Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

This is why Jason Reynolds matters. He writes middle-grade books that don't condescend, don't simplify, and don't look away from the hard stuff. Sunny is a kid carrying survivor's guilt and parental rejection, but Reynolds gives him agency—the power to stop running, to choose dance, to redefine what success means.

The discus-as-dance metaphor is genuinely inspired, and the emotional arc feels true. This isn't a book where everything gets fixed with one conversation. It's about a kid finding one thing he can control when everything else feels broken.

The Track series has become a middle school phenomenon for good reason—these are books kids actually want to read, that help them process their own complicated feelings, and that show characters who look like them navigating real struggles. At 4.7 stars on Amazon and wide adoption in schools, it's doing exactly what great middle-grade fiction should do.

If your kid loved books like New Kid, The Crossover, or other Reynolds titles, Sunny delivers. Just be ready for some conversations about grief and difficult family dynamics.

Age Fit

Best for 10-14 year olds who can handle emotional complexity around grief, guilt, and difficult parent relationships. The reading level is accessible (grade 5+), but the themes require some maturity. Reynolds writes for middle schoolers who are ready to think about hard stuff.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

88

Reynolds handles heavy themes—grief, guilt, parental rejection—with remarkable emotional intelligence. Sunny's journey from believing he's a 'murderer' for his mother's death in childbirth to finding self-expression through discus is deeply healthy. The book models vulnerability, friendship, and finding your own path despite pressure. The relationship with his father Darryl is painful but realistic, and the resolution feels earned rather than tidy.

Imaginative

82

The stroke of genius here is connecting discus throwing to dance—'the hard beats of hip-hop, the precision of ballet, and the showmanship of dance as a whole.' Reynolds takes a middle school track novel and makes it about self-discovery and creative expression. The metaphor of Sunny stopping mid-race and choosing his own event is powerful. It's not fantastical imagination, but it's deeply creative in how it reframes athletics as art.

Safe

92

This is a middle-grade novel dealing with serious themes (maternal death, grief, strained parent-child relationships, guilt) but in an age-appropriate way. No graphic content, violence, or inappropriate material. The emotional weight is real but handled with care for the 10-14 audience. Reynolds doesn't shy away from pain but never traumatizes readers.

Enriching

89

This is Jason Reynolds at his best—a National Book Award finalist writing directly to middle schoolers about identity, grief, parental expectations, and finding your voice. The 4.7 Amazon rating and strong educational adoption (Scholastic markets it for grades 5-8) signal its impact. Kids learn about processing guilt, standing up for yourself, and the courage it takes to quit something you're good at to pursue what you actually love. Part of the acclaimed Track series that's become a staple in middle school classrooms.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Jason Reynolds (National Book Award finalist) writes with raw honesty that middle schoolers actually connect with—no talking down, no sugar-coating
The central metaphor is brilliant: Sunny stops running mid-race and discovers discus throw as dance, combining hip-hop, ballet, and athletic showmanship
Tackles maternal death, survivor's guilt, and toxic parent-child dynamics with emotional intelligence that helps kids process their own hard stuff
Part of the Track series that's become a middle school staple—kids who loved Ghost, Patina, or Lu will want Sunny's story
Shows that quitting something you're good at to pursue what you love isn't failure—it's courage

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What to Watch For

Heavy emotional content: Sunny believes he's a 'murderer' because his mother died in childbirth, and his father treats him coldly as a result
The father-son relationship is painful—Darryl makes Sunny call him by his first name, not 'Dad,' which will hit hard for sensitive readers
This is the third book in a series, but Reynolds writes each to stand alone—you don't need to read Ghost and Patina first, though they're great too
At 159-192 pages depending on edition, it's a quick read but emotionally dense—not light entertainment

Conversation Starters

"Sunny thinks he's responsible for his mom's death because she died giving birth to him. Have you ever felt guilty about something that wasn't actually your fault?"
"Sunny stops running even though he's good at it because he hates it. Have you ever done something just because someone else wanted you to? How did that feel?"
"Coach lets Sunny switch to discus and treats it like dance. When have adults in your life helped you do things your own way instead of the 'right' way?"
"Sunny's dad makes him call him 'Darryl' instead of 'Dad.' What do you think about that? How would that make you feel?"
"The book connects throwing discus to dancing—'hard beats of hip-hop, precision of ballet, showmanship of dance.' What's something you do that feels like two different things combined?"

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