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Sunny #2
Swing it, Sunny
Summer's over and it's time for Sunny Lewin to enter the strange and unfriendly hallways of . . . middle school. When her Gramps calls her from Florida to ask how she's doing, she always tells him she's fine. But the truth? Sunny is NOT having the best time.
Not only is the whole middle school thing confusing . . . but life at home is confusing, too. Sunny misses her brother Dale, who's been sent to boarding school. But when Dale comes back, she STILL misses him . . . because he's changed.
Luckily Sunny's got her best friend and a mysterious new neighbor on her side . . . because she is NOT going let all this confusion get her down. Instead, she's going to remain Sunny-side up!
Not only is the whole middle school thing confusing . . . but life at home is confusing, too. Sunny misses her brother Dale, who's been sent to boarding school. But when Dale comes back, she STILL misses him . . . because he's changed.
Luckily Sunny's got her best friend and a mysterious new neighbor on her side . . . because she is NOT going let all this confusion get her down. Instead, she's going to remain Sunny-side up!
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 12, 2017
About the author
Jennifer L. Holm
94 books1,638 followersJennifer L. Holm is the NEW YORK TIMES-bestselling children's author of THE LION OF MARS and THE FOURTEENTH GOLDFISH. She is the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA, PENNY FROM HEAVEN, and TURTLE IN PARADISE and a Scott O'Dell Award for her novel FULL OF BEANS.
Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on two graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series which has more than 3.4 million books in print (!) and the bestselling Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on HBO MAX!
For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.
Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on two graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series which has more than 3.4 million books in print (!) and the bestselling Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on HBO MAX!
For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 902 reviews
August 6, 2020
"Being a teenager can be hard. When things get bad, sometimes they take it out on the people who they should be turning to for help." -- Sunny's mom, page 193
Modest sequel to Sunny Side Up, this follow-up - which was again amusing and bittersweet, exactly like its predecessor - continues the day-to-day life of ten year-old Sunny Lewin. She's back home in the Delaware Valley of Pennsylvania (woot-woot!) after her month-long vacation of sorts in Florida, and is now starting middle school in the autumn of 1976. Refreshingly, this loose and episodic story (in fact, it's more like a series of several vignettes) does not center around her being a student - that only consists of a few pages at most - but instead mostly centers on Sunny trying to understand her troubled older brother's issues and their impact on the family dynamic. Also, the continued 70's references (artifacts?) - a Pet Rock, a bright orange AMC Gremlin coupe, the Six Million Dollar Man TV series - were a plus, and there was also a 'blink and you'll miss it' cameo appearance by Scooby-Doo's colorful Mystery Machine van during a scene set on a highway. I can only imagine what Sunny will think once the original Star Wars movie premieres by the arrival of her next summer break!
Modest sequel to Sunny Side Up, this follow-up - which was again amusing and bittersweet, exactly like its predecessor - continues the day-to-day life of ten year-old Sunny Lewin. She's back home in the Delaware Valley of Pennsylvania (woot-woot!) after her month-long vacation of sorts in Florida, and is now starting middle school in the autumn of 1976. Refreshingly, this loose and episodic story (in fact, it's more like a series of several vignettes) does not center around her being a student - that only consists of a few pages at most - but instead mostly centers on Sunny trying to understand her troubled older brother's issues and their impact on the family dynamic. Also, the continued 70's references (artifacts?) - a Pet Rock, a bright orange AMC Gremlin coupe, the Six Million Dollar Man TV series - were a plus, and there was also a 'blink and you'll miss it' cameo appearance by Scooby-Doo's colorful Mystery Machine van during a scene set on a highway. I can only imagine what Sunny will think once the original Star Wars movie premieres by the arrival of her next summer break!
November 5, 2019
I do like Jennifer Holm's take on school and life. She's light while still dealing with real issues.
Sunny can't figure out her brother. She loves and misses him and he's been sent to military school where he is angry at the world. He seems like a different person and she doesn't know what's going on. It's set in the 70s so there are reference that bring back my childhood like the 6 million dollar man. I remember watching that.
Sunny also meets someone new who teachers her how to twirl flags for marching band. Being a band person myself, this made me happy. I should have done the flags. It would have been more fun than just marching. I enjoy watching Sunny learn to spin a flag.
The is a 3rd book in this series that I know of and I want to read this book too.
Sunny can't figure out her brother. She loves and misses him and he's been sent to military school where he is angry at the world. He seems like a different person and she doesn't know what's going on. It's set in the 70s so there are reference that bring back my childhood like the 6 million dollar man. I remember watching that.
Sunny also meets someone new who teachers her how to twirl flags for marching band. Being a band person myself, this made me happy. I should have done the flags. It would have been more fun than just marching. I enjoy watching Sunny learn to spin a flag.
The is a 3rd book in this series that I know of and I want to read this book too.
October 3, 2017
Follow-up to Sunny Side Up, and again, pretty sunny, mild, sweet stories of a girl in middle school in the seventies. I lived in the seventies, but this wasn't my seventies. References an older sib with substance abuse, separation from a grandparent.
H, 12 read it: "It's good! I liked it just fine."
H, 11 read it: "Yeah, it's pretty good."
That's kinda what I thought. The creators of Babymouse, Jennifer and Matthew Holm write the story and Lark Pien does the art, in a breezy, reader-friendly way, colorful and inviting.
H, 12 read it: "It's good! I liked it just fine."
H, 11 read it: "Yeah, it's pretty good."
That's kinda what I thought. The creators of Babymouse, Jennifer and Matthew Holm write the story and Lark Pien does the art, in a breezy, reader-friendly way, colorful and inviting.
September 21, 2017
Not as good as the first one, but I like that this sweet graphic novel deals with a difficult topic...having a loved one who struggles with addiction. I think I just missed gramps. More gramps!!!
October 15, 2017
This was the second in a series but the year in the life format here didn't feel cohesive and the plot seemed thin. I enjoyed the many references to 70s culture but I don't expect my children will, and this book is written for their age group. What worked about this story and made it relatable I expect will go over my children's heads, but I will follow up after they read this. 2.5 stars
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April 1, 2022Swing It, Sunny is the second book in a semi-autobiographical series created by brother-sister team, Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm. In this installment, Sunny is entering middle school in 1976-1977. As an adult reader, I enjoyed all of the nostalgic references in the text and art. The story is deeper than the art style may lead you to believe. Sunny is dealing with missing her older brother who is currently at a military-style boarding school because he was getting into drugs and failing school. Surrounding that storyline, Sunny enjoys watching tv with her best friend (The Brady Bunch, Gillian's Island, General Hospital) and has a new neighbor move in next door who becomes like an older sister to Sunny. Recommended for middle grade readers (5th-8th grades) and adults who grew up in the 70s! ~Diana F.
August 15, 2018
Although the sequel to Jennifer L. Holm's sweetly brilliant graphic novel Sunny Side Up (and of course also Matthew Holm, Jennifer's brother who acts as main illustrator), although Swing it, Sunny is not quite as personally relatable and thus as approachable (and readable) as the first book, Swing it, Sunny has nevertheless been an entertaining, nostalgic and at times even thought-provoking reading (and viewing) experience for and to me (and this especially with regard to both time and place, with Jennifer L. Holm certainly totally capturing especially late 1970s media and television culture).
For even though the baton twirling scenarios depicted in Swing it, Sunny are definitely not in any manner my personal experience (and actually if truth be told, a trifle too USA for me, but still very much of historical and cultural interest), the many allusions to television shows like The Brady Bunch, the Six Million Dollar Man, to soap operas like General Hospital (even though I never really got into soap operas, but indeed most of my classmates were most certainly totally hooked) and especially Sunny coming home with a pet rock, that all does so much remind me of my first years in Canada and especially being suddenly inundated with and by multiple television channels and so so many more viewing choices than we had in Germany that I was both amazed and sometimes a bit aghast. However, and sadly very much unlike Sunny (who has a best friend with whom to share her life and her thoughts) I indeed did not in fact have all that many friends. And if truth be told, I actually often was pretty much completely friendless and as such often felt majorly left out, misunderstood and yes even at times quite massively angry and furious at my parents for having made us immigrate to Canada and having me now often face bullying because of my German background (and therefore, even though the substance abuse issues faced by Sunny's older brother Dale were never my issues, I do actually very much understand and even indeed to a point support and cheer his feelings of negativity, frustration and even his anger and his occasional hatred towards his family, at having been sent off to a strict military academy, the necessity of this quite notwithstanding).
Three and a half stars for Swing it, Sunny (but rounded up to four stars, as I both very much enjoyed my reading experience and yes, the way that Sunny's and her new neighbour Neela's friendship is shown and depicted and how supportive Neela is of Sunny when she tries to teach Sunny how to twirl and Sunny feels frustrated and angry at herself when at first she naturally makes some mistakes, that really has melted my heart and made me very broadly and appreciatively smile with pleasure and yes, also more than a bit of personal envy, as I certainly never had that kind of uncritical support from either my friends or my family, with especially the latter being more into criticisms and putdowns and that this supposedly helped to build character and to make one work harder than realising that being supportive and also even occasionally using praise instead of only chastisements actually tends to be more positive and more achievement and success inducing and building).
For even though the baton twirling scenarios depicted in Swing it, Sunny are definitely not in any manner my personal experience (and actually if truth be told, a trifle too USA for me, but still very much of historical and cultural interest), the many allusions to television shows like The Brady Bunch, the Six Million Dollar Man, to soap operas like General Hospital (even though I never really got into soap operas, but indeed most of my classmates were most certainly totally hooked) and especially Sunny coming home with a pet rock, that all does so much remind me of my first years in Canada and especially being suddenly inundated with and by multiple television channels and so so many more viewing choices than we had in Germany that I was both amazed and sometimes a bit aghast. However, and sadly very much unlike Sunny (who has a best friend with whom to share her life and her thoughts) I indeed did not in fact have all that many friends. And if truth be told, I actually often was pretty much completely friendless and as such often felt majorly left out, misunderstood and yes even at times quite massively angry and furious at my parents for having made us immigrate to Canada and having me now often face bullying because of my German background (and therefore, even though the substance abuse issues faced by Sunny's older brother Dale were never my issues, I do actually very much understand and even indeed to a point support and cheer his feelings of negativity, frustration and even his anger and his occasional hatred towards his family, at having been sent off to a strict military academy, the necessity of this quite notwithstanding).
Three and a half stars for Swing it, Sunny (but rounded up to four stars, as I both very much enjoyed my reading experience and yes, the way that Sunny's and her new neighbour Neela's friendship is shown and depicted and how supportive Neela is of Sunny when she tries to teach Sunny how to twirl and Sunny feels frustrated and angry at herself when at first she naturally makes some mistakes, that really has melted my heart and made me very broadly and appreciatively smile with pleasure and yes, also more than a bit of personal envy, as I certainly never had that kind of uncritical support from either my friends or my family, with especially the latter being more into criticisms and putdowns and that this supposedly helped to build character and to make one work harder than realising that being supportive and also even occasionally using praise instead of only chastisements actually tends to be more positive and more achievement and success inducing and building).
February 22, 2018
2.5 stars
It was just, Meh. Not really much I can say about it.
It was just, Meh. Not really much I can say about it.
September 16, 2017
For fans of the first book (SUNNY SIDE UP), this is a poignant continuation of Sunny's story as her family continues to deal with her brother's issues in the 1970s. This would be a great book for older elementary kids who are dealing with family issues or any kids who like to read realistic graphic novels. I would recommend that you read the first book first as this one takes place afterwards and just jumps right into the story.
June 7, 2020
A 70's time capsule as Sunny's story continues. Love, love, love the featured cultural icons like "General Hospital," "The Brady Bunch," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "Gilligan's Island," and, of course, pet rocks. Sunny even makes a blanket for her brother's pet rock on her little loom (it is actually a potholder, but it works). In the midst of the 70's nostalgia and colorful graphics is the story of Sunny's brother Dale. The family hopes for him to recover at military school and his difficulties in that new environment. Sunny does not give up and neither does Gramps! Wish we got to see more of him in this one. Maybe in the next one. Sunny also learns to do a swing flag routine, the origin of the title. Swoop! Swoosh! This will be a favorite with fans of Raina Telgemeier, Terri Libenson, Shannon Hale, and Svetlana Chmakova.
February 10, 2022
Solid 3 out of 10
Swing it, Sunny is a book about a girl named Sunny, who is trying to learn how to swing flags around. This book takes place in the 1970s, and it tells you about Sunny's life in middle school and how Sunny's dealing with the absence of her brother.
I didn't like this book that much at all. I get the struggles Sunny is depicted going through, but I massively disliked this graphic novel. I wasn't a big fan of the art style, and this book is constantly making random things show up just to set up these weird unfunny jokes every few pages. This book is a sequel, (which I didn't know going into it) so maybe that's why I didn't like it, but this book was short and not very impactful. The pacing is way off, and I just didn't understand it at all.
I couldn't recommend this book. It's definitely just on the brink of getting two stars, but this book was so random, unfunny, and confusing, that I can't bring myself to give it two stars. It's obvious that there was a lot of work put into this, (and I appreciate that) but I couldn't get myself to like this. The pacing was so off-the-wall, and I don't know. I appreciate the effort, and I learned more about flag swinging from this book, but in my opinion, this book was just short of unreadable.
Swing it, Sunny is a book about a girl named Sunny, who is trying to learn how to swing flags around. This book takes place in the 1970s, and it tells you about Sunny's life in middle school and how Sunny's dealing with the absence of her brother.
I didn't like this book that much at all. I get the struggles Sunny is depicted going through, but I massively disliked this graphic novel. I wasn't a big fan of the art style, and this book is constantly making random things show up just to set up these weird unfunny jokes every few pages. This book is a sequel, (which I didn't know going into it) so maybe that's why I didn't like it, but this book was short and not very impactful. The pacing is way off, and I just didn't understand it at all.
I couldn't recommend this book. It's definitely just on the brink of getting two stars, but this book was so random, unfunny, and confusing, that I can't bring myself to give it two stars. It's obvious that there was a lot of work put into this, (and I appreciate that) but I couldn't get myself to like this. The pacing was so off-the-wall, and I don't know. I appreciate the effort, and I learned more about flag swinging from this book, but in my opinion, this book was just short of unreadable.
September 13, 2017
Summer's over and Sunny is struggling with middle school and missing her brother after he's been sent off to boarding school.
I enjoyed the various 70s show references, the art style, and the family dynamic that Sunny has to go through and make sense of.
Even though I didn't read Sunny Side Up first, I wasn't confused about what was going on. Centering around family and friendship, it was a heartwarming story.
I enjoyed the various 70s show references, the art style, and the family dynamic that Sunny has to go through and make sense of.
Even though I didn't read Sunny Side Up first, I wasn't confused about what was going on. Centering around family and friendship, it was a heartwarming story.
December 12, 2017
Unlike the first book which was one cohesive story, this series of vignettes felt disjointed. I really can't give it more than 2 stars.
June 7, 2017
I got this for my cousin who is a reluctant reader, but who enjoys books in a comic book format. This is the second in a series, but it easily stood on its own.
The layout was reader friendly, the artwork wasn't amazing, but it got the point across well. The story takes place in the late 70s in America to a young girl in middle school. Not quite my era, so the TV dinners, tv shows and pet rock references didn't warm my heart or ring any bells, but it was a good peek into a time in the past. My cousin is much younger, so I'm not sure how she will like this story, but it's a decent story line.
I wasn't wowed, but I wasn't horrified I picked it up. Three solid stars. If you grew up in that time period in America, it might resonate more with you.
The layout was reader friendly, the artwork wasn't amazing, but it got the point across well. The story takes place in the late 70s in America to a young girl in middle school. Not quite my era, so the TV dinners, tv shows and pet rock references didn't warm my heart or ring any bells, but it was a good peek into a time in the past. My cousin is much younger, so I'm not sure how she will like this story, but it's a decent story line.
I wasn't wowed, but I wasn't horrified I picked it up. Three solid stars. If you grew up in that time period in America, it might resonate more with you.
October 1, 2017
I like all the references (visual and textual) to life in the 1970's. It would be a good challenge for a reader to track everything they learn about that time period. The hard story of Sunny's brother has some positive resolution in this one.
October 28, 2023
Hey y'all!!!!! Okay... so here's another Sunny graphic novel series book review!! hope u enjoy :P
Rating: 3.5
Summary: Summer's over and it's time for Sunny Lewin to enter the strange and unfriendly hallways of . . . middle school. When her Gramps calls her from Florida to ask how she's doing, she always tells him she's fine. But the truth? Sunny is NOT having the best time.Not only is the whole middle school thing confusing . . . but life at home is confusing, too. Sunny misses her brother Dale, who's been sent to boarding school. But when Dale comes back, she STILL misses him . . . because he's changed. Luckily Sunny's got her best friend and a mysterious new neighbor on her side . . . because she is NOT going let all this confusion get her down. Instead, she's going to remain Sunny-side up!
What I Loved About This Graphic Novel
1). The Theme: As with the first graphic novel, I LOVED the theme. We need more books like these, about how ppl's BAD choices affect their family members in NEGATIVE ways. I really loved seeing how, even after all the bad experiences with her brother (after he became a teenager and changed... not before, bcs BEFORE HIS TEENAGE YEARS he was the BEST sibling EVER but growing up ig changed him...) Sunny still LOVED HIM DEEPLY! Enough to continue to call him, hold out for him and love him, despite EVERYTHING... And, eventually, .
2). The Art: I really like how simple yet meaningful the illustrations are... They do say a picture tells a thousand words, and these ones really do! I love everything about the Sunny series, even though it's not my favorite graphic novel EVER, it's still really good and delightful to read, I TOTALLY recommend!! :D
What I Didn't Like About The Novel
1). I don't really know... maybe just minor details and stuff. I think, one thing I remember being a little ticked off by is that we never see Sunny's neighbors' parents and we never find out where she moved from (another country? or another state???)... Anyway, nothing REALLY bothered me in the novel and I'm excited to continue the series! :)
The Characters
1). Sunny: I really love Sunny's personality, she TRULY lives up to her name in the graphic novels because she's just so bright and vivid and colorful, etc! :)
2). The Neighbor (i forgot her name SORRYYY): i really liked this character and how much of an older sibling she was to Sunny, at the time that Sunny really needed one :)
3). Sunny's BFF: I kind of liked this character too but i dont remember too much abt her lol sorryyyyy againnnnn my faulttttttt
4). Sunny's Brother: I really liked seeing how he changed towards the end of the graphic novels; and flashbacks of him before his teenage years are SO HEARTWARMING!!! 🥺💔
Content Overview
1). Profanity: just the usual insults...
2). Sexual Content: there are a few panels of this romantic drama abt this nurse and this doctor being in love and kissing...
3). Violence: none... some joking mentions of death bcs Sunny's grandfather lives at a retirement home for elderly ppl over 50 and some ppl die quite a bit as u will know if you read the book lol!
4). Intense Scenes: Sometimes Sunny cries or has intense emotions about her brother, and thinking about her relationship with him, which evokes deep emotions of sadness, sorrow, depression, etc.
Okay guys thank you SO MUCH!!
If you want to read the special shout-out
it's on my PREVIOUS/MOST RECENT review, got it???
thank you SO MUCH for reading this PLEASE LIKE IF YOU SEE THIS!!!
Much Love
From Ur Fellow Bookworm
- Genie 🥰📚
Rating: 3.5
Summary: Summer's over and it's time for Sunny Lewin to enter the strange and unfriendly hallways of . . . middle school. When her Gramps calls her from Florida to ask how she's doing, she always tells him she's fine. But the truth? Sunny is NOT having the best time.Not only is the whole middle school thing confusing . . . but life at home is confusing, too. Sunny misses her brother Dale, who's been sent to boarding school. But when Dale comes back, she STILL misses him . . . because he's changed. Luckily Sunny's got her best friend and a mysterious new neighbor on her side . . . because she is NOT going let all this confusion get her down. Instead, she's going to remain Sunny-side up!
What I Loved About This Graphic Novel
1). The Theme: As with the first graphic novel, I LOVED the theme. We need more books like these, about how ppl's BAD choices affect their family members in NEGATIVE ways. I really loved seeing how, even after all the bad experiences with her brother (after he became a teenager and changed... not before, bcs BEFORE HIS TEENAGE YEARS he was the BEST sibling EVER but growing up ig changed him...) Sunny still LOVED HIM DEEPLY! Enough to continue to call him, hold out for him and love him, despite EVERYTHING... And, eventually, .
2). The Art: I really like how simple yet meaningful the illustrations are... They do say a picture tells a thousand words, and these ones really do! I love everything about the Sunny series, even though it's not my favorite graphic novel EVER, it's still really good and delightful to read, I TOTALLY recommend!! :D
What I Didn't Like About The Novel
1). I don't really know... maybe just minor details and stuff. I think, one thing I remember being a little ticked off by is that we never see Sunny's neighbors' parents and we never find out where she moved from (another country? or another state???)... Anyway, nothing REALLY bothered me in the novel and I'm excited to continue the series! :)
The Characters
1). Sunny: I really love Sunny's personality, she TRULY lives up to her name in the graphic novels because she's just so bright and vivid and colorful, etc! :)
2). The Neighbor (i forgot her name SORRYYY): i really liked this character and how much of an older sibling she was to Sunny, at the time that Sunny really needed one :)
3). Sunny's BFF: I kind of liked this character too but i dont remember too much abt her lol sorryyyyy againnnnn my faulttttttt
4). Sunny's Brother: I really liked seeing how he changed towards the end of the graphic novels; and flashbacks of him before his teenage years are SO HEARTWARMING!!! 🥺💔
Content Overview
1). Profanity: just the usual insults...
2). Sexual Content: there are a few panels of this romantic drama abt this nurse and this doctor being in love and kissing...
3). Violence: none... some joking mentions of death bcs Sunny's grandfather lives at a retirement home for elderly ppl over 50 and some ppl die quite a bit as u will know if you read the book lol!
4). Intense Scenes: Sometimes Sunny cries or has intense emotions about her brother, and thinking about her relationship with him, which evokes deep emotions of sadness, sorrow, depression, etc.
Okay guys thank you SO MUCH!!
If you want to read the special shout-out
it's on my PREVIOUS/MOST RECENT review, got it???
thank you SO MUCH for reading this PLEASE LIKE IF YOU SEE THIS!!!
Much Love
From Ur Fellow Bookworm
- Genie 🥰📚
July 6, 2018
Well, that was just as underwhelming as the first book in the series.
I know this is middle grade, so you can't get too far into the darker themes, but I really don't get Sunny's brother. Something nasty has to be going on behind the scenes, because he's so messed up. The whole time I was reading it, I was thinking about things like secret abuse, or something going on in that family. It's implied that he's a delinquent "just because", and while that might be the way it sometimes is in real life, in fiction it just seems like lazy storytelling. (I don't think that synopsis is particularly accurate, either. Other than his haircut, Dale is pretty much the same troubled teenager he always was. I was hoping for a bit more character development there.)
Aside from that, the plot is non-existent. It's just a bunch of random scenes loosely connected by Sunny's feelings about missing her brother. She meets a new neighbour, learns to play with batons, and laughs at her little brother eating sand. That's about it. It's very sparse, and it comes to a halt so abruptly that I didn't realize for a moment that the book had ended. The resolution was pat. The actual ending was abrupt.
I didn't enjoy this one any more than the first book in the series. I think I'm done with Sunny.
I know this is middle grade, so you can't get too far into the darker themes, but I really don't get Sunny's brother. Something nasty has to be going on behind the scenes, because he's so messed up. The whole time I was reading it, I was thinking about things like secret abuse, or something going on in that family. It's implied that he's a delinquent "just because", and while that might be the way it sometimes is in real life, in fiction it just seems like lazy storytelling. (I don't think that synopsis is particularly accurate, either. Other than his haircut, Dale is pretty much the same troubled teenager he always was. I was hoping for a bit more character development there.)
Aside from that, the plot is non-existent. It's just a bunch of random scenes loosely connected by Sunny's feelings about missing her brother. She meets a new neighbour, learns to play with batons, and laughs at her little brother eating sand. That's about it. It's very sparse, and it comes to a halt so abruptly that I didn't realize for a moment that the book had ended. The resolution was pat. The actual ending was abrupt.
I didn't enjoy this one any more than the first book in the series. I think I'm done with Sunny.
June 25, 2017
Jennifer and Matthew Holm are dream team graphic novelists. Just like with SUNNY SIDE UP, the sequel is full of heart and humor that will take away some of the sting of the difficult situation Sunny's family is going through. But what really elevates this book and the first book for me are the delightful visual details from the 1970s that make it more than just a decade of questionable fashion and home decor.
September 10, 2017
Though I liked Sunny Side Up better (it seemed to have more "meat" to it), I enjoyed this enough and am realistic enough to know that my student readers will devour it. If their eyes move along the paper, it's a win. As a child of the 70's, I loved the various pop references sprinkled throughout. I just wish there was more complexity to it. Thanks to Edelweiss Above the Treeline for the sneak peek. Look for this graphic novel in three days!
October 3, 2017
Oh I loved this one as much as the first one! :D It takes place in the 70s and has fun 70s pop culture references and clothing. Like in the first book, Sunny is trying to figure things out including family, friends and her interest (swing flag twirling). The overall tone is sweet and funny - recommended to fans of Raina Telgemier's Smile.
September 15, 2018
As was the case with the first book about Sunny, and her unhappiness over the situation with her substance abusing older brother, what I really enjoyed here was the 1970s cultural references. This sequel was not as cohesive a story as the first one, but I cared about Sunny and would have liked it if it had gone on a lot longer.
February 28, 2018
Loved this sequel to Sunny Side Up where we follow Sunny through her first year at middle school.
What I appreciated the most about this story was how there was no focus on how Sunny is doing in school. Based on everything I know about Sunny, academically she’s probably doing fine. She’s flying below the radar of teachers even though her family is struggling with Dale’s substance abuse problem.
This story centers on that family and neighborhood dynamic. What do you do when there’s a problem that you can’t control? That’s a tough lesson for most people to learn, but Sunny is up to the task.
Plus this story integrates 1970s goodness like flag twirling in the marching band, rope climbing in P.E., Donnie and Marie Osmond, the Six Million Dollar Man, and Gilligan’s Island.
What I appreciated the most about this story was how there was no focus on how Sunny is doing in school. Based on everything I know about Sunny, academically she’s probably doing fine. She’s flying below the radar of teachers even though her family is struggling with Dale’s substance abuse problem.
This story centers on that family and neighborhood dynamic. What do you do when there’s a problem that you can’t control? That’s a tough lesson for most people to learn, but Sunny is up to the task.
Plus this story integrates 1970s goodness like flag twirling in the marching band, rope climbing in P.E., Donnie and Marie Osmond, the Six Million Dollar Man, and Gilligan’s Island.
September 14, 2017
it's hard for me to NOT like a jenn holm book. this was good, it touched the 70s girl in me. it made me smile (the pet rock!!), i'm glad about dale. i think i wanted more grandpa!
i will revisit my review a few days and update as necessary!
i will revisit my review a few days and update as necessary!
March 13, 2019
I loved the first book, "Sunny Side Up", so naturally, I liked this book too. The thing I liked most was that the author didn't make Dale magically get better. It showed that people need to work to get better after facing obstacles that harmed them.
July 19, 2017
I was glad to travel back to the 1970s and have more time with Sunny and her family!
Love all of the 70s details!
Love all of the 70s details!
October 16, 2017
Everything you loved about the first one, but with additional family drama.
August 15, 2018
Sunny has just started middle school and things are not going so great. In fact, almost every aspect of middle school, Sunny finds horrible and then, there is the fact that she misses her older brother Dale, who is off at boarding school. When her grandpa calls from Florida, she lies and tells him that everything is okay.
Soon Sunny begins wheezing and coughing which has her mother running her off to her doctor. After seeing a specialist, Sunny is told she has allergies and her course of treatment is shots. Sunny and her best friend Deb are talking about their Halloween costumes this year and Deb doesn’t like Sunny’s idea. Sunny sides with Deb on her idea although you can tell that Sunny likes her idea better. Sunny, just can’t catch a break.
Dale comes home at Thanksgiving and Sunny is excited to see him. Dale has changed while he was gone. Dale is now a moody teenager who snaps instead of replies to comments that are spoken to him. Sunny loves her brother and misses him when he’s gone but she doesn’t miss the Dale who he has now become.
When a new neighbor moves in Sunny finds refugee in her. Even though she is older, Neela is a great role model for Sunny and the two of them become friends.
I liked how grandpa was a constant figure in Sunny life. I liked how he made a point to check-in on her and he asked questioned about her life. I found it interesting how Sunny started to look at her relationship with Deb, after being with Neela. After talking and twirling flags with Neela, she started to ask Deb some probing questions. I’m glad Sunny has Neela close by. I liked the ending of the book, Sunny’s efforts were finally getting some results.
Soon Sunny begins wheezing and coughing which has her mother running her off to her doctor. After seeing a specialist, Sunny is told she has allergies and her course of treatment is shots. Sunny and her best friend Deb are talking about their Halloween costumes this year and Deb doesn’t like Sunny’s idea. Sunny sides with Deb on her idea although you can tell that Sunny likes her idea better. Sunny, just can’t catch a break.
Dale comes home at Thanksgiving and Sunny is excited to see him. Dale has changed while he was gone. Dale is now a moody teenager who snaps instead of replies to comments that are spoken to him. Sunny loves her brother and misses him when he’s gone but she doesn’t miss the Dale who he has now become.
When a new neighbor moves in Sunny finds refugee in her. Even though she is older, Neela is a great role model for Sunny and the two of them become friends.
I liked how grandpa was a constant figure in Sunny life. I liked how he made a point to check-in on her and he asked questioned about her life. I found it interesting how Sunny started to look at her relationship with Deb, after being with Neela. After talking and twirling flags with Neela, she started to ask Deb some probing questions. I’m glad Sunny has Neela close by. I liked the ending of the book, Sunny’s efforts were finally getting some results.
November 22, 2017
Another solid read for the Sunny series. I just like Sunny, she is such a relatable character. This book follows her from September 1976 to May 1977. Surprisingly for it set being during the school year it doesn't focus on middle school at all (except a few panels when her Grandpa asks Sunny how school is going - she sums it up with a "uh") but instead focuses on the relationships she has with her parents, best friend, new neighborhood girl, grandpa and her big brother Dale who was sent away to finish high school at a military school.
The majority of the book is Sunny worrying about her brother Dale, who is at a strict military school due to him getting in trouble/flunking out of school in the first graphic novel. Sunny frets, worries and wishes (like the shots she gets for her allergies) that her brother could get a shot to make him all better. But she realizes that is not possible and gets some words of wisdom from her grandpa and mom regarding her brothers, scenes that really make the novel (I liked the scene with her and her mother just bawling together). I'd rec this series for readers that are worried about older siblings, readers who like 70's pop culture (we had Brady Brunch, Gilligan's Island, frozen dinners and pet rocks in here just off the top of my head) and readers who like big, colorful, engaging panels.
Even though this is #2, you don't necessarily need to read these books in any order. Both graphic novels standalone just fine.
The majority of the book is Sunny worrying about her brother Dale, who is at a strict military school due to him getting in trouble/flunking out of school in the first graphic novel. Sunny frets, worries and wishes (like the shots she gets for her allergies) that her brother could get a shot to make him all better. But she realizes that is not possible and gets some words of wisdom from her grandpa and mom regarding her brothers, scenes that really make the novel (I liked the scene with her and her mother just bawling together). I'd rec this series for readers that are worried about older siblings, readers who like 70's pop culture (we had Brady Brunch, Gilligan's Island, frozen dinners and pet rocks in here just off the top of my head) and readers who like big, colorful, engaging panels.
Even though this is #2, you don't necessarily need to read these books in any order. Both graphic novels standalone just fine.
September 19, 2017
I wanted to give this a higher rating, because the first book in the series handled some very adult topics and did it in a way that was both insightful but respectful of a younger audience. This book, not so much. Yes, it continues where it left off and the story is fine. But I found it very broken and choppy. It read more like a collection of serialized comics from the newspaper than a story. And there wasn't as much adult content treated here. Yes, the brother situation continues but it's glossed over. More focus is put on other aspects of the story which, as I said already, seem very disjointed and awkward.
Perhaps this book was intended as filler between books 1 and 3 in the series, as I think there will be more. In which case, I don't want to read filler. Nor do my kids for whom it was bought. They both said they don't want to read any more books in the series because of it. And it only took them 30 minutes or less to burn though it, so mom isn't willing to spend money on any future books either.
Perhaps this book was intended as filler between books 1 and 3 in the series, as I think there will be more. In which case, I don't want to read filler. Nor do my kids for whom it was bought. They both said they don't want to read any more books in the series because of it. And it only took them 30 minutes or less to burn though it, so mom isn't willing to spend money on any future books either.
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