Sunny Figures It Out: A Graphic Novel

Sunny #6

by Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm (Illustrator)

The New York Times bestselling SUNNY series continues with Sunny trying to figure out when a boy stops being just a friend and starts being a boyfriend... and what that means for both of them.

There's no question that Sunny has fun whenever she hangs out with Tony. They go to the movies together, talk a lot at school, and support each other when they need it.

But are they dating?

Sunny isn't sure... but her friend, Deb, is. She thinks Sunny and Tony should be doing the couples-skate at the local roller rink. And Tony should be giving Sunny his jacket to wear. And carrying her books to class.

For Sunny, this doesn't feel great. It just feels... weird. Maybe she needs to stop taking everyone else's advice in order to figure things out for herself!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult, Juvenile

224 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2025

About the author

Jennifer L. Holm is a USA TODAY and NEW YORK TIMES-bestselling children's author with more than 9.8 million books in print She is the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA, PENNY FROM HEAVEN, and TURTLE IN PARADISE and a Scott O'Dell Award for her novel FULL OF BEANS.

Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on three bestselling graphic novel series -- the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series, the SUNNY series, and the Squish series. SQUISH is now an animated tv series on YouTube!

For more information, visit her website at www.jenniferholm.com.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES!!! No need to rush! You can do you WITHOUT having to be what society says you “should” be, and that includes if you DON’T want to be in a relationship other than friends.

5, I loved this book and it’s message so much, stars!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like Terri Libenson, the Holms' Sunny series is a perfect encapsulation of what it feels like to be growing up...not quite the way everyone else is. This volume takes on Sunny's relationship with Tony, who is less her boyfriend and more a boy who's her friend. No one, including her dad, understands that distinction, and Sunny and Tony aren't at all comfortable with the social expectations pushed on them. So what if they'd rather play pinball than do the couples' skate? Or eat jam instead of kiss? Everyone's allowed to grow up at their own pace, and Sunny learning that makes this another winner of a volume.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer Holm’s Sunny series is such a treat for anyone who was a kid in the 70s!! (Current kids too!) I laugh out loud when reading these and can’t believe how accurately she remembers the nuances of growing up during that decade. Every time a new one comes out in the series, it is a must-read for me!

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this graphic novel about Sunny and her boyfriend/friend Tony. Tony and Sunny were good friends until her best friend decided they should start dating. The book sort of dragged in the middle but the last few pages saved it.

[Emma Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sunny books continue to be excellent even after Sunny starts dating— not something I can say of every book series. Sunny’s relationship is realistic, and she learns the importance of being herself and doing things that she and Tony love instead of following other people’s expectations. Her mother also learns that she doesn’t have to fit into the societal role of being a normal stay at home mom.
This book series is sure to be a classic for years to come!

[💜Ashlynn💜 · Rating 4 out of 5]

girl should stop being friends with deb because all deb doesn't really respect Sunny's opinions and actions.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extra star for message at the end about bf/gf
Discovers harlequin romances which is a cute reminder from 1970s and she imagines the titles for her life and even goes into a book kinda like Babymouse does - figures out the romance isn’t realistic but thrift shop lady says they’re for escapism
Funny things boyfriends are supposed to do
Don’t call at suppertime
Hummel figurine at gift box store
Who decides how a cat is supposed to act?
Profound question
Love ending for her and Tony to be boyfriend/girlfriend they way they want to be and not the way a romance book or her friend Deb says

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! I like how it showed more of an internal struggle that Sunny was facing rather than an external one. I also like how we saw not just what Sunny was going through during the book, but some of the struggles her mom was going through as well. The books in this series have become much more light hearted compared to the first book in the series. While I do enjoy the current light hearted nature of the books, seeing the vulnerability in Sunny's mom reminded me of the first book and how it showcased different emotions that Sunny and her family were going through. I also like how it showed Sunny discovering romance, but going about romantic stuff at her own pace (and portraying this as normal).

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute installment in the Sunny series! Sunny is growing up and beginning to navigate the world of dating… or is she? I especially loved the fun graphic touches that explain 1970s quirks—like wall phones!—which added so much charm and humour to the story. A fun read that's great for the winter season and the holidays.

[Varal · Rating 3 out of 5]

not very good, but not bad

Not that good, but not bad either. Too much kissing but nice plot. Three stars rating for that. Thank you.

[Shelina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wholesome. It’s nice to see a story about doing things your own way and at your own pace.

[Marissa Gehrke]

Little did I know that making a book trailer for Sunny Side Up in grad school would lead to an inexplicable, self-imposed commitment to read every new release in the series.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and I'm glad that Sunny got through all of those relationship blocks that constantly said how you should act while dating. Those parts were just cringe-y...

I also can't tell/remember how old Sunny is supposed to be!

[Gwendolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 6th installment didn’t have the magic of the first 5 in the series. It felt more like vignettes or scenes rather than a story that flowed from beginning to end. It also didn’t have the author's letters and pictures at the end sharing how the story tied into the author’s life. It doesn’t necessarily have to tie in, but that was something I missed. It felt rushed honestly. The artwork was the same as it’s been in the rest of the series so I still liked that about it, and I like the passage of time although now that we’re closer to the 80s I wonder if there will be more or if the series is done. I could definitely see myself wanting more, but only if Matthew and Jennifer are able to take their time and dig deep for the direction they want to take the series.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Sunny is living her best 8th grade life in 1978 (easily pinpointed by the mention of the Star Wars Christmas special, which aired in November of that year). She's sort of dating Tony, who plays hockey, has a big family, and worked at the snack bar at the pool where they met in Sunny Makes a Splash. She and Tony don't necessarily do all of the things that couples are "supposed" to do, but her best friend Deb reminds her that Tony should be carrying Sunny's books, Sunny should be supportiver and attend Tony's games, and the two should double date with her and Greg when they start to go steady. Sunny, who would just as soon play drinking straw hockey at the Howard Johnson's with Tony rather than canoodling, doesn't agree. She has taken to reading a lot of paperback romance books that she gets at a resale shop, so is struggling to decide if she should run her relationship the way that "everyone" says she should, or the way that she and Tony prefer. She sees her mother struggle with societal expectations as well when she gets a job at a local gift store. This means that Sunny and her grandfather have to occasionally step up to watch Sunny's younger brother, and that her mom can't always bake for school parties the way she used to. Sunny can be supportive of her mother, and remind her that she has excellent managerial skills and deserves a promotion, but struggles to ignore Deb's insistance that she and Tony need to make out at parties and go on stuffy dates. In the end, Sunny is able to be true to herself, and finds that it makes her much happier.

Setting Sunny's life almost fifty years ago instead of in the modern day is successful for several reasons: older readers like myself will enjoy the passing of notes and "no taking calls at dinner" rule, along with the fantastic 1970s two story Colonial house where Sunny lives. Younger readers will see that while new technologies and past times may emerge, some things stay the same. It's good to see a healthy boy/girl relationship, and know that there must be tweens just like Sunny and Tony who want to hang out together without worrying about being romantic, even if they might enjoy thinking a little bit about romance from time to time.

There are a few asides about historical topics that were quite fun, and informative for readers who were born after the smart phone became widely adopted! Avon Ladies, rotary phones, note passing, air hockey, and Fantasy Island all have short but brilliant explanations. I have to admit that I have a LOT of questions about the Harrowgate (aka Harlequin) Romance books; why were these something that tweens had access to? I'm sure they are much milder than the modern day equivalents (if there is one). Of course, Sunny is in the generation that read all of V.C. Andrews' Flowers in the Attic books, so there must have just been a general lack of oversight of tweens reading material.

Matthew Holm's illustrations do a great job of setting the scene, and do an excellent job of showing excellent vintage details (wide legged pants, the grandfather's groovy shades and cardigan, school hallways and that fabulous house) while still preserving a fairly modern feel. I'm pretty sure that readers who pick up the first book do so not knowing that it is set in the past.

This even has a little bit more of a message than the other books, which I appreciated. Even though my students claim that they don't care what other people think, it would be hard to find a middle school student who is not aware of the expectations of others. Of course Sunny listens to her friend Deb's opinions... for a while. It's good to see that she and her mother are both able to come to terms with what works best for each of them.

Sunny is definitely one of my favorite graphic novel series, and addresses tween angst with a little more fun than other series do. Hand this to readers who need a break from the angst of Miller's Click series, Libenson's Emmie and Friends books, or Scrivan's Nat Enough titles.

[Pumpkin+Bear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dude, I FELT the Mom in this. The cliche about being a stay-at-home mom making you unemployable is a cliche because it's true. Ask me how I know!

I love Sunny's relationship with Tony, and I'm pretty disappointed that the big revelation in this graphic novel is not that people's relationships are their own and every relationship among consenting peers is okay, but that everyone matures on their own timetable and Sunny doesn't need to rush into a romantic relationship with a boy because it will happen on its own time.

Compulsory heterosexuality sucks. Can we not let the kid enjoy her life without ordaining a specific roadmap for her?

Sunny literally tells her Mom, "Everyone has all these ideas about how you're supposed to be boyfriend and girlfriend. Like carrying books and holding hands and being kissy all the time. But it's not like that with me and Tony." And instead of telling her that it's cool however you want to be with another person, as long as they're cool with it, too, her Mom is all, "There's no need to rush through life." Like, Ma'am. Sunny wasn't asking you WHEN she'll start feeling like being a stereotypical girlfriend. She is telling you that this is NOT her right now. You put her off and made her feel better this month, but what if she feels the same way next year, and five years later? Is that still going to be okay with you? Is SHE still going to be okay with it, knowing you think it has to happen sometime and the longer it takes to happen the weirder it gets, or is she going to feel like she has to fake it to make it?

What I want for Sunny's future is a nice historically women's college. Fortunately, Bryn Mawr is just down the road!

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌞 Review: Sunny Figures It Out by Jennifer L. Holm 🌞

I’ve read all the books in the Sunny series, and this one quickly became one of my favorites! The graphic style is as charming and vibrant as ever—probably my favorite of the series so far—and I just adore the way Sunny and her family are brought to life on the page.

One of the things I especially loved about this installment is how much more we see of Gramps. He’s always been such a delightful character, and having him play a bigger role made the story feel extra warm and layered.

The heart of this graphic novel, though, is its message—one that resonates just as much with adults as it does with kids. It’s all about how the roles we think define us don’t have to limit us. Sunny’s mom embodies this beautifully: she struggles with the idea that her worth lies only in being a mother. But as she steps into a new job, she learns that she can embrace more than one role—being both a loving mom and someone who thrives outside the home. That balance, and the joy she finds in it, was such a powerful part of the story.

I also really appreciated how Sunny’s relationship with Greg was explored and how it wrapped up—it added another layer of honesty and relatability to the narrative.

Overall, this is such a heartfelt graphic novel, full of humor, warmth, and important takeaways. It’s the kind of book I can see my students loving just as much as I did—and one that adults will connect with too. A wonderful addition to an already great series!

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this latest installment of the Sunny series is like jumping into a time machine and returning to the 1970's -- 1978 to be exact.

Sunny is in the 8th grade in 1978, just like I was! Reading this book was like opening a time capsule. There were so many things I remember from that era and the way Jennifer and brother Matthew presented them was amazing.

📚There are stacks of Harlequin romances in the artwork and customized covers scattered through the book. When I was a teen, I checked them out by the piles!
📞The home phone. We learned proper phone etiquette (don't call people before 9 AM or after 9 PM, for example) and found ourselves waiting by the phone for that certain someone to call.
📺Television - there were only three networks and no recording or streaming. If you missed an episode you hoped for a rerun. Sesame Street and Fantasy Island are featured. (Da plane! Da plane!)
💄Sunny's mother considers becoming an Avon Lady to make some extra cash. I did sell Avon when I was in college.
👱‍♀️We get to watch Sunny and friends figure things out. Love having Gramps in the household, too. I do hope we will be able to follow Sunny to high school in a 7th book.

This book will appeal to older readers like me who lived through these years and to younger generations who love seeing what life was like back in the day.😎

[Sally Kruger]

Sunny is back! Any fans of the graphic novels about Sunny will want to grab a copy of SUNNY FIGURES IT OUT as soon as possible. As usual Sunny is learning about life and not always the easy way.

Sunny has found a friend in Tony. They like the same things and enjoy each other's company. They like roller skating, and during the couples' skate, they both agree playing arcade games is more fun. Air hockey is also something they agree is fun.

When Sunny's friend Deb gets a boyfriend, she insists that Sunny and Tony aren't doing things right. They should be holding hands during the couples' skate, Tony should be letting Sunny wear his sports jacket, and they should definitely be KISSING! None of this feels comfortable to either Sunny or Tony. Why can't they just keep doing things the way they have been?

Author Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm have hit the perfect tone with SUNNY FIGURES IT OUT. This is a great read for young tweens and teens trying to figure out what's right for them.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

It isn’t important to know that this story is set in the 1980s, other than to understand that there are no smart phones, and it is still unusual for mothers to work.

Sunny has made friends with a boy. He is not her boyfriend, but her best friend keeps telling her that he is.

Sunny just wants to hang out with him. She doesn’t want to kiss him. She doesn’t want him to carry her books. She doesn’t want to ice skate during couples time. It just makes her friendship feel uncomfortable.

I like how Sunny does figure it out. That she overcomes the peer pressure to realize that she just wants to be friends, and no more, no matter what society wants. It is hard to be expected to fit into the slot that the world wants you to be in, and I’m glad that Sunny doesn't want that either.

This is the sixth Sunny book, and they just keep getting better. You can start reading any of them independently, but if you have to start with one, I would say start with book three, “Sunny Rolls the Dice”, because that is when the stories start coming into their own.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whenever a new Sunny book comes out, I simply must read it. Sunny reminds me a bit of myself growing up (except Sunny’s world is the 1970s and mine, well, mine was another decade). Each Sunny book has the 1970s flavor (this one features rotary phones and cheap romance novels). Going into the book is like going back in time.

In this story, Sunny and her friend Tony are having a lot of fun going to the skating rink and playing pinball. But this kind of changes when her friend Deb announces she’s in love with another boy in Sunny’s class. Deb thinks that Sunny and Tony should date too. But is that what Sunny wants? She’s not so sure. Join Sunny as she figures it all out!

I liked this book because it was all about being yourself. Not everyone grows at the same pace or wants the same things in life and that’s okay! Communicating that at a young age is important and the Holms make it so entertaining! More Sunny books, please!

Mia’s 2nd Year of Books: Days 179 and 180

#1sttoCheckOut

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The back of the books asks "When does a boy stop being a friend and start being a boyfriend?" I needed to be aware of how the book answers this question for our upper elementary students, so I read it quickly before shelving.
What Sunny figures out is that it's OK to spend time and have fun with your friend that's a boy, he doesn't need to be your "boyfriend" and hold hands etc., no matter what your friend or anyone says. I really like this message! Throughout this book Sunny is reading "romance" novels that look like Harlequin-style books, like "Helen's Perfect Prince" by Rebecca Weston. The scenes shared are innocent, and in the end Sunny donates the books back to a thrift store because they are "not very realistic." I liked this message too! (Eye-roll about the old lady cashier that says "That's the whole point, they're good for a little escapism," and "Also, the men on the covers are really cute!")
Sunny leaves the store - good for Sunny for figuring things out!

[Maria Almaguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The latest installment in a very sweet (and nostalgic, for me!) set in 1970s America. Sunny is now in junior high and one of her closest friends is Tony, a boy she met last summer while working at the local pool. Her good friend Deb urges Sunny to become more serious about him, but Sunny and Tony just aren't feelin' it. Interspersed throughout, the authors have cute one page pauses explaining to today's kids things that they have no clue about: telephones (landlines), notes (passed between friends),air hockey, and the Avon Lady! So fun. Sunny is a good, smart, kid with a loving family; she babysits her little brother, helps her mother when she feels overwhelmed, and her mother is a stay at home mom who finds she enjoys working part-time, a time when more women began working outside the home.

All in all, just a good. funny, and wholesome series.

[Diana Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the Sunny series and hope Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm continue it. This read was between a 3 and 4 star for me.

I liked the tidbits about 1970s life that were included - about landline phones, Avon ladies, air hockey, etc! So much of reading these books is nostalgia for me. Not just remembering being in jr high, but being in jr high at that time. (Technically, for me it was the 80s... but a lot of the references were the same.)

The story line between Sunny and Tommy was a tad frustrating. I just wanted them to talk about it - but I suppose there's no turmoil, no conflict if they just hash it out verbally rather than learn what works for their relationship through trying different things.

I enjoy this art style and the amount of text on each page. There's something about the layout of most middle grade graphic novels that is my sweet spot for art and text.

[Michelle Tuite · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading 2025
Book 154: Sunny Figures It Out: A Graphic Novel by Jennifer L. Holm

A new installment in the Sunny series of graphic novels, grabbed it from the library. This middle grade book was published July 1.

Synopsis: The New York Times bestselling SUNNY series continues with Sunny trying to figure out when a boy stops being just a friend and starts being a boyfriend... and what that means for both of them.

Review: This series has been a steady balance of fun and angst. Figures It Out is a step down from the others for me. I was missing the more fun aspects of the series; a darker mood fell over Sunny. Definitely part of Sunny growing up, but was not up for that part of the book. My rating 3.5⭐️

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Then what were you doing in the closet at the Valentine's Day party?"

"Eating your mom's jam. Don't tell her!"

🤣🤣🤣

I love the Sunny series, and I loved this latest installment. I laugh out loud so many times! I really loved that Sunny figured out she and Tony do stuff normal friends do, and I also loved the sub plot with her mom figuring out she can be a good mom and also work at a job she really enjoys. Because that's me. Being a stay-at-home mom is really hard for some people, myself included, and I love my job outside the home while still loving and caring for my family, so I could really relate to that.

Also, I loved Sunny's imaginary romance book covers. 😂 This was a fantastic book!

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good theme I don’t see tackled a lot in children’s literature. Kids often consume media full of relationships that make them think they need to have a relationship. This is a quick read but really good and I definitely recommend it.

I did however give it four stars because of the cat. Sunny finally gets a cat but it was said previously Teddy is allergic? There’s no explanation for them suddenly being able to get a cat. Also I kind of felt really bad for the cat to be honest, no wonder it didn’t like people with how Teddy was acting to it. However I do hope that behind the scenes they are giving the cat lots of love as well as the chaos.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunny delves into the world of paperback romance and real life dating. A friend of hers also gets a boyfriend. This friend has a plethora of ideas, some true but most negotiable, about how being in a relationship is supposed to work. Sunny's home life is changing, too, as her mother goes to work to help supplement the family income since Sunny's father was denied his bonus.
Funny, sweet, serious fun.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have such fondness for Sunny and each book in this nostalgic series. This book is all about expectations. Sunny and Tony are dating in a friendly way but pressured to take things to a romantic level by Sunny’s friend Deb. Sunny’s mom gets a job, and the family gets a cat named Sesame. This relatable graphic novel Is full of warmth and moments of humor. I enjoyed the art and coloring. I borrowed this from the library and read it in one sitting.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sunny Figures It Out: one of the stronger Sunny books! Here we see Sunny gain a deeper understanding of her community's gender roles and her ability to resist them. This topic is shown in a way that feels authentic to the 1970s setting as well as completely applicable to modern readers. Good incorporation of multiple subplots, and the art is as charming and humorous as ever. Definitely recommended!