Sunshine Simpson's life has never been so busy!
She feels like she's on a ROLLERCOASTER.
At school everyone is talking about preparing for the big move to SCARY secondary. Plus, there's a
Charity Bake Sale to plan for.
But with Sunshine's Dad travelling for work, Mum forgetting how to smile, a surprise family guest in the mix, and her BFFs and bake-sale classmate Riley CLASHING, Sunshine needs a DARING PLAN to stop the storm clouds from settling!
Will Sunshine's foolproof plan prove to be a piece of CAKE...or a recipe for disaster?
Thrilled (as a Simpson myself!) to have been included on Sunshine's blogtour for this fabulous, positive book, that truly does feature a ray of sunshine as it's main character. As part of the tour, I'm very grateful that author, G.M Linton has provided this guest piece about her own favourite school day books (I have to admit to my own ones being the Just William series by Richmal Crompton!):
Books about schooldays – G.M. Linton
There are all sorts of adventures to be had in stories about schooldays – and, arguably, authors have
to work even harder to create narratives that children find not only relatable and realistic, but that
step up to becoming EXTRA-ordinary tales.
My selection shows that books set at school can be at the forefront of stimulating change,
promoting empathy and showcasing diversity, yet, in the best tradition of children’s books are,
equally, full of wonder and excitement.
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Eleven-year-old Addie campaigns for a memorial in her hometown when she learns about witch
trials that took place there years before. Addie’s life isn’t made the easiest by her school teacher,
Miss Murphy, and a rather unkind classmate, but this story about courage, friendship, family and
what it means to be different is a real triumph. Addie is a wonderful character, who you cheer for all
the way through – and the story is told with warmth, humour and effortless style.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Ten-year-old August (Auggie) has rare facial anomalies, Treacher-Collins syndrome. After being
home-educated for the first part of his life, we meet Auggie when he is about to start school. Told
from different viewpoints, including his school friends and sister, as well as Auggie himself, this is a
tender and moving story about understanding and celebrating difference. A wonder of a book.
Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu
A superhero story with a difference. Set mostly in Nigeria, at a school for children with superpowers,
Onyeka’s hair is her strength. As someone who often struggled with my afro-textured hair as a child,
seeing a young Black girl – and her hair – portrayed in this positive and powerful way is so
refreshing. I wish I had this book to read when I was younger.
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Yes, this book was written in the 1970s, but so many of the themes within it are still relevant today.
The book’s main protagonist, twelve-year-old Margaret Simon, negotiates moving home, starting at
a new school, new friends, and her changing body with real charm and insight. And important issues
raised in the book are handled in a gentle, understanding, yet humorous way. It’s an enduring
delight.
Find more content and reviews via the blogtour stops at the social channels above.
Author Information
G.M. Linton lives with her family in the West Midlands and can often be found happily snacking on stuffed green olives or hunting out a slice of cake. She enjoys nothing better than snatching time to read a good book and losing herself whilst imagining characters and storylines. The Sunshine Simpson series is particularly inspired by G.M.'s parents, who arrived in Britain, from Jamaica, as part of the Windrush generation, in the 1950s.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/glintinhereye
My thanks to Usborne for a copy of the book and a spot on the tour, and to G.M Linton for the guest post.
Order your own copy at: https://usborne.com/gb/sunshine-simpson-cooks-up-a-storm-9781801313353
Post by Rich Simpson (@richreadalot) October 2023
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