Is this part of a series?

Yes, this is the first book in the Ryan Hart series. If your kid falls in love with Ryan, there are several sequels (like Ways to Grow Love) that follow her as she gets older.

How does it compare to Ramona Quimby?

It has the same 'slice of life' feel, but with a more modern perspective and a focus on a Black family's experience. It’s slightly more emotionally mature than the earliest Ramona books.

Is it a good read-aloud for younger siblings?

Absolutely. While the protagonist is in 4th grade, the themes of family and kindness are accessible to kids as young as 5 or 6 if a parent is doing the reading.

Are there any 'mean girl' tropes?

There is some typical school-age friction and a character who can be challenging, but Ryan handles it with the 'sunshine' spirit the title promises—focusing on kindness rather than escalating drama.

Ways to Make Sunshine – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Ways to Make Sunshine

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2020Juvenile Fiction

92%

WISE Score

Ryan Hart is navigating a drafty new house, a tight family budget, and the sheer terror of the fourth-grade talent show.

Ways to Make Sunshine

book

2020, Juvenile Fiction

92%

WISE Score

Ryan Hart is navigating a drafty new house, a tight family budget, and the sheer terror of the fourth-grade talent show.

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Where to Read

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Screenwise Verdict

Ways to Make Sunshine is a gem. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to be a better person without feeling like it's lecturing you. Ryan Hart is a character kids will actually want to hang out with—she’s funny, she messes up, and she’s trying her best.

It fills a huge gap in children’s literature by providing a wholesome, everyday story about a Black family in Portland. If your kid is transitioning out of Ivy + Bean or Junie B. Jones and needs something with a bit more emotional depth, this is the move.

Age Fit

Perfect for the 7-11 crowd. It’s an ideal 'bridge' book for kids moving from early readers into more complex middle-grade novels.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Ryan Hart is a fantastic protagonist—kind, spirited, and focused on being a good friend and daughter. The family dynamics are warm and supportive, even when things get stressful.

Imaginative

While it's realistic fiction, the book celebrates Ryan's creative problem-solving and her internal world. It's less about fantasy and more about the imagination required to find beauty in a drafty old house.

Safe

Extremely safe middle-grade territory. It deals with real-world stressors like financial instability and moving, but in a way that is protective and age-appropriate.

Enriching

Excellent for building empathy and resilience. It tackles the reality of a family living on a tight budget without being bleak, focusing instead on character and community.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Modern-day Ramona Quimby vibes that feel fresh and relevant for today's kids.
Centering Black girl joy and family resilience rather than focusing solely on trauma.
Relatable stakes like stage fright and friendship hiccups that mirror real 4th-grade life.
Renée Watson's writing is top-tier—she's a Newbery and Coretta Scott King winner for a reason.

⚠

What to Watch For

The family deals with financial stress (Dad losing a job, moving to a smaller house), which is handled gently but might prompt questions from kids about your own family's situation.
Ryan's older brother can be a typical annoying sibling, though their bond is ultimately very sweet.

Conversation Starters

"Ryan's name means 'king' or 'leader.' What does your name mean, and do you feel like you're growing into it?"
"When Ryan's family had to move to save money, they found ways to make the new house feel like home. What makes a place feel like home to you?"
"What is your 'sunshine' move when you're having a bad day or feeling nervous about something like a talent show?"

Deep Dive

The Ramona Quimby of 2026

For decades, Beverly Cleary’s Ramona was the gold standard for 'kid with everyday problems.' Renée Watson has successfully picked up that mantle and updated it for a new generation. Ryan Hart isn't dealing with magic or saving the world; she's dealing with a dad who's working the night shift and a recipe that didn't go quite right.

What makes this book stand out is how it handles financial anxiety. Many kids' books ignore money entirely or make it the center of a tragedy. Watson finds the middle ground—the stress is real, the move to a 'new (old) house' is a bummer, but the family is intact and the love is visible. It’s a great way to introduce the concept of economic changes to kids who might be noticing similar things in their own lives or neighborhoods.

Why it sticks

Ryan is a 'leader' (as her name suggests), but she’s also a kid who freezes up during a talent show. That vulnerability makes her incredibly relatable. The book is also a great example of literacy as language comprehension; it uses rich vocabulary and complex family dynamics that make it a fantastic read-aloud. If you have a kid who is still working on their decoding skills, don't hesitate to grab the audiobook or read it together at bedtime. The narrative structure is simple enough to follow but deep enough to spark real conversations about character and kindness.

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