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Ways to Make Sunshine
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
16 posts | 13 read | 9 to read
From Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award winner Rene Watson comes the first book in a young middle grade series about Ryan Hart, a girl who is pure spirit, kindness, and sunshine. Ryan Hart has a lot on her mind--school, self-image, and especially family. Her dad finally has a new job, but money is tight. That means some 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. As her brother says when he raps about her, she's got the talent that matters most: it's a talent that can't be seen, she's nice, not mean! Ryan is all about trying to see the best in people, to be a good daughter, a good sister, a good friend. But even if her life isn't everything she would wish for, when her big brother is infuriating, her parents don't quite understand, and the unexpected happens, she always finds a way forward, with grace and wit. And plenty of sunshine. Acclaimed author Rene Watson writes her own version of Ramona Quimby, one starring a Black girl and her family, in this start to a charming new series.
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AvidReader25
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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Pickpick

First book in a series that I started with my daughter. I love the way the author handles trials in Ryan‘s friendships, and frustrations about moving to a new home. She and her brother often pick on each other, but they have each other‘s backs when it matters. I love how encouraging her parents are and the ways that the family connects through traditions. We‘re definitely reading the next book in the series.

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britt_brooke
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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Ways to Make Sunshine was recently challenged - then voted unanimously to remain on shelves ? - in Sumner County TN (my county). Author Renée Watson followed the story and arranged for all 28 elementary schools to receive copies of the three book set! “Right to Read” is our grassroots advocacy group, started by one of my incredible friends. We‘re making a difference and will continue fighting!!

#RightToRead

Ruthiella Right on! 👊 2y
JGadz11 ✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 2y
vivastory 👏👏👏👏 2y
See All 10 Comments
TheBookgeekFrau Love it!!! 2y
Bklover Yessssssss👍👍 2y
Soubhiville That‘s awesome! 2y
peanutnine That's amazing! 2y
Reggie Yayyy! Keep up the good fight! 2y
britt_brooke @Ruthiella @JGadz11 @vivastory @TheBookgeekFrau @Bklover @Soubhiville @peanutnine @Reggie 🤍 Having the author‘s support and involvement is so inspiring! 2y
JGadz11 Why is this book being challenged? I read the summary, and I see absolutely no triggers to the Right except that it‘s about POC.🤬 2y
79 likes10 comments
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britt_brooke
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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January brought a wide variety of reads! The two real standouts were Ways to Make Sunshine and Ducks, but I really enjoyed most of them except the unauthorized Bourdain biography. That one can fuck right off. Overall, it was a solid month!

#januaryreads #januarywrapup

vivastory That seems to be the general consensus about the Bourdain 2y
britt_brooke @vivastory I returned it to audible and got that credit back! 2y
62 likes2 comments
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ShananigansReads
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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Pickpick

I like Ryan Hart and her family.
⭐️⭐️⭐️

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britt_brooke
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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? Our Sumner County TN school board UNANIMOUSLY voted to keep Ways to Make Sunshine on library shelves! Author Reneé Watson has been following this and thanked “Right to Read Sumner”! We are a grassroots reading advocacy group created by parents, educators, and concerned citizens. We‘re making a difference, y‘all!

#RightToRead

Scochrane26 This sounds like a delightful book. Why would parents want to remove it? 2y
britt_brooke @Scochrane26 It‘s lovely! I just read it. It was challenged for supposedly promoting gender fluidity and critical race theory. It does neither of those things. 2y
ShananigansReads I started reading it when you first mentioned the ban and I‘ve seen no such evidence. 2y
See All 14 Comments
britt_brooke @Bookjunkie57 Exactly! And thank you for picking this up. I love that challenges/bans actually put books in more hands. 🤍✨ 2y
mrp27 Well done! 🙌🏼 2y
Reggie Great job! 2y
britt_brooke @mrp27 🎉 Thank you! 2y
britt_brooke @Reggie Thank you! 🎉🎉 2y
lauraisntwilder Yay!!! Good for you! 2y
britt_brooke @lauraisntwilder Thank you! 🎉 We‘re trying. There will be more. 2y
lauraisntwilder @britt_brooke Keep fighting the good fight. ✊️ 2y
Megabooks Fantastic!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 2y
82 likes1 stack add14 comments
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britt_brooke
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Anyone trying to remove this book from school libraries needs a head check. That said, our suburban TN school board will be voting on it soon. Ryan, a fourth grader, experiences some challenging life changes, but learns and grows as a result. Like many kids, she‘s inquisitive, headstrong, kind, and sensitive. This is delightful!

📣 All kids should have relatable representation in stories, and girls are allowed to have “boy” names.

swishandflick I mean... I was super young reading ROMANCE novels (and putting homemade book covers on them so people would leave me alone). It boggles my mind that people would gatekeep BOOKS from kids. Let people read! Ugh. 2y
swishandflick Also I should mention, not creepily young, but definitely 12/13 ish 😬 2y
britt_brooke @swishandflick I love that you did that!! Yes, it‘s super bonkers. This is not the first nor last book being challenged in our school district, but we‘re fighting hard against these people! 2y
80 likes5 comments
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britt_brooke
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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Grabbing a few pages while my son‘s at a birthday party. This book is currently being challenged in our school district for promoting gender fluidity and racism against white people. People are so DUMB, y‘all. I can‘t even. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Good news is I think the school board will keep it.

#RightToRead

Tamra 🙄 2y
Suet624 Good lord. 2y
britt_brooke @JGadz11 The reasons were really grasping at straws. See above post. Our school board, even the two constitutional republicans on it, voted to keep this one. 2y
73 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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DebbieGrillo
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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The books I got for my 8 year-old niece for Christmas. Also got the game Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza.

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megnews
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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Mehso-so

This is a simple book about some big life changes. I generally love Renee Watson but this is not a favorite for me.

#MGMarch book 1

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Nebklvr
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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Pickpick

A short and very sweet book. I wish the ending had been a little more complete. Perhaps it is the first in a series?

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Bookgoil
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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It‘s late Sunday and I never made my #bookreport and #weeklyforecast although I just finished some books so currently only reading one. Had a great #24b4monday this weekend to help me catch up!

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Peaceful_Reader
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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Pickpick

I love all of Renee Watson‘s stories and this one is no exception. Ryan is a lovable character that tries hard to be a good person but still bothers her older brother Ray. This is the first in a series and I look forward to the next one.

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LibrarianRyan
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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41 likes2 stack adds
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Sace
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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#BookReport #WeeklyForecast @Cinfhen

Not the most productive week. I really focused on the McCammon book (30 hour audio) which meant less attention for other books. Hopefully I will be more productive this week.

Cinfhen 30 hours of audio is HUGE!!! Anything more than 12 and I start getting antsy 😆looks like you‘re all set for a good week ahead🎉 5y
Sace @Cinfhen I generally avoid an audio that long, but that book was soooo good. The narrator was an incredible actor. 4y
66 likes2 comments
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Sace
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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Pickpick

3.5 ⭐
@riversong153 reviewed this recently and it sounded really cute so I put it on hold.

Ryan is such a good character and I enjoyed watching her learn to navigate change with grace and kindness.

riversong153 Awww, it was so lovely! 5y
Sace @riversong153 it really was! It's just an all around sweet and honest book. 5y
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riversong153
Ways to Make Sunshine | Rene Watson
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Pickpick

This middle grade novel was so cute. It‘s a reimagining of Ramona Quimby. Ryan (on the cover) struggles with a number of things after her family moves and her dad gets a new job. Very realistic and heartwarming at the same time.

Sace Sounds good! I'm putting it on hold. 5y
28 likes1 stack add1 comment