This book is written as a series of diary entries by Sunny. I have to admit, I was a little put off by the format, because I enjoy reading dialogue. But Sunny's authentic middle school voice really won me over. I think Jason Reynolds does a fabulous job capturing Sunny's all-over-the-place kind of internal monologue.
What I liked most about this book is how Sunny really feels himself to be "weird", different from other kids. And he's not wrong. His mother died giving birth to him, so he carries around the guilt of feeling like he's his mother's murderer. He's been homeschooled his entire life, so up until he joined the track team, he had no friends his own age, and his whole life revolved around his home. I think it can be really valuable for young readers to see a character who truly feels a kind of loneliness, a person their age who doesn't fit the mold of a "typical" kid. Still, he is typical because when it comes down to it, all he wants is what everyone wants, the love of family, supportive friends, and to do what he enjoys.
Also valuable is for young readers to see how complex and full Sunny's "non-standard" life is. There're a lot of disparate ideas that all come together through Sunny. He empathizes with cancer patients at the hospital where his grandfather is a doctor. He makes connections with the groundbreaking movie Baraka. He and his father literally and figuratively piece together his mother's image, working together though their relationship is cold and strained. There's even a message about forgiveness and loyalty, relationships and new beginnings, as Sunny learns the true story behind how and why Aurelia came to be his homeschool teacher. (Heads up for parents who want to know these things: There's reference to drug addiction, but it's clear that drugs are bad, and people who suffer from drug addiction can recover and thrive.)
I love that in this book, there is no stigma in crying. Sunny cries, Aurelia cries, his father cries. Everyone cries, and it's fine, it's just what people do.
Also, as a former shot putter, I appreciate that this book brings in the "field" component of "track and field"!
No comments:
Post a Comment