrying the emotional burden of raising him. What about Calla’s personality makes her specifically suited to this role, and in what ways does she show she does not want these responsibilities? Do you think if Dre was the oldest child, he would have taken on Jamie’s guardianship in a similar way? Do you think Calla was going to be the one taking the lead in this situation? Why or why not?

2.It’s clear that some things are “not right”—Jamie’s experience at the party prior to the protest, Prom Calla showing up at Dre’s house—before we are aware of the Nightmare world and the Callas. Why do you think the author did this?

3. The Nightmare world is a surreal, complicated place of navigating past memories with high stakes for the future. What is the symbolism of Dre and Jamie being children in this world? How does this relate to Calla as a parent figure? How does this relate to what we learn about their parents in the maze?

4. What surprised you about Listen to Your Sister? Did you have any idea where it was headed? How did you think it would end?

5. On the audiobook, there were three voice actors cast to read Calla, Dre, and Jamie’s chapters. How did the narrators’ voices enhance your listening experience?

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