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Sunny #6
Sunny Figures It Out: A Graphic Novel (Sunny #6)
The New York Times bestselling SUNNY series continues with Sunny trying to figure out when a boy stops being just a friend and starts being a boyfriend... and what that means for both of them.
There's no question that Sunny has fun whenever she hangs out with Tony. They go to the movies together, talk a lot at school, and support each other when they need it.
But are they dating?
Sunny isn't sure... but her friend, Deb, is. She thinks Sunny and Tony should be doing the couples-skate at the local roller rink. And Tony should be giving Sunny his jacket to wear. And carrying her books to class.
For Sunny, this doesn't feel great. It just feels... weird. Maybe she needs to stop taking everyone else's advice in order to figure things out for herself!
There's no question that Sunny has fun whenever she hangs out with Tony. They go to the movies together, talk a lot at school, and support each other when they need it.
But are they dating?
Sunny isn't sure... but her friend, Deb, is. She thinks Sunny and Tony should be doing the couples-skate at the local roller rink. And Tony should be giving Sunny his jacket to wear. And carrying her books to class.
For Sunny, this doesn't feel great. It just feels... weird. Maybe she needs to stop taking everyone else's advice in order to figure things out for herself!
224 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2025
163 people are currently reading
422 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer L. Holm
106 books1,739 followersJennifer L. Holm is a USA TODAY and NEW YORK TIMES-bestselling children's author with nearly 10 million books in print. She is the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA, PENNY FROM HEAVEN, and TURTLE IN PARADISE and a Scott O'Dell Award for her novel FULL OF BEANS.
Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on three bestselling graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series, the SUNNY series, and the Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on YouTube!
For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.
Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on three bestselling graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series, the SUNNY series, and the Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on YouTube!
For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
July 21, 2025
YES!!! No need to rush! You can do you WITHOUT having to be what society says you “should” be, and that includes if you DON’T want to be in a relationship other than friends.
5, I loved this book and it’s message so much, stars!
5, I loved this book and it’s message so much, stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2026
why did no one tell me this came out 😭
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I hope the series never ends, I want it going until sunny becomes "grams" and then we get a spin off of her grandchild and the cycle continues
I love sunny and tonyyyy, but also I need a dale and buzz cameo pleaseeee
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I hope the series never ends, I want it going until sunny becomes "grams" and then we get a spin off of her grandchild and the cycle continues
I love sunny and tonyyyy, but also I need a dale and buzz cameo pleaseeee
August 26, 2025
Like Terri Libenson, the Holms' Sunny series is a perfect encapsulation of what it feels like to be growing up...not quite the way everyone else is. This volume takes on Sunny's relationship with Tony, who is less her boyfriend and more a boy who's her friend. No one, including her dad, understands that distinction, and Sunny and Tony aren't at all comfortable with the social expectations pushed on them. So what if they'd rather play pinball than do the couples' skate? Or eat jam instead of kiss? Everyone's allowed to grow up at their own pace, and Sunny learning that makes this another winner of a volume.
July 16, 2025
Jennifer Holm’s Sunny series is such a treat for anyone who was a kid in the 70s!! (Current kids too!) I laugh out loud when reading these and can’t believe how accurately she remembers the nuances of growing up during that decade. Every time a new one comes out in the series, it is a must-read for me!
August 9, 2025
I liked this graphic novel about Sunny and her boyfriend/friend Tony. Tony and Sunny were good friends until her best friend decided they should start dating. The book sort of dragged in the middle but the last few pages saved it.
July 20, 2025
The Sunny books continue to be excellent even after Sunny starts dating— not something I can say of every book series. Sunny’s relationship is realistic, and she learns the importance of being herself and doing things that she and Tony love instead of following other people’s expectations. Her mother also learns that she doesn’t have to fit into the societal role of being a normal stay at home mom.
This book series is sure to be a classic for years to come!
This book series is sure to be a classic for years to come!
November 19, 2025
girl should stop being friends with deb because all deb doesn't really respect Sunny's opinions and actions.
September 13, 2025
not very good, but not bad
Not that good, but not bad either. Too much kissing but nice plot. Three stars rating for that. Thank you.
Not that good, but not bad either. Too much kissing but nice plot. Three stars rating for that. Thank you.
March 10, 2026
Welcome back
After finishing the novellas but before fully jumping into an audiobook I thought I would like, I decided to kind of take a reading cleanse and pick up a graphic novel. I have really wanted to get back to my giant days re-read; however, it’s still not back on Hoopla (so I will be grabbing my physical copies from my bookcase soon). In the meantime, I decided to pick up a graphic novel that a publisher sent to me (Thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinions).
SPOILERS AHEAD
Sunny and Tony are friends, but they want to be more, at least kind of. They get along very well, but everyone pokes at them to act a certain way, especially once they are officially a couple. On top of that, Sunny is navigating her changing home life. Her mom has a part-time job at a place that Sunny suggested she work at. But that means that she has to help more at home and try to balance being a great girlfriend (at least according to her friends’ standards).
This was a great graphic novel! Sunny and Tony really did try to cave to peer pressure at first, but by the end of the story, they were back to their normal couple behaviors (this was great to see, as no one relationship is the same as others, and it was good to see them learn this so quickly). I know there are five other stories about Sunny out as well, so I am definitely going to check them out. This graphic novel is on shelves now, so go check it and the other Sunny stories out!
Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars
***Thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
After finishing the novellas but before fully jumping into an audiobook I thought I would like, I decided to kind of take a reading cleanse and pick up a graphic novel. I have really wanted to get back to my giant days re-read; however, it’s still not back on Hoopla (so I will be grabbing my physical copies from my bookcase soon). In the meantime, I decided to pick up a graphic novel that a publisher sent to me (Thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinions).
SPOILERS AHEAD
Sunny and Tony are friends, but they want to be more, at least kind of. They get along very well, but everyone pokes at them to act a certain way, especially once they are officially a couple. On top of that, Sunny is navigating her changing home life. Her mom has a part-time job at a place that Sunny suggested she work at. But that means that she has to help more at home and try to balance being a great girlfriend (at least according to her friends’ standards).
This was a great graphic novel! Sunny and Tony really did try to cave to peer pressure at first, but by the end of the story, they were back to their normal couple behaviors (this was great to see, as no one relationship is the same as others, and it was good to see them learn this so quickly). I know there are five other stories about Sunny out as well, so I am definitely going to check them out. This graphic novel is on shelves now, so go check it and the other Sunny stories out!
Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars
***Thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
September 19, 2025
Extra star for message at the end about bf/gf
Discovers harlequin romances which is a cute reminder from 1970s and she imagines the titles for her life and even goes into a book kinda like Babymouse does - figures out the romance isn’t realistic but thrift shop lady says they’re for escapism
Funny things boyfriends are supposed to do
Don’t call at suppertime
Hummel figurine at gift box store
Who decides how a cat is supposed to act?
Profound question
Love ending for her and Tony to be boyfriend/girlfriend they way they want to be and not the way a romance book or her friend Deb says
Discovers harlequin romances which is a cute reminder from 1970s and she imagines the titles for her life and even goes into a book kinda like Babymouse does - figures out the romance isn’t realistic but thrift shop lady says they’re for escapism
Funny things boyfriends are supposed to do
Don’t call at suppertime
Hummel figurine at gift box store
Who decides how a cat is supposed to act?
Profound question
Love ending for her and Tony to be boyfriend/girlfriend they way they want to be and not the way a romance book or her friend Deb says
August 7, 2025
I really enjoyed this one! I like how it showed more of an internal struggle that Sunny was facing rather than an external one. I also like how we saw not just what Sunny was going through during the book, but some of the struggles her mom was going through as well. The books in this series have become much more light hearted compared to the first book in the series. While I do enjoy the current light hearted nature of the books, seeing the vulnerability in Sunny's mom reminded me of the first book and how it showcased different emotions that Sunny and her family were going through. I also like how it showed Sunny discovering romance, but going about romantic stuff at her own pace (and portraying this as normal).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2025
Another cute installment in the Sunny series! Sunny is growing up and beginning to navigate the world of dating… or is she? I especially loved the fun graphic touches that explain 1970s quirks—like wall phones!—which added so much charm and humour to the story. A fun read that's great for the winter season and the holidays.
March 20, 2026
It is a really good book, but it is an easy read
November 8, 2025
Wholesome. It’s nice to see a story about doing things your own way and at your own pace.
Read
July 7, 2025Little did I know that making a book trailer for Sunny Side Up in grad school would lead to an inexplicable, self-imposed commitment to read every new release in the series.
August 9, 2025
Cute and I'm glad that Sunny got through all of those relationship blocks that constantly said how you should act while dating. Those parts were just cringe-y...
I also can't tell/remember how old Sunny is supposed to be!
I also can't tell/remember how old Sunny is supposed to be!
August 4, 2025
This 6th installment didn’t have the magic of the first 5 in the series. It felt more like vignettes or scenes rather than a story that flowed from beginning to end. It also didn’t have the author's letters and pictures at the end sharing how the story tied into the author’s life. It doesn’t necessarily have to tie in, but that was something I missed. It felt rushed honestly. The artwork was the same as it’s been in the rest of the series so I still liked that about it, and I like the passage of time although now that we’re closer to the 80s I wonder if there will be more or if the series is done. I could definitely see myself wanting more, but only if Matthew and Jennifer are able to take their time and dig deep for the direction they want to take the series.
July 11, 2025
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
Sunny is living her best 8th grade life in 1978 (easily pinpointed by the mention of the Star Wars Christmas special, which aired in November of that year). She's sort of dating Tony, who plays hockey, has a big family, and worked at the snack bar at the pool where they met in Sunny Makes a Splash. She and Tony don't necessarily do all of the things that couples are "supposed" to do, but her best friend Deb reminds her that Tony should be carrying Sunny's books, Sunny should be supportiver and attend Tony's games, and the two should double date with her and Greg when they start to go steady. Sunny, who would just as soon play drinking straw hockey at the Howard Johnson's with Tony rather than canoodling, doesn't agree. She has taken to reading a lot of paperback romance books that she gets at a resale shop, so is struggling to decide if she should run her relationship the way that "everyone" says she should, or the way that she and Tony prefer. She sees her mother struggle with societal expectations as well when she gets a job at a local gift store. This means that Sunny and her grandfather have to occasionally step up to watch Sunny's younger brother, and that her mom can't always bake for school parties the way she used to. Sunny can be supportive of her mother, and remind her that she has excellent managerial skills and deserves a promotion, but struggles to ignore Deb's insistance that she and Tony need to make out at parties and go on stuffy dates. In the end, Sunny is able to be true to herself, and finds that it makes her much happier.
Setting Sunny's life almost fifty years ago instead of in the modern day is successful for several reasons: older readers like myself will enjoy the passing of notes and "no taking calls at dinner" rule, along with the fantastic 1970s two story Colonial house where Sunny lives. Younger readers will see that while new technologies and past times may emerge, some things stay the same. It's good to see a healthy boy/girl relationship, and know that there must be tweens just like Sunny and Tony who want to hang out together without worrying about being romantic, even if they might enjoy thinking a little bit about romance from time to time.
There are a few asides about historical topics that were quite fun, and informative for readers who were born after the smart phone became widely adopted! Avon Ladies, rotary phones, note passing, air hockey, and Fantasy Island all have short but brilliant explanations. I have to admit that I have a LOT of questions about the Harrowgate (aka Harlequin) Romance books; why were these something that tweens had access to? I'm sure they are much milder than the modern day equivalents (if there is one). Of course, Sunny is in the generation that read all of V.C. Andrews' Flowers in the Attic books, so there must have just been a general lack of oversight of tweens reading material.
Matthew Holm's illustrations do a great job of setting the scene, and do an excellent job of showing excellent vintage details (wide legged pants, the grandfather's groovy shades and cardigan, school hallways and that fabulous house) while still preserving a fairly modern feel. I'm pretty sure that readers who pick up the first book do so not knowing that it is set in the past.
This even has a little bit more of a message than the other books, which I appreciated. Even though my students claim that they don't care what other people think, it would be hard to find a middle school student who is not aware of the expectations of others. Of course Sunny listens to her friend Deb's opinions... for a while. It's good to see that she and her mother are both able to come to terms with what works best for each of them.
Sunny is definitely one of my favorite graphic novel series, and addresses tween angst with a little more fun than other series do. Hand this to readers who need a break from the angst of Miller's Click series, Libenson's Emmie and Friends books, or Scrivan's Nat Enough titles.
Sunny is living her best 8th grade life in 1978 (easily pinpointed by the mention of the Star Wars Christmas special, which aired in November of that year). She's sort of dating Tony, who plays hockey, has a big family, and worked at the snack bar at the pool where they met in Sunny Makes a Splash. She and Tony don't necessarily do all of the things that couples are "supposed" to do, but her best friend Deb reminds her that Tony should be carrying Sunny's books, Sunny should be supportiver and attend Tony's games, and the two should double date with her and Greg when they start to go steady. Sunny, who would just as soon play drinking straw hockey at the Howard Johnson's with Tony rather than canoodling, doesn't agree. She has taken to reading a lot of paperback romance books that she gets at a resale shop, so is struggling to decide if she should run her relationship the way that "everyone" says she should, or the way that she and Tony prefer. She sees her mother struggle with societal expectations as well when she gets a job at a local gift store. This means that Sunny and her grandfather have to occasionally step up to watch Sunny's younger brother, and that her mom can't always bake for school parties the way she used to. Sunny can be supportive of her mother, and remind her that she has excellent managerial skills and deserves a promotion, but struggles to ignore Deb's insistance that she and Tony need to make out at parties and go on stuffy dates. In the end, Sunny is able to be true to herself, and finds that it makes her much happier.
Setting Sunny's life almost fifty years ago instead of in the modern day is successful for several reasons: older readers like myself will enjoy the passing of notes and "no taking calls at dinner" rule, along with the fantastic 1970s two story Colonial house where Sunny lives. Younger readers will see that while new technologies and past times may emerge, some things stay the same. It's good to see a healthy boy/girl relationship, and know that there must be tweens just like Sunny and Tony who want to hang out together without worrying about being romantic, even if they might enjoy thinking a little bit about romance from time to time.
There are a few asides about historical topics that were quite fun, and informative for readers who were born after the smart phone became widely adopted! Avon Ladies, rotary phones, note passing, air hockey, and Fantasy Island all have short but brilliant explanations. I have to admit that I have a LOT of questions about the Harrowgate (aka Harlequin) Romance books; why were these something that tweens had access to? I'm sure they are much milder than the modern day equivalents (if there is one). Of course, Sunny is in the generation that read all of V.C. Andrews' Flowers in the Attic books, so there must have just been a general lack of oversight of tweens reading material.
Matthew Holm's illustrations do a great job of setting the scene, and do an excellent job of showing excellent vintage details (wide legged pants, the grandfather's groovy shades and cardigan, school hallways and that fabulous house) while still preserving a fairly modern feel. I'm pretty sure that readers who pick up the first book do so not knowing that it is set in the past.
This even has a little bit more of a message than the other books, which I appreciated. Even though my students claim that they don't care what other people think, it would be hard to find a middle school student who is not aware of the expectations of others. Of course Sunny listens to her friend Deb's opinions... for a while. It's good to see that she and her mother are both able to come to terms with what works best for each of them.
Sunny is definitely one of my favorite graphic novel series, and addresses tween angst with a little more fun than other series do. Hand this to readers who need a break from the angst of Miller's Click series, Libenson's Emmie and Friends books, or Scrivan's Nat Enough titles.
January 2, 2026
“There’s no need to rush through life.”
This is the current last book in the Sunny series, so finally, after many reviews, I’m all caught up. Did I enjoy this book? Honestly, yes, I did!! The Sunny books can be hit or miss for me, but because I enjoyed the theming of this one, I found it pretty good. I think the series took a dip after the first one, but improved after she started dating Tony- which is the theme of this book!!
The book opens with Sunny reading a romance novel, which is, of course, unbelievably unrealistic. I want to add here and now that although she’s reading that sort of book, nothing in inappropriate happens in any of them (just some almost kisses and such.) I don’t think Sunny knows what to expect for relationships with a boy, and this makes her feel a little lost.
Fast forward to school, where her best friend Deb is gushing about how jealous she is of Sunny, because Sunny is going on a date with Tony that weekend. Her friend’s suggestions for where she should go feel awkward though, and she doesn’t really think they sound like much fun. Do dates have to be romantic?
On their date, Tony and Sunny actually have a lot of fun skating together- until it’s time for ‘couple’s skate. Awkward, they decide to get off the ice, and play pinball instead. Sunny watches the other couples skate, and it’s a bit weird. Is that really the right way to date? Then, which getting milkshakes afterwards, Sunny and Tony start playing hockey with the straws and a grape packet. Again, they don’t look anything like the other young couples here- it really seems like Sunny might be doing something wrong.
More and more things begin to change around Sunny- her mom gets a part time job, and Deb gets a boyfriend of her own, named Greg. This becomes an issue of its own for Sunny- not only does Deb want to do everything with the boys now, she also wants Sunny to do it with her!! But Sunny hates eating with the messy boys, she doesn’t need Tony to carry her books, and she doesn’t need his jacket!! But he seems pressured into all this by Deb, wanting to be a ‘good boyfriend’ and does it anyway.
Still, Sunny has more fun when her and Tony are just normal! playing air hockey together, watching tv, and even looking for her new kitten that went missing- it’s more fun treating him like a friend! But it’s not that she doesn’t love him- is it wrong that she doesn’t like the sort of relationship all the other girls do?
Deb keeps pushing Sunny and Tony, first to stay on the ice during ‘couple’s skate’, then to kiss in a pantry during a party. However, the two teenagers find a way around this, and snack on jam instead. Deb isn’t too happy when she finds out about this- her own boyfriend Greg is such a good kisser- why won’t Sunny kiss hers!?!
When talking to Gramps about their new kitten, and her mom about her new job, Sunny realizes something. Their kitten doesn’t act like most cats, who always want to be petted or play with yarn, but who gets to decide how a cat should act? And her mom, who always thought staying at home was the only way to be a good mom, has found herself happy and full at her new job. This is when Sunny realizes- her and Tony can date how it words best for THEM, not for anyone else.
So she donates all her romance novels, coming to the clover conclusion that they aren’t realistic- and her and Tony get milkshakes while playing hockey on the table again, because, well,
It’s no one else's job to tell them how to be happy!
Besides the important and good message of teenage romance, I also liked how helpful Sunny was to her mom. Her mom needed extra hands, and Sunny was always there for her- she was a good role model in this book, through and through! Would recommend!
(This book contains lots of teenage romance! A girl reads lots of romance novels (nothing adult in contained in them) and kids are seen kissing a few times, and Sunny and her boyfriend are pressured to act a certain way while dating. I would give it an age rating of 10+!)
This is the current last book in the Sunny series, so finally, after many reviews, I’m all caught up. Did I enjoy this book? Honestly, yes, I did!! The Sunny books can be hit or miss for me, but because I enjoyed the theming of this one, I found it pretty good. I think the series took a dip after the first one, but improved after she started dating Tony- which is the theme of this book!!
The book opens with Sunny reading a romance novel, which is, of course, unbelievably unrealistic. I want to add here and now that although she’s reading that sort of book, nothing in inappropriate happens in any of them (just some almost kisses and such.) I don’t think Sunny knows what to expect for relationships with a boy, and this makes her feel a little lost.
Fast forward to school, where her best friend Deb is gushing about how jealous she is of Sunny, because Sunny is going on a date with Tony that weekend. Her friend’s suggestions for where she should go feel awkward though, and she doesn’t really think they sound like much fun. Do dates have to be romantic?
On their date, Tony and Sunny actually have a lot of fun skating together- until it’s time for ‘couple’s skate. Awkward, they decide to get off the ice, and play pinball instead. Sunny watches the other couples skate, and it’s a bit weird. Is that really the right way to date? Then, which getting milkshakes afterwards, Sunny and Tony start playing hockey with the straws and a grape packet. Again, they don’t look anything like the other young couples here- it really seems like Sunny might be doing something wrong.
More and more things begin to change around Sunny- her mom gets a part time job, and Deb gets a boyfriend of her own, named Greg. This becomes an issue of its own for Sunny- not only does Deb want to do everything with the boys now, she also wants Sunny to do it with her!! But Sunny hates eating with the messy boys, she doesn’t need Tony to carry her books, and she doesn’t need his jacket!! But he seems pressured into all this by Deb, wanting to be a ‘good boyfriend’ and does it anyway.
Still, Sunny has more fun when her and Tony are just normal! playing air hockey together, watching tv, and even looking for her new kitten that went missing- it’s more fun treating him like a friend! But it’s not that she doesn’t love him- is it wrong that she doesn’t like the sort of relationship all the other girls do?
Deb keeps pushing Sunny and Tony, first to stay on the ice during ‘couple’s skate’, then to kiss in a pantry during a party. However, the two teenagers find a way around this, and snack on jam instead. Deb isn’t too happy when she finds out about this- her own boyfriend Greg is such a good kisser- why won’t Sunny kiss hers!?!
When talking to Gramps about their new kitten, and her mom about her new job, Sunny realizes something. Their kitten doesn’t act like most cats, who always want to be petted or play with yarn, but who gets to decide how a cat should act? And her mom, who always thought staying at home was the only way to be a good mom, has found herself happy and full at her new job. This is when Sunny realizes- her and Tony can date how it words best for THEM, not for anyone else.
So she donates all her romance novels, coming to the clover conclusion that they aren’t realistic- and her and Tony get milkshakes while playing hockey on the table again, because, well,
It’s no one else's job to tell them how to be happy!
Besides the important and good message of teenage romance, I also liked how helpful Sunny was to her mom. Her mom needed extra hands, and Sunny was always there for her- she was a good role model in this book, through and through! Would recommend!
(This book contains lots of teenage romance! A girl reads lots of romance novels (nothing adult in contained in them) and kids are seen kissing a few times, and Sunny and her boyfriend are pressured to act a certain way while dating. I would give it an age rating of 10+!)
April 2, 2026
When Deb, one of Sunny’s friends gets a boyfriend, she starts telling Sunny all the ways Sunny and Tony are doing the boyfriend/girlfriend wrong, like Tony doesn’t carry Sunny’s books, and Sunny doesn’t wear Tony’s letterman jacket, Sunny doesn’t go to all of Tony’s hockey games, and they don’t do the couples’ skate together. Sunny tries to do things “right” but it doesn’t feel like her or them. At home, Sunny’s mom has gotten a part time job after her dad didn’t get the raise he thought he’d get. It has thrown the household rhythm out of wack. Sunny’s trying to help out by looking after their little brother, and reassure her mom that the holiday traditions don’t all have to be done like normal as they prep for Christmas.
Both Sunny and her mom have to figure out how their roles fit them best, and stop worrying about conforming to some ideal that no one can really live up to. It’s a great message for readers about peer pressure and perfectionism, that every couple is unique in their relationship and how they show care for each other and what boundaries they have, and that each mom’s load looks different in what she’s juggling and what she takes on. Another excellent walk through life with Sunny. I appreciate Sunny’s bravery to not do what she isn’t comfortable with despite peer pressure, and how well she encourages her mom.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: Sunny and Tony go to a Valentine’s day parent for couples hosted by Deb and part of the party is a kissing closet. Couples are peer pressured to go into the closet for a while alone with each other. Tony and Sunny eat a jar of jam while in there and don’t kiss. It is assumed other couples do kiss.
Violence: A rough hockey game which Sunny doesn’t enjoy watching, but nothing else.
Ethnic diversity: Sunny is white American. Some of her friends and classmates are people of color.
LGBTQ+ content: I don’t remember anything mentioned.
Other: Peer pressure and perfectionism.
Both Sunny and her mom have to figure out how their roles fit them best, and stop worrying about conforming to some ideal that no one can really live up to. It’s a great message for readers about peer pressure and perfectionism, that every couple is unique in their relationship and how they show care for each other and what boundaries they have, and that each mom’s load looks different in what she’s juggling and what she takes on. Another excellent walk through life with Sunny. I appreciate Sunny’s bravery to not do what she isn’t comfortable with despite peer pressure, and how well she encourages her mom.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: Sunny and Tony go to a Valentine’s day parent for couples hosted by Deb and part of the party is a kissing closet. Couples are peer pressured to go into the closet for a while alone with each other. Tony and Sunny eat a jar of jam while in there and don’t kiss. It is assumed other couples do kiss.
Violence: A rough hockey game which Sunny doesn’t enjoy watching, but nothing else.
Ethnic diversity: Sunny is white American. Some of her friends and classmates are people of color.
LGBTQ+ content: I don’t remember anything mentioned.
Other: Peer pressure and perfectionism.
September 10, 2025
Dude, I FELT the Mom in this. The cliche about being a stay-at-home mom making you unemployable is a cliche because it's true. Ask me how I know!
I love Sunny's relationship with Tony, and I'm pretty disappointed that the big revelation in this graphic novel is not that people's relationships are their own and every relationship among consenting peers is okay, but that everyone matures on their own timetable and Sunny doesn't need to rush into a romantic relationship with a boy because it will happen on its own time.
Compulsory heterosexuality sucks. Can we not let the kid enjoy her life without ordaining a specific roadmap for her?
Sunny literally tells her Mom, "Everyone has all these ideas about how you're supposed to be boyfriend and girlfriend. Like carrying books and holding hands and being kissy all the time. But it's not like that with me and Tony." And instead of telling her that it's cool however you want to be with another person, as long as they're cool with it, too, her Mom is all, "There's no need to rush through life." Like, Ma'am. Sunny wasn't asking you WHEN she'll start feeling like being a stereotypical girlfriend. She is telling you that this is NOT her right now. You put her off and made her feel better this month, but what if she feels the same way next year, and five years later? Is that still going to be okay with you? Is SHE still going to be okay with it, knowing you think it has to happen sometime and the longer it takes to happen the weirder it gets, or is she going to feel like she has to fake it to make it?
What I want for Sunny's future is a nice historically women's college. Fortunately, Bryn Mawr is just down the road!
I love Sunny's relationship with Tony, and I'm pretty disappointed that the big revelation in this graphic novel is not that people's relationships are their own and every relationship among consenting peers is okay, but that everyone matures on their own timetable and Sunny doesn't need to rush into a romantic relationship with a boy because it will happen on its own time.
Compulsory heterosexuality sucks. Can we not let the kid enjoy her life without ordaining a specific roadmap for her?
Sunny literally tells her Mom, "Everyone has all these ideas about how you're supposed to be boyfriend and girlfriend. Like carrying books and holding hands and being kissy all the time. But it's not like that with me and Tony." And instead of telling her that it's cool however you want to be with another person, as long as they're cool with it, too, her Mom is all, "There's no need to rush through life." Like, Ma'am. Sunny wasn't asking you WHEN she'll start feeling like being a stereotypical girlfriend. She is telling you that this is NOT her right now. You put her off and made her feel better this month, but what if she feels the same way next year, and five years later? Is that still going to be okay with you? Is SHE still going to be okay with it, knowing you think it has to happen sometime and the longer it takes to happen the weirder it gets, or is she going to feel like she has to fake it to make it?
What I want for Sunny's future is a nice historically women's college. Fortunately, Bryn Mawr is just down the road!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2025
🌞 Review: Sunny Figures It Out by Jennifer L. Holm 🌞
I’ve read all the books in the Sunny series, and this one quickly became one of my favorites! The graphic style is as charming and vibrant as ever—probably my favorite of the series so far—and I just adore the way Sunny and her family are brought to life on the page.
One of the things I especially loved about this installment is how much more we see of Gramps. He’s always been such a delightful character, and having him play a bigger role made the story feel extra warm and layered.
The heart of this graphic novel, though, is its message—one that resonates just as much with adults as it does with kids. It’s all about how the roles we think define us don’t have to limit us. Sunny’s mom embodies this beautifully: she struggles with the idea that her worth lies only in being a mother. But as she steps into a new job, she learns that she can embrace more than one role—being both a loving mom and someone who thrives outside the home. That balance, and the joy she finds in it, was such a powerful part of the story.
I also really appreciated how Sunny’s relationship with Greg was explored and how it wrapped up—it added another layer of honesty and relatability to the narrative.
Overall, this is such a heartfelt graphic novel, full of humor, warmth, and important takeaways. It’s the kind of book I can see my students loving just as much as I did—and one that adults will connect with too. A wonderful addition to an already great series!
I’ve read all the books in the Sunny series, and this one quickly became one of my favorites! The graphic style is as charming and vibrant as ever—probably my favorite of the series so far—and I just adore the way Sunny and her family are brought to life on the page.
One of the things I especially loved about this installment is how much more we see of Gramps. He’s always been such a delightful character, and having him play a bigger role made the story feel extra warm and layered.
The heart of this graphic novel, though, is its message—one that resonates just as much with adults as it does with kids. It’s all about how the roles we think define us don’t have to limit us. Sunny’s mom embodies this beautifully: she struggles with the idea that her worth lies only in being a mother. But as she steps into a new job, she learns that she can embrace more than one role—being both a loving mom and someone who thrives outside the home. That balance, and the joy she finds in it, was such a powerful part of the story.
I also really appreciated how Sunny’s relationship with Greg was explored and how it wrapped up—it added another layer of honesty and relatability to the narrative.
Overall, this is such a heartfelt graphic novel, full of humor, warmth, and important takeaways. It’s the kind of book I can see my students loving just as much as I did—and one that adults will connect with too. A wonderful addition to an already great series!
September 3, 2025
Reading this latest installment of the Sunny series is like jumping into a time machine and returning to the 1970's -- 1978 to be exact.
Sunny is in the 8th grade in 1978, just like I was! Reading this book was like opening a time capsule. There were so many things I remember from that era and the way Jennifer and brother Matthew presented them was amazing.
📚There are stacks of Harlequin romances in the artwork and customized covers scattered through the book. When I was a teen, I checked them out by the piles!
📞The home phone. We learned proper phone etiquette (don't call people before 9 AM or after 9 PM, for example) and found ourselves waiting by the phone for that certain someone to call.
📺Television - there were only three networks and no recording or streaming. If you missed an episode you hoped for a rerun. Sesame Street and Fantasy Island are featured. (Da plane! Da plane!)
💄Sunny's mother considers becoming an Avon Lady to make some extra cash. I did sell Avon when I was in college.
👱♀️We get to watch Sunny and friends figure things out. Love having Gramps in the household, too. I do hope we will be able to follow Sunny to high school in a 7th book.
This book will appeal to older readers like me who lived through these years and to younger generations who love seeing what life was like back in the day.😎
Sunny is in the 8th grade in 1978, just like I was! Reading this book was like opening a time capsule. There were so many things I remember from that era and the way Jennifer and brother Matthew presented them was amazing.
📚There are stacks of Harlequin romances in the artwork and customized covers scattered through the book. When I was a teen, I checked them out by the piles!
📞The home phone. We learned proper phone etiquette (don't call people before 9 AM or after 9 PM, for example) and found ourselves waiting by the phone for that certain someone to call.
📺Television - there were only three networks and no recording or streaming. If you missed an episode you hoped for a rerun. Sesame Street and Fantasy Island are featured. (Da plane! Da plane!)
💄Sunny's mother considers becoming an Avon Lady to make some extra cash. I did sell Avon when I was in college.
👱♀️We get to watch Sunny and friends figure things out. Love having Gramps in the household, too. I do hope we will be able to follow Sunny to high school in a 7th book.
This book will appeal to older readers like me who lived through these years and to younger generations who love seeing what life was like back in the day.😎
Read
August 11, 2025Sunny is back! Any fans of the graphic novels about Sunny will want to grab a copy of SUNNY FIGURES IT OUT as soon as possible. As usual Sunny is learning about life and not always the easy way.
Sunny has found a friend in Tony. They like the same things and enjoy each other's company. They like roller skating, and during the couples' skate, they both agree playing arcade games is more fun. Air hockey is also something they agree is fun.
When Sunny's friend Deb gets a boyfriend, she insists that Sunny and Tony aren't doing things right. They should be holding hands during the couples' skate, Tony should be letting Sunny wear his sports jacket, and they should definitely be KISSING! None of this feels comfortable to either Sunny or Tony. Why can't they just keep doing things the way they have been?
Author Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm have hit the perfect tone with SUNNY FIGURES IT OUT. This is a great read for young tweens and teens trying to figure out what's right for them.
Sunny has found a friend in Tony. They like the same things and enjoy each other's company. They like roller skating, and during the couples' skate, they both agree playing arcade games is more fun. Air hockey is also something they agree is fun.
When Sunny's friend Deb gets a boyfriend, she insists that Sunny and Tony aren't doing things right. They should be holding hands during the couples' skate, Tony should be letting Sunny wear his sports jacket, and they should definitely be KISSING! None of this feels comfortable to either Sunny or Tony. Why can't they just keep doing things the way they have been?
Author Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm have hit the perfect tone with SUNNY FIGURES IT OUT. This is a great read for young tweens and teens trying to figure out what's right for them.
August 28, 2025
It isn’t important to know that this story is set in the 1980s, other than to understand that there are no smart phones, and it is still unusual for mothers to work.
Sunny has made friends with a boy. He is not her boyfriend, but her best friend keeps telling her that he is.
Sunny just wants to hang out with him. She doesn’t want to kiss him. She doesn’t want him to carry her books. She doesn’t want to ice skate during couples time. It just makes her friendship feel uncomfortable.
I like how Sunny does figure it out. That she overcomes the peer pressure to realize that she just wants to be friends, and no more, no matter what society wants. It is hard to be expected to fit into the slot that the world wants you to be in, and I’m glad that Sunny doesn't want that either.
This is the sixth Sunny book, and they just keep getting better. You can start reading any of them independently, but if you have to start with one, I would say start with book three, “Sunny Rolls the Dice”, because that is when the stories start coming into their own.
Sunny has made friends with a boy. He is not her boyfriend, but her best friend keeps telling her that he is.
Sunny just wants to hang out with him. She doesn’t want to kiss him. She doesn’t want him to carry her books. She doesn’t want to ice skate during couples time. It just makes her friendship feel uncomfortable.
I like how Sunny does figure it out. That she overcomes the peer pressure to realize that she just wants to be friends, and no more, no matter what society wants. It is hard to be expected to fit into the slot that the world wants you to be in, and I’m glad that Sunny doesn't want that either.
This is the sixth Sunny book, and they just keep getting better. You can start reading any of them independently, but if you have to start with one, I would say start with book three, “Sunny Rolls the Dice”, because that is when the stories start coming into their own.
September 6, 2025
Whenever a new Sunny book comes out, I simply must read it. Sunny reminds me a bit of myself growing up (except Sunny’s world is the 1970s and mine, well, mine was another decade). Each Sunny book has the 1970s flavor (this one features rotary phones and cheap romance novels). Going into the book is like going back in time.
In this story, Sunny and her friend Tony are having a lot of fun going to the skating rink and playing pinball. But this kind of changes when her friend Deb announces she’s in love with another boy in Sunny’s class. Deb thinks that Sunny and Tony should date too. But is that what Sunny wants? She’s not so sure. Join Sunny as she figures it all out!
I liked this book because it was all about being yourself. Not everyone grows at the same pace or wants the same things in life and that’s okay! Communicating that at a young age is important and the Holms make it so entertaining! More Sunny books, please!
Mia’s 2nd Year of Books: Days 179 and 180
#1sttoCheckOut
In this story, Sunny and her friend Tony are having a lot of fun going to the skating rink and playing pinball. But this kind of changes when her friend Deb announces she’s in love with another boy in Sunny’s class. Deb thinks that Sunny and Tony should date too. But is that what Sunny wants? She’s not so sure. Join Sunny as she figures it all out!
I liked this book because it was all about being yourself. Not everyone grows at the same pace or wants the same things in life and that’s okay! Communicating that at a young age is important and the Holms make it so entertaining! More Sunny books, please!
Mia’s 2nd Year of Books: Days 179 and 180
#1sttoCheckOut
October 28, 2025
The back of the books asks "When does a boy stop being a friend and start being a boyfriend?" I needed to be aware of how the book answers this question for our upper elementary students, so I read it quickly before shelving.
What Sunny figures out is that it's OK to spend time and have fun with your friend that's a boy, he doesn't need to be your "boyfriend" and hold hands etc., no matter what your friend or anyone says. I really like this message! Throughout this book Sunny is reading "romance" novels that look like Harlequin-style books, like "Helen's Perfect Prince" by Rebecca Weston. The scenes shared are innocent, and in the end Sunny donates the books back to a thrift store because they are "not very realistic." I liked this message too! (Eye-roll about the old lady cashier that says "That's the whole point, they're good for a little escapism," and "Also, the men on the covers are really cute!")
Sunny leaves the store - good for Sunny for figuring things out!
What Sunny figures out is that it's OK to spend time and have fun with your friend that's a boy, he doesn't need to be your "boyfriend" and hold hands etc., no matter what your friend or anyone says. I really like this message! Throughout this book Sunny is reading "romance" novels that look like Harlequin-style books, like "Helen's Perfect Prince" by Rebecca Weston. The scenes shared are innocent, and in the end Sunny donates the books back to a thrift store because they are "not very realistic." I liked this message too! (Eye-roll about the old lady cashier that says "That's the whole point, they're good for a little escapism," and "Also, the men on the covers are really cute!")
Sunny leaves the store - good for Sunny for figuring things out!
October 2, 2025
The latest installment in a very sweet (and nostalgic, for me!) set in 1970s America. Sunny is now in junior high and one of her closest friends is Tony, a boy she met last summer while working at the local pool. Her good friend Deb urges Sunny to become more serious about him, but Sunny and Tony just aren't feelin' it. Interspersed throughout, the authors have cute one page pauses explaining to today's kids things that they have no clue about: telephones (landlines), notes (passed between friends),air hockey, and the Avon Lady! So fun. Sunny is a good, smart, kid with a loving family; she babysits her little brother, helps her mother when she feels overwhelmed, and her mother is a stay at home mom who finds she enjoys working part-time, a time when more women began working outside the home.
All in all, just a good. funny, and wholesome series.
All in all, just a good. funny, and wholesome series.
December 23, 2025
I really like the Sunny series and hope Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm continue it. This read was between a 3 and 4 star for me.
I liked the tidbits about 1970s life that were included - about landline phones, Avon ladies, air hockey, etc! So much of reading these books is nostalgia for me. Not just remembering being in jr high, but being in jr high at that time. (Technically, for me it was the 80s... but a lot of the references were the same.)
The story line between Sunny and Tommy was a tad frustrating. I just wanted them to talk about it - but I suppose there's no turmoil, no conflict if they just hash it out verbally rather than learn what works for their relationship through trying different things.
I enjoy this art style and the amount of text on each page. There's something about the layout of most middle grade graphic novels that is my sweet spot for art and text.
I liked the tidbits about 1970s life that were included - about landline phones, Avon ladies, air hockey, etc! So much of reading these books is nostalgia for me. Not just remembering being in jr high, but being in jr high at that time. (Technically, for me it was the 80s... but a lot of the references were the same.)
The story line between Sunny and Tommy was a tad frustrating. I just wanted them to talk about it - but I suppose there's no turmoil, no conflict if they just hash it out verbally rather than learn what works for their relationship through trying different things.
I enjoy this art style and the amount of text on each page. There's something about the layout of most middle grade graphic novels that is my sweet spot for art and text.
July 31, 2025
Reading 2025
Book 154: Sunny Figures It Out: A Graphic Novel by Jennifer L. Holm
A new installment in the Sunny series of graphic novels, grabbed it from the library. This middle grade book was published July 1.
Synopsis: The New York Times bestselling SUNNY series continues with Sunny trying to figure out when a boy stops being just a friend and starts being a boyfriend... and what that means for both of them.
Review: This series has been a steady balance of fun and angst. Figures It Out is a step down from the others for me. I was missing the more fun aspects of the series; a darker mood fell over Sunny. Definitely part of Sunny growing up, but was not up for that part of the book. My rating 3.5⭐️
Book 154: Sunny Figures It Out: A Graphic Novel by Jennifer L. Holm
A new installment in the Sunny series of graphic novels, grabbed it from the library. This middle grade book was published July 1.
Synopsis: The New York Times bestselling SUNNY series continues with Sunny trying to figure out when a boy stops being just a friend and starts being a boyfriend... and what that means for both of them.
Review: This series has been a steady balance of fun and angst. Figures It Out is a step down from the others for me. I was missing the more fun aspects of the series; a darker mood fell over Sunny. Definitely part of Sunny growing up, but was not up for that part of the book. My rating 3.5⭐️
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