Start with Sunny Side Up
Read from book #1 so Sunny's family changes and growing confidence have their full context.
Book Series · 6 Books
Sunny Books
In order from Sunny Side Up to Sunny Figures It Out.
Jennifer and Matthew Holm's full-color graphic novels follow Sunny Lewin through 1970s family changes, friendships, school, and the complicated effects of her older brother's substance use.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Sunny Books
Read the six graphic novels in numbered order. Each has its own focus, but family events and Sunny's emotional growth continue from book to book.
Sources: Jennifer L. Holm's official Sunny series.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The series pairs bright art and humor with a serious family story. Sunny's older brother struggles with substance use, anger, and instability; later books address treatment, absence, shame, worry, and the effects on the whole family.
Other topics include grief, divorce and family strain, anxiety, friendship conflict, and changing bodies. The treatment is compassionate and age-appropriate, but children with similar experiences may find parts emotionally close to home.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Sunny Side Up establishes the family situation that later books continue.
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1398
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2015
Sunny Side Up
By Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm (Illustrator)
A young girl spends the summer with her grandfather in a retirement community in Florida, learning about life and herself through various adventures and misadventures
224 pages· 4,143 words· Est. 47 min read
$14.99Save 7%
Paperback
Summary: Sunny Lewin's summer in Florida with her grandfather seems dull until she meets Buzz, a comic book enthusiast. Together, they embark on quirky adventures, but a hidden family secret looms. Why was Sunny sent to Florida? As she uncovers the truth, her world shifts, challenging her understanding of family and herself. Amidst golfball-eating alligators and disappearing neighbors, Sunny must navigate the complexities of growing up and the impact of her brother's actions on her family. Will she find clarity and peace in the chaos? Discover the mystery that turns a mundane summer into a life-altering journey.
In reading order
Sunny Series
6 books · Published 2015–2025
#1
#1 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1398
Sunny Side Up
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2015
A young girl spends the summer with her grandfather in a retirement community in Florida, learning about life and herself through various adventures and misadventures
#2
#2 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1398
Swing It, Sunny
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2017
Sunny navigates middle school chaos and family changes, determined to stay upbeat.
#3
#3 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1398
Sunny Rolls the Dice
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019
Middle school pressures clash with Sunny's love for Dungeons & Dragons.
#4
#4 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1248
Sunny Makes a Splash
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2021
A summer job at the pool leads to unexpected independence and a budding romance.
#5
#5 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1248
Sunny Makes Her Case
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2024
A young girl navigates middle school and finds her passion in debate team
#6
#6 in Series
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1248
Sunny Figures It Out
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2025
Sunny questions friendship and romance, seeking her own path.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Sunny series?
There are 6 books in the Sunny series. It began with Sunny Side Up in 2015, and the newest book, Sunny Figures It Out, was published in 2025.
What order should you read the Sunny books in?
Start with Sunny Side Up and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #6.
What ages are the Sunny books best for?
The series is best for ages 8–12, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Sunny book is the longest?
Sunny Makes Her Case (Book #5) is the longest book in the series at 5,774 words (220 pages).
Which Sunny book is the shortest?
Sunny Rolls the Dice (Book #3) is the shortest at 3,574 words (224 pages).
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring Sunny to life.
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