"Radiant with kindness, compassion, and inspiring information about Black Britons, this dazzling sequel sees Sunshine navigate big changes."
October 2023 Book of the Month
We couldn’t have rated My Name is Sunshine Simpson, the first book in GM Linton’s Sunshine Simpson series, more highly, and boy does this sequel live up to expectations! Sunshine Simpson Cooks Up a Storm is an illuminating, uplifting delight from start to finish, tackling big themes (handling change, bigotry, friendship, family friction, and loss) with huge heart. Sunshine herself is exactly that in name and nature — a beam of warmth and light whose story will have readers gripped and rooting for her every step of the way.
“It felt as if there were worry worms in my tummy, tangling themselves into one giant knot. Sometimes, little butterflies excitedly fluttered and danced, too. But the worms were always trying to eat the butterflies.” Big changes are afoot for Sunshine, and they’re not easy to handle. After losing her darling Grandad Bobby, it’s Sunshine’s last year at primary school, and her dad’s promotion means he has to work away from home. And what’s with her charity bake-sale teammate making bigoted remarks as her class celebrates Black History Month? Then there’s the family friction that comes in the wake of an unexpected visit from Sunshine’s glamorous Grandma Pepper (a word of warning: do NOT call her Granny. Best to use Glammy or Glam-ma!).
Add to that exuberant Auntie Sharon’s energy and advice (“we run tings, tings nuh run we!”), and a palpable sense of friendship and community, and Sunshine Simpson Cooks Up a Storm is as sweet and nourishing as Glammy Pepper’s spiced banana and pineapple hummingbird cake.
As a bonus, a recipe for this cake is included, along with Sunshine’s notes celebrating amazing Black heroes, and information on Black History Month. Oh, and mention must be made of a glorious climax that hits all the right notes with its Caribbean Christmas vibe, replete with seasonal songs played on steelpans.
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