THE TROUBLE WITH SUNSHINE, by Yamile Saied Méndez, Scholastic Press, March 4, 2025, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 9 and up)
A Miami girl is forced to move in with her aunt in Wyoming following her mother’s death in The Trouble with Sunshine, by Yamile Saied Méndez.
The trouble with sunshine is it comes even if you think you don’t deserve it.
Dorani’s mom, Isa, taught her to be bold and challenge the rules if they don’t seem fair. People are more important than rules. But she never taught Dorani how to do it all without her. So, when Isa dies on the way to speak with the principal about Dori’s latest revolution, Dori loses her voice. Her grief and guilt become the loudest parts of her.
Moving from vibrant Miami to quiet, middle-of-nowhere Wyoming with her aunt feels like the punishment she deserves. She spends most of her time with their newest horse, Sunshine. Sunshine was involved in an accident that’s left her skittish and hard to care for. Tia Ivette knows her behavior comes from fear, and she is trying everything to make Sunshine brave again. But Dori knows grief can feel like fear… and grief is just love with no place to go.
Speaking up for Sunshine reminds Dori that the very best parts of her mother live on through her, and so when she starts to notice that the rules at her new school unfairly target specific students, she knows just what her mother would do… —Synopsis provided by Scholastic Press
The Trouble with Sunshine is one of those novels that you just feel better for having read it.
Author Yamile Saied Méndez’s writing has such a warmth to it, that even during the sections where themes of loss and racism take center stage, you never feel pulled down. There’s undercurrent of hope and joy that runs throughout.
Méndez utilizes animals — horses, a cat, and a dog — as entry points to explore grief and working through personal and group problems. But at the heart of the story is Dorani, a bright girl, who you just want to see grow and succeed. She’s a strong protagonist and relatable.
The Trouble With Sunshine is a quick and compelling read that tugs on the heartstrings.
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