Title: Ways to Grow Love
Author: Renee Watson
Series: Ryan Hart, book 2
Major Themes: African Americans, Family, Friends
Synopsis: Ryan has to learn how to enjoy and love her family and friends as changes happen in her life.
Ways to Grow Love is our latest read-aloud that we would never have even looked at if it were not recommended by Sonlight Curriculum. This year, I put all the read-aloud books for the level we were working through on a special shelf, and had my daughter decide in which order she wanted me to read them rather than following the prescribed readings for each day. She thought this one looked boring, so she left it for the end of the year. Once I started reading it, though, she loved it and wanted me to read more each day than I had time for. Her five-year-old sister also loved it and wanted me to read it each day.
Publisher’s description:
Ryan Hart loves her family and friends. She’s looking forward to summer vacation, spending time with loved ones, and her first trip to sleepaway camp! But when an unexpected camper shows up, Ryan finds it’s hard to share your best friend and harder to be a friend to someone who isn’t a good friend to you. She’s also waiting for her new sister to be born—and hoping the baby doesn’t ruin everything. The Hart family is experiencing a lot of changes, and Ryan needs to grow her patience in many ways, find ways to share the love, meet new challenges, and grow into the leader her mom and dad named her to be. This summer and the start of fifth grade just might give Ryan the chance to show how she grows and glows!
My thoughts:
I have not seen very many middle-grade books that involve a new baby coming into the family. That is one of the main themes in Ways to Grow Love, though. I really liked the family relationships in this story. Both the father and mother are involved with the children, and their grandmother spends a lot of time with them as well. There are spats between the siblings, but they obviously love each other and get along most of the time. A lot of the book has to do with being a good friend, as well. Ryan has challenges with her family and friends, but learns good ways to work through them. This was a great book to read with my little girls, especially since my younger one loves babies.
No warnings!
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 8 – 12
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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