Title: Ways to Make Sunshine
Author: Renee Watson
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Date of Publication: April 28, 2020
Number of pages: 177
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: Juvenile
Synopsis:
Ryan Hart loves to spend time with her friends, loves to invent recipes, and has a lot on her mind—school, self-image, and family. Her dad finally has a new job, but money is tight. That means changes like selling their second car and moving into a new (old) house. But Ryan is a girl who knows how to make sunshine out of setbacks. Because Ryan is all about trying to see the best. Even when things aren’t all she would wish for—her brother is infuriating, her parents don’t understand, when her recipes don’t turn out right, and when the unexpected occurs—she can find a way forward, with wit and plenty of sunshine.
My Thoughts
I normally don’t pick up realistic fiction books because I don’t care for them. I’d rather read something entertaining instead. However, my work is really big on Bluebonnet books, so I decided to read it. It wasn’t bad. It was an easy, fast read that wasn’t boring. According to someone on Goodreads, the blurb on the back of the book says it’s “like a Ramona Quimbly, but black.”
It’s about a family who moves into a new home because her dad gets a new job. Overall, there’s not much plot. It’s a fun, sweet story that follows Ryan as she learns to deal with everything life throws at her.
Ryan was a nice character who always tries to be a good friend. She also learns that first impressions aren’t always what they seem. Because of this, she gives that person the benefit of the doubt (which turned out well).
There was a part in the story where she got revenge on her brother who wouldn’t let her hang out with him and his friends. In most stories, the characters get mad or even. However, her brother reacted differently. What was nice for a change was that Ryan’s brother forgave her and actually thought it was funny and deserving. Since he understood why she did what she did, he laughed about it. Therefore, the story has good morals and a positive outlook on life. Consequently, Ryan is a good role model for young people.
As the title suggests, it basically shows her life and how bad things happen, yet she makes the most out of it.
Recipes from the Book
Ryan loves to experiment with cooking, and I liked that her family didn’t mind being her taste-testers. There were a lot of “concoctions” she made, and I attempted all of them. For example, she made lemon brownies, lime and blackberry smoothies, and pb&j sandwich kabobs. You should try them out, too!
Accelerated Reader (AR) Info
Level: 4.5
Points: 4
Quiz Number: 508493
Word Count: 27,053
Interest Level: Middle Grades (MG 4-8)
My Rating out of 5
Let’s Chat!
If you’ve read the book, what was your favorite part?
Have you ever gotten revenge on someone (a friend, sibling, etc)? How did it turn out? Did it make things better or worse?
What are some of your favorite recipes to make?
Comment below! I’d love to hear from you!
