Written by Ashley Herring Blake

Reviewed by Nicolina Hansen (2019-2020)

Sunny St. James is a 12-year-old girl who hasn’t had her first kiss yet–and she’s due for a heart transplant any day. Among other items on her list of new life activities once she gets her new heart is to find a boy to kiss. But does she really want to kiss a boy? Maybe. But she might want to kiss a girl, too.

By the author of Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World, The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James is the perfect book for students in grades 4-7 and provides a relatable experience for just about any reader. 

Sunny finally gets her heart transplant after two years on a waiting list, and then her life turns upside down. She meets the mom she hasn’t seen since she was four, makes a new best friend, and starts on all sorts of adventures on her little island in South Carolina. Even with all of this, she’s still just a 12-year-old girl figuring out how to navigate through the world. This book is related to both identity and diversity because students will see themselves represented and have a window into life experiences that they probably haven’t had. Be sure to check out this book for a sweet and moving story about a girl who’s growing up and finding out who she is.

Here is an interview with the author!