The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake

Synopsis: 

“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. When 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:

Are you ever scared to read the next book published by an author whose work you love? I feel this way more often than not. I don’t want to be disappointed if I don’t like the new work as much as the previously loved title. And that’s how I felt about Ashley’s new book, but all that changed at ALA this summer.

I got the chance to meet Ashley at her publisher’s booth and as I gushed about Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World she let me in on a little secret. Although she loved telling Ivy’s story, she loved getting the chance to tell Sunny’s story even more. And you know what? She’s right. I loved Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World – it’s a diverse book without having to make diversity the sole focus of the story, a feat Ashley has fully mastered. But, I love The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James even more.

For all that Sunny is going through with a heart transplant, a mother who has decided to pop back into her life, and some confusing feelings toward kissing, Sunny is still just like the pre-teens reading this story. She’s second-guessing herself, questioning her decisions, dealing with a first crush, and healing both physically, but also emotionally from a best friend turned traitor.

Sunny’s world is filled with fully realized characters that not only support the story but also bring their own complications and triumphs to the plot. As a side note, I want more of Kate and Dave’s story. I’ll take whatever Ashley is willing to write – short story, novella, novel. Their relationship was not only adorable, but it also made me want to know more about them as individuals and who they are as a couple raising this child of a close friend.

Sunny’s story has found a place in my heart and I can’t wait to tell other readers about The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake. Check out the discussion guide on the Little, Brown website.

Need to Know:

Title: The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James
Author: Ashley Herring Blake
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 16, 2019
Page Number: 352 pgs.