By Kaylie Seed
Caroline Adderson has written a whip-smart, heartfelt, and humorous middle grade novel that takes place during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we were having to stay inside and isolate ourselves. The book consists of seven vignettes portraying different children living in an apartment building across the street from a hospital, and how they manage to cope with these extraordinary circumstances. While the “adult virus” (as it is named throughout the story) is present, it is not the focal point to the book. These stories are meant to show young readers that everyday people can find amazing ways to cope in unprecedented circumstances.
Themes such a resiliency, hope, understanding, and patience are all found throughout Sunny Days Inside. Readers young and old will delight in the adventures that each of the children have. Sunny Days Inside is well written and while each of the stories are separate from one another, they are all connected; neighbours are mentioned throughout, and of course they all live in the same apartment building.
This middle grade novel is meant to address what happened during the “adult virus” in terms that younger readers will understand and be able to process. As adults we can get so swept up in what is happening that we forget that we need to include children in these tough conversations. A middle grade novel like Sunny Days Inside allows adults to start conversations with younger readers about difficult topics, but topics that are important to reflect upon even years after the beginning of the pandemic.
Thank you to Groundwood Books for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.