BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSRyan Hart is a fourth grader in Portland, Oregon, who loves cooking, bird-watching, and living up to the meaning of her name (Ryan means "king"). When her dad loses his job at the post office and her family has to move to a smaller, worn-out house across town, Ryan has to adjust to a lot of changes at once: a new bedroom, no second car, tighter grocery budgets, and a dad who now works the overnight shift. Through the rest of the school year, Ryan deals with big feelings about losing her old home while figuring out what kind of leader, friend, and sister she wants to be.
Free Battle of the Books questions for Ways to Make Sunshine
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about Ways to Make Sunshine. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a girl insist that her last name is spelled H-A-R-T, not like the muscle?
✓ Answer
Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson
While a substitute fills in for Ms. Colby, a boy named Brandon teases Ryan that she spells her last name wrong. She corrects him out loud, defending both her first and last name on the very same morning.
- First half
In what book does a girl freeze and walk away after dropping the church microphone?
✓ Answer
Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson
Ryan has practiced and practiced for her holiday recitation, but at the worst moment she drops the microphone, maybe because her hands are sweaty, and her brain goes blank. Instead of returning to her seat, she keeps walking right out of the sanctuary to her Sunday school classroom.
- First half
In what book does a girl wear a scarf and shower cap into a pool to protect her pressed hair?
✓ Answer
Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson
Ryan promises her mom she won't get in the pool at her best friend's slumber party because her hair has only been pressed for a week. When she does jump in, she ties up her hair and wears a shower cap as double protection, but it doesn't end up working.
- Second half
In what book does a market vendor hand a girl a Moonstruck chocolate every visit?
✓ Answer
Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson
Paul, who sells paintings of Portland landscapes at the Saturday Market, hands Ryan a Moonstruck chocolate every time she visits his stand and tells her it is the best chocolate in the world. Ryan plays along like she is hearing it for the first time every time.
- Second half
In what book does a girl sprint home being chased by bees while a brother shouts "Be still"?
✓ Answer
Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson
When the bees swarm her, Ryan ignores Ray's repeated shouts to be still and runs all the way home. Mom checks her over and finds she is okay, and then the whole group bursts out laughing, Ryan the hardest.
- Near the end
In what book does a girl pretend to be a Rose Festival Princess waving from a scooter?
✓ Answer
Ways to Make Sunshine by Renée Watson
Wearing her Easter dress and one of the hairpins from the tin she found in her closet, Ryan rides her brother's scooter slowly around her room while waving with a stiff wrist like the real princesses do. The bed gets in the way of a full circle, but it is still fun.
