Staff Pick
Twelve-year-old Sunny has just had a heart transplant and she's ready to begin her new life! Step one: find a boy to be her first kiss. But Sunny's best friend has betrayed her, her missing mother has reappeared in her life, and Sunny isn't sure who she can trust with a secret: maybe she actually wants to kiss girls! I wish this book had existed when I was first figuring out crushes and longing for kisses. Sunny's tender and emotionally honest voice makes a great guide through some difficult subjects, ultimately weaving a story that bursts with love and joy. Recommended By Leanna M., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Twelve-year-old Sunny St. James navigates heart surgery, reconnecting with her lost mother, first kisses, and emerging feelings for another girl in this stunning, heartfelt novel — perfect for fans of Ali Benjamin and Erin Entrada Kelly.
When Sunny St. James receives a new heart, she decides to set off on a "New Life Plan": 1) do awesome amazing things she could never do before; 2) find a new best friend; and 3) kiss a boy for the first time.
Her "New Life Plan" seems to be racing forward, but when she meets her new best friend Quinn, Sunny questions whether she really wants to kiss a boy at all. With the reemergence of her mother, Sunny begins a journey to becoming the new Sunny St. James.
This sweet, tender novel dares readers to find the might in their own hearts.
Review
"A heartwarming and engaging tale that treats Sunny's emerging sexual identity with care, authenticity, and age appropriateness." School Library Journal (Starred Review)
Review
"A sweet and gentle story of self-discovery and a beautiful addition to the growing genre of middle-grade realism featuring girls who like girls." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
Review
"Part soul-crushing, part soul-fulfilling, laced in humor and unwavering hope. Readers will root for Sunny from start to finish. Ashley Herring Blake hits all the feels with this one. Love is love is Love. Surely a message we all can get on board with!" Tami Charles, author of Like Vanessa and Definitely Daphne
About the Author
Ashley Herring Blake lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and two sons. She is the author of the young adult novels Suffer Love, How to Make a Wish, and Girl Made of Stars, as well as the middle-grade novel Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World.