Swing It, Sunny

Starred review from August 1, 2017

Gr 4-6-It's autumn of 1976, and Sunny has just entered middle school. Her older brother, Dale, has been sent to boarding school to help with his drug problem, and life isn't the same at home. But Sunny tries to stay positive. She and her best friend plan their Halloween costumes, watch popular TV shows, listen to records, and read comics. When Dale returns home for Thanksgiving, he's angry that his family sent him away. With some sage advice from Gramps, Sunny learns that she can't always fix everything but that offering her brother love and support may be enough. Fans of Sunny Side Up will adore this sequel, which provides enough background for new readers to jump right in. The exaggerated, cartoonlike artwork strikes the right balance of humor and heart, candidly conveying Sunny's emotions. References to 1970s pop culture, such as General Hospital and pet rocks, add authenticity. The Holms are realistic about Sunny's complicated family situation yet imbue the upbeat narrative with hope. VERDICT A must-have for middle grade graphic novel collections.-Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2017
Grades 3-7 Sunny Lewin is back home after spending the summer with Gramps in Florida (Sunny Side Up, 2015), but things aren't quite back to normal. She's starting middle school, hanging out with her best friend, playing with her baby brother, and making friends with her new next-door neighbor, but her brother's in a military boarding school after getting into trouble with drugs, and she's worried about whether he's okay. In breezy vignettes spanning a school year, the Holms offer glimpses into Sunny's day-to-day, but her fun is frequently interrupted by fears about her brother, which are often triggered by totally unrelated things, like a TV show and an idle joke made by her parents. While bright, cartoonish art and lively atmosphere are certainly playful, there's a serious undercurrent of emotional complexity here. The Holms do an impressive job of tapping into the free-associative way kids process anxiety, and Sunny's gradual process of facing her fears and finding a way to relate to her brother is sweet and inspiring. Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2018
Sunny (Sunny Side Up) begins middle school back in Pennsylvania with some trepidation; what's more, she faces it without the (complicated) presence of her troubled older brother Dale. The family drama is so, so good, resolved hopefully but honestly. The subject is manifestly serious, and the Holms respect just how dark the story can get while maintaining its mainstream appeal as a middle-grade graphic-novel comedy.

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

November 1, 2017
After her visit to Gramps's surprisingly lively retirement community in Florida (Sunny Side Up, rev. 9/15), Sunny is now back home in Pennsylvania. She begins middle school with some trepidation, and she faces it without the (complicated) presence of her troubled older brother Dale, who has been sent away to military school in hopes he can be helped. The subject is manifestly serious, and the Holms respect just how dark the story can get while maintaining its mainstream appeal as a middle-grade graphic-novel comedy. Both author and illustrator are adept at shifting the mood quickly, as when Sunny and her mother are laughing over something cute the baby's done, and Mom asks Sunny to call Dale to dinner. Three wordless panels ensue to convey all the whoopses of that moment. A new, older girl moves in next door, providing Sunny with the welcome experience of a supportive big sister--and lessons in flag-swinging (for the marching band) to boot. But it's Sunny's relationship with Dale that is of primary resonance here; the family drama is so, so good, and resolved hopefully but honestly. Matthew Holm's evocation of the exact kid-culture landmarks of the fall of 1976 and spring of 1977 ( Love Will Keep Us Together, Brady Bunch reruns) will be as madeleines to a certain demographic. roger Sutton

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)