Sunshine and Shadow

For Better or For Worse #17

by Lynn Johnston

In Sunshine and Shadow, Johnston's approach again radiates truth, humor, and compassion as the Pattersons deal with the illness and death of Elly's mother. Readers mourn with the Pattersons as they gather for a loving tribute, wishing their cherished mother could be there with them. "You know what, Dad?" Elly says to her father. "I bet she was." The family also watches as life goes on: college student Michael's love life heats up and Elizabeth has begun the transformation into a young adult. Through it all, John and Elly raise their brood-Michael, Elizabeth, and April, as well as Edgar the dog-with a liberal mix of love and laughter. Heartwarming and humorous, the Pattersons give readers a reason to smile while emphasizing what's really important in life.

Genres: Comics, Humor, Comedy, Comic Book, Cartoon, Graphic Novels Comics

130 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1999

About the author

Lynn Johnston CM OM is a Canadian cartoonist, well known for her comic strip For Better or For Worse, and was the first female cartoonist to win the Reuben Award.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series had been published in 1998 ish... and they are still relevant now. I have read, a re-read a lot of these, and now I am in my 40's and still enjoy them. It seems on a re-read I am understanding some of the punch lines that didn't apply to me then but do now. I love the Canadian elements, I love the fact that our characters age, people pass away, hardships happen... because life does happen but we see that they can make it through ... Long story short, some make me cry but they ALWAYS make me laugh

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is a cryer! :'(

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to take a break with the little snippets of life that Lynn Johnston does.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming out in 1999 with strips from November of 97 through August of 98. The big plot development in this run is the death of Elly’s mother; beyond that no big changes.

[The other John · Rating 3 out of 5]

The centerpiece of this For Better or For Worse collection is the death of Elly's mother. The tale runs the gamut from her illness and final trip to the hospital, through her death, her husband's adjustment and finally the gathering of the family for a large memorial service. Naturally, there are no strips in the storyline that are laugh-out-loud funny, but a few of them put the spotlight on the human foibles that surface even in our darkest moments, evoking a pleasant smile. Ms. Johnston does a great job of capturing another of those times of life that happen to every family. And, just as life goes on after the passing of a loved one, so does the collection contain strips that cover the other events in the lives of the Patterson clan, their friends and neighbors.

[Adrian Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always thought of the Pattersons as the neighbors. I started reading the strip when I was a kid and was faithful to the end. I have the entire collection and I read it every few years. It's a classic!

[Niccy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynn Johnston always makes this family feel like real people, and does excellent work making the family situations feel real. I almost cried when the grandma died, since it felt so believable.

[Pam Bales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book seventeen in the comic strip compilation, it continues as also to be a great read.

[Child960801 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is mostly about the story line of Ellie's mother's illness and passing, which it handles with grace and heart.