About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is navigating the complicated emotions of a sibling's struggle or the shift from childhood into the middle school years. This graphic novel follows Sunny Lewin in the mid-1970s as she balances the everyday challenges of seventh grade with the heavy silence of her older brother's absence. While Sunny tries to find her footing through cheerleading and new friendships, she must also process her brother Dale's battle with substance use and his placement in a military academy. It is a deeply empathetic look at how families cope with internal crises, offering a message of resilience and hope for children who feel they have to keep their family secrets hidden from the world. It is particularly appropriate for readers ages 8 to 12 who appreciate realistic stories that don't shy away from complex family dynamics.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
1. DISTRESS: There are depictions of Dale's erratic behavior and outbursts which may be distressing to children who have experienced family volatility. A scene involving a fire at the military school caused by a cigarette may cause mild alarm. 2. CONVERSATION: Parents should be prepared to discuss substance use and addiction in an age-appropriate way. The book alludes to Dale's 'troubles' and his use of 'stuff,' which serves as a prompt to explain that sometimes people struggle with substances and need professional help.
Ideal Reader
A middle-grade reader who enjoys historical fiction and is perhaps dealing with a 'big' family secret or a sibling who takes up a lot of emotional space in the household.
Parent Prep
None. A child expressing that they feel invisible because their sibling is always in trouble.
Age Experience
Younger readers will focus on the fun 70s references and Sunny's school life. Older readers will pick up on the nuanced pain of the parents and the gravity of Dale's addiction.
What Makes It Special
It uses the graphic novel format to brilliantly depict the 'silence' of a family in crisis through visual pacing and facial expressions that words alone might miss.
Read plot summary
Picking up after 'Sunny Side Up,' this sequel finds Sunny entering seventh grade in 1976. While she navigates typical middle school hurdles like finding her clique and trying out for cheerleading, the emotional core of the book is her relationship with her brother, Dale. Dale has been sent to military school due to his behavioral issues and substance use, leaving Sunny to navigate the 'eggshells' at home. Through flashbacks and present-day interactions, Sunny learns that she cannot 'fix' her brother, but she can find ways to thrive herself.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Sunny tries out for cheerleading even though she is nervous. How does having a 'show' help her deal with what's happening at home?
2
Why do you think Sunny's parents are so quiet about where Dale really is? Is keeping secrets helpful or harmful for Sunny?
3
Look at the pages where there are no words, only pictures of Sunny's face. What do you think she is feeling in those moments?
4
Sunny realizes she can't make Dale 'better' on her own. How does that realization change how she treats him at the end of the book?
