Search This Blog







2025 Cover Lovers Reading Challenge (hosted by Yours Truly)

2025 Literary Escapes Challenge
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado (3)
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida (1)
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa (1)
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine (1)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York (2)
- North Carolina (1)
- North Dakota
- Ohio (1)
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (1)
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont (2)
- Virginia
- Washington (1)
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (1)
- Wyoming
- Washington, D.C.* (1)
International:
- Australia (1)
- England (3)
- France (1)
- Puerto Rico (1)
- Scotland (1)


2025 POPSUGAR Reading Challenge



2025 Build Your Library Reading Challenge









Friday, December 18, 2020
MG Series Opener A Joyful Ode to the Ordinary
5:54 AM
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Ryan Hart always tries to see the best in people and to make lemonade out of lemons—she's a budding chef, after all! When her dad gets a new, less profitable job, for instance, it means the family has to move to a different part of Portland, Oregon, into an older house that isn't nearly as nice as their last one. Ryan's disappointed that everything in her new home seems tired and used-up, but she's excited when she finds a treasure that gives her a mystery to solve. On top of that, she has to figure out what her talent is so she can share it at the school's upcoming showcase. She can't exactly perform "being nice" onstage, especially when the mere thought makes butterflies do wild gymnastics in her stomach. As other challenges crop up in her life, Ryan has to find ways to overcome them using her usual creativity and positive attitude. Can she find ways to make sunshine, even on cloudy days?
Ways to Make Sunshine, the first installment in a new middle-grade series by RenĂ©e Watson, is an upbeat, positive story that is as joyful as it is empowering. Ryan Hart has been called the new Ramona Quimby, which fits. While she's a good girl who's always trying to be kinder and more compassionate, she becomes realistically frustrated with daunting situations. She's also got a mischievous side that helps make her feel authentic. There's not a lot of plot in this series opener, but that's okay. I actually love that the book portrays ordinary days with ordinary problems in the life of an ordinary family. You don't see that a lot in children's novels that star Black families—most of the ones I've read tackle slavery, racism, gang violence, absent fathers, the Civil Rights movement, etc. While there's nothing wrong with taking on those big issues, it's refreshing to find a book like Ways to Make Sunshine that depicts a typical Black family dealing with normal, everyday issues. I wish this novel had been around when my daughter, who is bi-racial and adopted, was younger. It would have helped her feel seen. I'm thrilled that kids who look like her—as well as those who don't—will all be able to find themselves in this delightful series.
(Readalikes: The Ramona Quimby books by Beverly Cleary)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
2 comments:
Comments make me feel special, so go crazy! Just keep it clean and civil. Feel free to speak your mind (I always do), but be aware that I will delete any offensive comments.
P.S.: Don't panic if your comment doesn't show up right away. I have to approve each one before it posts to prevent spam. It's annoying, but it works!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(Atom)


Reading
Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce

Listening
The Brightwood Code by Monica Hesse


Followin' with Bloglovin'

-
Maya And Natasha By Elyse Durham48 minutes ago
-
Daily Prompt- Law breaker?1 hour ago
-
Book Lust5 hours ago
-
Stacking The Shelves7 hours ago
-
Hello, Stranger by Katherine Center8 hours ago
-
Bookish Quote of the Day!!9 hours ago
-
-
The Door is Open11 hours ago
-
2024 Cybils Awards Winners Announced13 hours ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Week In Review #71 day ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
#ThrowbackThursday. May 20122 days ago
-
A Review of The Witch of Cromer2 days ago
-
No Comfort For The Dead by R P O’Donnell3 days ago
-
-
-
-
Sunday Post #5611 week ago
-
January 2025 Reading Wrap Up1 week ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
I'm Still Reading - This Was My October2 months ago
-
Review: The Duke and I5 months ago
-
Girl Plus Books: On Hiatus6 months ago
-
-
-
What Happened to Summer?1 year ago
-
-
-
-
-
-
Are you looking for Pretty Books?2 years ago
-
-
-
-
-
-

Grab my Button!


Blog Archive
- ► 2021 (159)
- ▼ 2020 (205)
- ► 2019 (197)
- ► 2018 (223)
- ► 2017 (157)
- ► 2016 (157)
- ► 2015 (188)
- ► 2014 (133)
If she is anything like Ramona, she's sure to be a hit. My daughter loved those books.
ReplyDeleteI like Watson's books, and I love the idea of Ramona for this generation
ReplyDelete