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The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James Paperback – March 24, 2020

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 230 ratings

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Twelve-year-old Sunny St. James navigates heart surgery, reconnecting with her lost mother, first kisses, and emerging feelings for another girl in this stunning, heartfelt novel--perfect for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly.
 

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.

 

Everything seems to be racing forward, but when she meets Quinn, Sunny questions whether she really wants to kiss a boy at all. And with the reemergence of her mother, Sunny's journey to becoming the new Sunny St. James will be trickier than expected.

 

Acclaimed author, Ashley Herring Blake's sweet, tender novel will dare readers to find the might in their own hearts.
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From the Publisher

Customer Reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
452
4.7 out of 5 stars
230
4.6 out of 5 stars
55
Price $7.43 $8.36 $8.36
Discover more gripping reads from Ashley Herring Blake! In the wake of a destructive tornado, one girl develops feelings for another in this stunning, tender novel about emerging identity. Sunny St. James navigates heart surgery, reconnecting with her lost mother, first kisses, and emerging feelings for another girl. A poignant yet hopeful novel about a girl navigating grief, trauma, and friendship.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James:
The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James is a moving coming of age story that is not only engaging to read but is also deeply important. Sunny is a funny, thoughtful, and wonderfully rendered character who will stay with you long after you have finished reading.―Aisha Saeed, New York Times bestselling author of Amal Unbound

"
The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James will make you ache for the twelve-year-old you once were, and anxious to share this book with every pre-teen you know. I may be Ashley Herring Blake's biggest fan!"―Shannon Hitchcock, author of One True Way and Ruby Lee & Me

"
The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James pulls at the heart strings from the very first sentence. Part soul-crushing, part soul-fulfilling, laced in humor and unwavering hope. Readers will root for Sunny from start to finish. Ashley Herring Blake hits all the feels with this one. Love is love is Love. Surely a message we all can get on board with!"―Tami Charles, author of Like Vanessa and Definitely Daphne

"In
The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James, Ashley Herring Blake honors the big, messy emotions inherent in being a preteen girl. Sunny is portrayed with such deep empathy and respect that she's destined to be a treasured friend for readers. This book is a joy."―Anne Ursu, author of The Lost Girl

"Sunny's bravery and buoyant spirit as she explores the truth about her family and herself will leave a lasting impression on the reader's heart."―
Barbara Dee, author of Everything I Know About You and Halfway Normal

* "A sweet and gentle story of self-discovery and a beautiful addition to the growing genre of middle-grade realism featuring girls who like girls."―
Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A heartwarming and engaging tale that treats Sunny's emerging sexual identity with care, authenticity, and age appropriateness."―
School Library Journal, starred review

* "[
The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James] is an accomplished, layered, moving story featuring a girl questioning her sexuality. Bighearted in every way."―Booklist, starred review

About the Author

Ashley Herring Blake is the author of the young adult novels Suffer Love, How to Make a Wish, and Girl Made of Stars, as well as the Stonewall honor novel Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World, The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James, and Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea. Ashley lives in Georgia with her husband and two sons.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (March 24, 2020)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 416 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 031651554X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316515542
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 1.25 x 7.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 230 ratings

About the author

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Ashley Herring Blake
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Ashley Herring Blake is a teacher and writer and lives in Nashville, TN. She is a voracious reader and likes organizing her books by color. When she's not writing or reading, she's wrangling her two young sons, falling into Pinterest holes, drinking coffee, taking walks, or trying to figure out which Orphan Black clone she likes best.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
230 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and heartwarming. They describe the story as tender and happy. Readers praise the writing quality as excellent and enjoy Sunny's perspective as an LGBTQ protagonist.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

3 customers mention "Book content"3 positive0 negative

Customers like the book content. They say it's a must-read, meaty, and has something for every middle grade reader.

"...I can't recommend it highly enough. There's something here for every middle grade reader, and it should be in every 5th grade classroom." Read more

"This book is a must read. I teach 5th grade and I purchased it for my classroom library...." Read more

"Good book for tweens...." Read more

3 customers mention "Heartwarming"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it heartwarming, tender, and happy. The family with a new loving wife is described as stable and nurturing.

"...He reunited the family with a new, loving, stable and nurturing wife and what seemed destined for inevitable tragedy has grown into a “happy ending”..." Read more

"This book was so sweet and heartwarming. I loved Sunny and Quinn's friendship and how close they became...." Read more

"...there was a bit of same sex attraction but it was so innocent and sweet that it shouldn't be a cause for concern for those who may not typically..." Read more

3 customers mention "Story quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the story. They found it well-written and engaging from the perspective of an LGBTQ protagonist.

"This was a really good story, there was a bit of same sex attraction but it was so innocent and sweet that it shouldn't be a cause for concern for..." Read more

"A great little story with all the feels. I really enjoyed Sunny and her story. Well written and draws you in." Read more

"...I wish her books had been available when I was a teenager. Excellent coming or are tale from the perspective of an LGBTQ protagonist...." Read more

I defy you to read this book and not fall in love with Sunny St. James!!
5 out of 5 stars
I defy you to read this book and not fall in love with Sunny St. James!!
Sunny St. James is twelve and getting a new heart. She was diagnosed at the age of ten with cardiomyopathy: a failing heart. That was two years ago. Sunny’s been through a lot in her short life. Her dad passed away in an accident right after she was born. When she was four, her mom, Lena, couldn’t take care of her anymore, so she gave her to her best friend, Kate. Kate and Sunny moved to Juniper Island, where Kate runs Cherry Picked Books. And recently, Sunny’s best friendship with Margot ended. But she’s getting a heart transplant, and everything is going to change now. Sunny even has a new life plan, which includes finding a new best friend and kissing some boys. So when she meets Quinn, a new girl, on the beach, it seems like all the pieces of her plan are coming together. But Quinn makes Sunny question some things—including whether she wants to kiss boys at all.“I’m going to die today. Definitely for a few minutes and maybe forever. Kate keeps telling me no way, nohow is it going to be forever, but she isn’t the one who’s about to have her most important internal organ switched out like a new swimsuit at the start of the summer.”Oh this book, this book. Ashley Herring Blake did it again. She is just such a wonderful, wonderful writer. I simply fell head over heels for Sunny, who stole my heart from the first pages of this beautiful book. She is strong, vulnerable, and a darling character who came to life through Blake’s lovely writing. She goes through so much in her life—and in the chapters of this book—and yet there’s so much hope and laughter. I cannot even describe it. The book opens with Sunny’s transplant and then we move on from there, as she works to implement her three-step plan:“Step One: Do awesome amazing things I could never do before. Step Two: Find a new best friend. Step Three: Find a boy and kiss him.”To Sunny’s twelve-year-old reasoning, it all makes perfect sense. She has a new heart, so it’s a perfect time to be a new person. In fact, with the new heart, there’s no reason to feel the things she felt before, which might have included some desires to kiss girls. When she meets Quinn on the beach—Quinn and her mom are in town for the summer, as Quinn’s mom is a nature photographer—they become fast friends. It seems like they will be on a quest to kiss boys together. But things quickly go awry (seriously – there are some hilarious comedic scenes as the two attempt to kiss some boys). This book does such an amazing job at capturing the loneliness of young gay kids. I so wish there books like this around when I was a teen. Sunny is so sweet, so real, and so raw as she works through her confusion about liking girls. This is such a wonderful and needed book for middle schoolers (and everyone)—for queer kids as they try to figure out things like Sunny and for the allies who need to support them. I wish everyone could read it. Not only does Sunny struggle with her feelings about liking girls and boys, but she must deal with the return of her long-lost mother, Lena. In another book, these two storylines might feel crowded, but Blake handles them deftly.And it’s such a lovely story at its heart—because, truly, it’s a book about hearts and those you love and who love you. I defy you to read this book and not fall in love with Sunny St. James. She is a character who will stick with you long after you read the last page. Blake has created yet another lasting story through her magical words. I highly recommend this book. 4.5+ stars.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2021
    My 11 year old niece has endured more trauma in her short life than many do in decades. She was raised in chaos: domestic violence, drug abuse, foster care, parental incarceration.

    All of this came to a terrible dénouement when her mother (my sister) was found dead of an overdose on the living room sofa.

    By the grace of God her father has remained sober since he was released from jail. He reunited the family with a new, loving, stable and nurturing wife and what seemed destined for inevitable tragedy has grown into a “happy ending” for all.

    And my niece? Last summer in one of the most fun and tender afternoons I’ve enjoyed she came out to me. I am gay and I cannot begin to express how different her experience is from mine. My early years as a closeted boy were fraught with fear and insecurity. The societal loathing was only matched by my own...and those painful and isolating years left deep scars.

    I see none of that in my niece. The world has changed and at least in this way, for the better.

    She is not a reader and remembering how it felt to watch television and see no characters who were “like me” I decided to find something private and affirmative for her to connect to.

    Enter Sunny St. James, who, like my own niece has suffered and grown through that suffering to become wiser, braver, more steady, and deeply compassionate.

    So my “not a reader” niece? It’s been less than a month since I gave her the book and she’s read it twice and starting it over again. I’ve never seen her hungry for the written word like this.

    Yay for gay uncle!

    Thank you to Ashley Blake Herring and to all the allies, friends family and members of my community past and present who have made this a safer, more loving world for LGBTQ people.
    17 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2021
    This book was so sweet and heartwarming. I loved Sunny and Quinn's friendship and how close they became. I loved that it touched on serious notes as well. Kids are so capable of dealing with adult issues and this story proved it.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2021
    This was a really good story, there was a bit of same sex attraction but it was so innocent and sweet that it shouldn't be a cause for concern for those who may not typically read this type of story.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2019
    A great little story with all the feels. I really enjoyed Sunny and her story. Well written and draws you in.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2019
    Twenty two of my 26 fifth graders- half boys, half girls - chose to read this book for a Book Breakfast! This is a meaty book, and it lead to the best discussion we've had all year! I can't recommend it highly enough. There's something here for every middle grade reader, and it should be in every 5th grade classroom.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2019
    This book is a must read. I teach 5th grade and I purchased it for my classroom library. Ashley Herring Blake has created a world where it’s ok to be someone new but it’s also ok to be the you you’ve always been. Middle grade kids, especially girls, will connect instantly with Sunny. Get this book now!
    7 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2022
    Perfect condition and fast shipping!
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2019
    Another incredible story by Ashley Herring Blake. I wish her books had been available when I was a teenager. Excellent coming or are tale from the perspective of an LGBTQ protagonist. I'm proud to have this book in my classroom library.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Lottie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 25, 2020
    This book was such a joy to read. There were many different plots happening, all of which were engaging and felt equally important. The characters were given time to develop and Sunny most of all, I could not help but to cherish and root for her along the way. I especially loved how the author explored Sunny's sexuality and the realities that can come with realising that you are a girl who might like other girls. It was very well done for its intended audience. And as an adult reader I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would highly recommend it to all readers.