Watson brings her writing skill to the story of 4th grade Ryan Hunt, a girl with a boy's name, who adjusts to changes in her family after her dad loses his job. The challenges are definitely part of the story, but at its core, this is a pleasant family/school story with a lot of everyday drama and fun. My biggest complaint: Ryan actually seems younger than 4th grade. In light of that, I this will be most popular with 2nd and 3rd grade readers.
Review based on an ARC received from the publisher through NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalkey and Bloomsbury for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. As a middle school teacher, I have students who are at so many different levels of reading. Some are emerging readers and are easily intimidated by stories that are longer or have difficult vocabulary. Sometimes too many perspectives is confusing. I also have students who are more mature and ready for a challenge. They love to dive into the larger books with more complex characters. Unfortunately, most of the popular books are geared towards the second type of reader-the more mature reader. I am so glad I read this book by Watson because it is a perfect book for my emerging readers. It has a story with many small conflicts and shows great character growth, but it is short and sweet. It has illustrations. Also, and really most importantly, it does not feel childish. I am so glad that this book is in the world! Thank you.

What a fantastic book that I can't wait to share with students! The main character, Ryan, is often reminded by her parents that she should live up to her name (which means "king") and be a leader. In this story, Ryan thinks about what it means to be a leader, especially since she can't even speak in front of a group of people! As her older brother points out, Ryan's talents are quiet, but that doesn't mean they are any less important and wonderful, Like Ryan, this is a quiet book, but no less important. We see Ryan grow through her experiences in 4th grade, seeing herself and others differently, pursuing her interests, practicing friendship - and it turns out, leadership too. I really loved the humor, the family relationships, and Ryan's decision-making process as she makes choices and works through everyday life struggles. I know many students will love and connect with Ryan.

Ryan's world is tipped sideways when her parents announce they will be moving to a different house. Even though her dad has been out of work for awhile, Ryan didn't see this coming and is taken by surprise. The surprises keep coming when they get to the new house and she sees that it is a downgrade in more ways than she'd like.
On top of everything that is happening at home, Ryan is trying her best to navigate school and friendship and stay positive. It's a good thing she has cooking and the kitchen to keep her positive! But is cooking her only talent? The upcoming talent show forces her to think a little more about what things she does best.

This is a sweet story that I enjoyed reading. I would recommend it to late elementary students, but don't think it transitions well to middle grade. That said, I would still add it to my collection because I think it addresses some important topics and will be the just right book for someone right when they need it!

A wonderful middle grade novel!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Ryan Hart is a fourth grader trying to live up to the meaning of her name, "King," and be a leader. Her parents tell her every day to be who we named you to be, but some days that's harder than others. Financial difficulties and a move to a new, smaller house create some issues that Ryan has to learn to navigate while also figuring out how to be herself every day. One of her best friends also moved to a new house, but bigger and in a different neighborhood with new friends. At her friend's birthday party, Ryan wonders if she'll be the only black girl. Ryan is a sweet girl, with a loving family, with issues and questions that many young girls face.

Childrens contemporary realistic fiction. Ryan is a young black girl that lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. She loves to cook, hang out with her friends, and ride bikes with her brother. But Ryan's world as she knows it is slipping away-- her dad lost his job so they are selling one car and moving to another house. Ryan's whole routine is changing as her dad can no longer drop her off at school since he works the night shift. Luckily the new home is in the same school district. This is a simple story about real life, about things changing and making the best of a new normal.

This book is not quite a middle grade book, but not quite a first chapter book. While the chapters are short there are a lot of them. This is a refreshing book about the everyday life of a black child. She talks about getting her hair done, about not wanting to be the only black girl at a party, and about her family dynamics. She struggles over her role in the talent show, is afraid of bees and dogs, and is disappointed when the town parade gets rained out. A refreshingly happy story perfect for elementary school readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the chance to read and review a digital ARC.

This is seriously the literary equivalent of sunshine. I had the best time reading it and I'm sure I had a smile on my face 99% of the time. (There were also times I felt sad, because it's a realistic book. But it was mostly the most positive reading experience possible.)

This book is also laugh-out-loud funny. There's a part where Ryan, her brother and their friends are in a park and something goes very wrong and I laughed so hard that I'm pretty sure I could be heard in other apartments. 

Renee Watson writes these amazing and thoughtful books. I don't think she's written anything that I haven't loved and immediately wanted to give to other people to read. She's an actual treasure.

Highly recommended.

A new, spunky character is entering the stage for those earlier chapter book readers!  In Ways to Make Sunshine by Renee Watson, Ryan Hart is a fun-loving 4th grader who loves to cook, play with her friends, and explore her native Portland with her family.  But when she finds that the loss of her dad's job is forcing the family to move houses, Ryan has to figure out how to face some big changes.  Between navigating friendships, adjusting to a new (old) house, and dealing with life's disappointments, Ryan has to find a way to make sunshine for herself when it seems like there is none.

Watson created a something character in Ryan--strong, resilient, and full of spirit.  She deals with normal, everyday challenges that readers will be familiar with, though she doesn't always get it right.  Her stubbornness often gets her in a lot of trouble!  But her heart is in the right place, and even though she is unhappy with many of the changes going on around her, she finds the positive in the situations in which she is placed.

Watson typically writes for an older audience, and at times it felt as though she was preparing the book for a longer story and ran out of space to fully develop all of the characters and storylines.  There is a lot going on in this book, but it feels as though some potential is lost.  A few characters lack the depth I would have liked to see, and some relationships, if explored more, would add even more value to the story.  Perhaps these are things that will be fleshed out as the series continues.

All in all, a great book for those who are not yet ready for middle-grade books, and are looking for a character-driven story.  I love that the book features a character of color, something that is much-needed so that all readers have the ability to see themselves represented in books.  I am excited to see where Ryan's experiences will take her!

Making her series debut, fourth-grader Ryan Hart navigates friendships and sibling rivalry, tries to discover a talent for the school talent show, and uncovers a mystery involving a hair clip in her new house. Ryan is a welcome voice to that young chapter book range--for readers a little beyond beginning chapter books like Nancy Clancy but not quite ready for most middle-grade fiction--that doesn't have enough titles. The book's African American protagonist, and it's subtle touching on race issues, help fill the genre's lack of diversity. Ryan's adventures are fun and relatable, and the story ends on an almost-cliffhanger that will have readers eager for Book 2. Perfect for fans of Clementine. 7 to 10.

I love Renee Watson's books. This was a great addition to our shelf. Ryan is such a strong, sweet girl who loves her family and is constantly pushing herself to achieve more and be her very best. I will be recommending this to many students to read.

Renee Watson's books are always well-written and focused. Ways to Make Sunshine is no exception to the quality of books we have come to expect and love from Renee Watson. Ways to Make Sunshine is a story about a young girl that is just proud to be who she is... even when that sometimes leads to big mistakes. In all of the comments and media based on this book, Ways to Make Sunshine was designed to be a modern-day Ramona. I thought this goal was well-achieved, and it will be a great asset to any one's library!

You will fall in love with the characters in this book, especially Alberta! Alberta's has a amazing nontraditional family and is just trying to survive middle school when a new girl, Edie, moves in across the street. This change causes a chain of events that lead Alberta to look deep into her life. She is also beginning to understand the complexity of racism and unconscious bias in her world. The book also explores very relatable middle school issues such as evolving friendships, bullies, and boys. This book gives a fresh, honest, and age appropriate perspective to middle grade fiction and is not to be missed!

Ryan is a good girl who is always trying to do her best but sometimes gives into temptation. Her family is struggling financially and they must move to a different neighborhood. As Ryan adjusts to a new house she finds a canister filled with some interesting objects which arouse her curiosity. A pleasant story about a loving family.

This was a quick read and while I liked the story, I didn't care for Ryan. Just when I started to like her, she did something so immature that made me not like her again (and yes, I realize she's just a child). There wasn't a lot that happened in this book, but it moved along at a good pace.

I very much enjoyed this book. I think it would make a good read aloud for the classroom. The problems that Ryan, the main character, has to deal with are very relatable to today's youth. Often compared to Ramona Quimby, I think I like Ryan's character even better!

This is a very sweet slice-of-life story. The friendship dynamics and family dynamics felt very true. This is lower middle grade, and I think it will resonate with second and third graders pretty well.

Ryan is not a perfect kid, but she is very likable and you really enjoy walking through her days with her. She has honest reactions to many situations, and although you might shake your head at her a bit, you can totally imagine yourself doing the exact same thing.

I will definitely be ordering this for my library.

This wasn't exactly a narrative. The individual chapters contain a narrative arc but the book on the whole doesn't really tell a single story. It's almost more linked short stories than a traditional novel. There's some interesting character exploration but I don't know if its strong enough on its own.

Great middle grade read, finely crafted story about changes in family life, moving, friendship and becoming more of a leader in yourself. Watson has created a great story, including tidbits of diversity and adjusting to changes in family life.

I loved this story. This is a sweet story about a young girl who always finds the positive side of everything, her ways to make sunshine. This is great timing for a book like this. Kids are struggling with a lot of things; being home for school, not seeing their friends, typical tween/teen issues, and many kids of this age tend to see the negative in everything. Ryan, the young girl is this book is a positive girl, she doesn’t have a perfect life, but she can find the good in what is thrown at her:.