This series didn't go where I thought it would, but the ending, when it was finally revealed, felt inevitable. This was a lot of pages, but it was an This series didn't go where I thought it would, but the ending, when it was finally revealed, felt inevitable. This was a lot of pages, but it was an engaging sorry with interesting, multidimensional characters....more
Realistic historical fiction about 10 year old Sunny. The book bounces around a time line from late 1975 through aummer of 1976, with the main story sRealistic historical fiction about 10 year old Sunny. The book bounces around a time line from late 1975 through aummer of 1976, with the main story set in August of 76 as Sunny visits her grandfather in Florida at his 55 and over community. Sunny is pretty bored, as there aren't any other kids around, though she eventually meets the son of the Clubhouse groundskeeper. There are lots of flash packs to snippets of Sunny's life from the previous year that help us meet her family.
Originally, I rated this as 3 stars when I was 3/4 done, because it didn't seem like there was a whole lot going on in terms of plot, and the time line jumps seemed a bit confusing - I'm actually reading this after a student asked if I knew why parts of the story didn't seem to fit. But in the final 1/4, the reason for some of the time jumps is revealed, and it makes more sense why the story is as it is.
There is an initial flashback that sets up that Sunny is supposed to spend the summer with a friend at the Jersey shore, which is obviously not what is happening when Sunny finds herself flying solo to Florida to be with her grandfather. The reason for this change is not specifically revealed until very late in the story, though there are a series of (slowly) building clues thtlat eventually come together to make it clear.
I will admit, the trail of breadcrumbs led me to a MUCH darker conclusion than what is actually eventually revealed.
I appreciated the ending of this story, and especially the authors' afterword, which tells young readers that it can be difficult to have someone in their family who is not behaving as we might wish, but that it is not our fault. The rest of the story seems like a long way to go to reach that point.
Despite my ambivalent feelings about this particular installment, the Sunny books are one of the most popular checkouts from my middle school library....more
Mostly love these books, but 9nw thing that sticks out like a sore thumb jabbing me is the repetition of certain ideas, particularly when they are ideMostly love these books, but 9nw thing that sticks out like a sore thumb jabbing me is the repetition of certain ideas, particularly when they are identically phrased across characters and books. Yes, distance and time are as good as characters in these books, but I don't believe every character is going to think about them in every book, and with identical phrasing....more
4.5 - a lot of fun, with lots of action, and a healthy attitude toward sex and enjoying life. Not for everyone, but I thought it was pretty great - ca4.5 - a lot of fun, with lots of action, and a healthy attitude toward sex and enjoying life. Not for everyone, but I thought it was pretty great - can't wait for the sequel!...more
Dr. T Loves Books
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Books:
2024-2025
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