Ways to Make Sunshine

Ways to Make Sunshine
Renee Watson
Bloomsbury, 2020
177 pages
Grades 3-5
Realistic Fiction

Whenever Ryan's family has ice cream before dinner, it means something is up. Sure enough, this time it is to soften the blow for the news that Dad has been laid-off from his postal job and the family will be moving to a smaller house with Dad working nights and bringing home less money. As the younger sister in the family Ryan tries to stay positive and "make sunshine" for her family and friends during difficult times. This proves to be difficult when the new house is revealed to be shabby and much smaller. Luckily, it still has a kitchen and Ryan and her mom whip up new dishes, which is a hobby she loves. Hanging out with her friends is also a favorite pastime and at least the new house is closer to one of them. Ryan's relations with her brother go realistically up and down, friendships are at times strained, and challenges arise, specifically in the public speaking arena, yet Ryan rises above it all, keeps her relationships in tact, and continues to bring on the positivity and spunk. Finally the school years ends with a whole summer to look forward to, when Mom & Dad announce ice cream before dinner. Uh oh, what could it mean this time?

Watson, an award winning author for teens and picture books, turns her talents to the chapter book set. Ryan is a likable protagonist living in Portland, Oregon, much like Ramona, the original spunky heroine. Unlike Ramona, Ryan's family is of color and although this is not the main focus of the novel, Ryan's experience of growing up as a young black girl is demonstrated. At a birthday party Ryan is afraid of getting in the pool because of what it will do to her hair and illustrations show her going to bed in a bonnet. Ryan's family has fallen on some hard times, yet they stay loving and supportive. Her relationship with her brother is particularly realistically drawn. They fight and drive each other crazy, yet at the core they love and are there for each other. Not too much happens within the story. Short titled chapters offer little adventures in Ryan's life, often sprinkled with sweet black and white illustrations by Nita Mata. Readers will identify with Ryan and appreciate her willingness to make sunshine whenever life brings rain (at one point literally). A sensitive creature, Ryan drops the mic at church when forced to recite a passage, yet she keeps trying and forces herself out of her comfort zone, sensing insecurities in others as well and lending a supportive hand. A sequel is in the works, so readers will have somewhere to go after this first installment.