Perseus Academic: Sister Salty, Sister Sweet by Shannon Biro

A Book Sense selection in hardcover, Sister Salty, Sister Sweet is a deeply personal and yet wickedly candid memoir from two sisters who came of age in the 80s and 90s. Shannon and Natalie Kring grew up in rural Wisconsin, in a house full of strong characters. Natalie's arrival meant the spotlight was no longer on Shannon, and she reacted by becoming a handful. Shannon did everything in her power to ensure that her younger sister always understood she came second. From the hierarchy of their Barbies to the hand-me-down clothes, the message to Natalie was clear. Shannon never had cause to envy Natalie's anonymity-until the older sister was finally confronted with a drama not of her own making. The Kring sisters experienced the usual sibling ups and downs, sometimes not speaking to each other, sometimes bonding out of necessity. Everyone who has ever had a sibling-older, younger, brother, sister-will find echoes of their relationship in this story. New for this edition is a Questions and Answers session with the sisters, perfect for reading group discussions.

Shannon Kring Biró is the executive producer and co-star of the Emmy-winning PBS series The Kitchens of Biró, and has co-authoredBiró: European-Inspired Cuisine with her husband and business partner Marcel Biró. She lives in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Los Angeles, California. Natalie Kring is a published poet and former independent bookstore manager. She lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin.