Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Girl grows through change in uplifting 3rd series entry.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
When WAYS TO SHARE JOY begins, Ryan Hart's life is going through some big changes. She has a new baby sister, Rose, in addition to her elder brother, Ray, so now she's the middle child. One of her two best friends has moved away, and she's struggling a little to keep both relationships alive. She's looking forward to Thanksgiving, which falls on her beloved grandma's birthday this year, but isn't so sure the big party the family's planning is what Grandma really wants. Can Ryan bring joy to those she loves when she's so unsure of everything?
Is It Any Good?
The Ryan Hart series just gets better as it goes along. In Ways to Share Joy by Renée Watson the author stays consistent with the main character's passion for cooking, solid relationships with friends and family, and love of learning in school. On the foundation of the familiar cast of characters, readers can gently explore the challenges of the middle-school years, from classmates who tease to trying to make sense of adult values and problems. Tween readers will relate to Ryan's stuck-in-the-middle problems, her creative solutions model excellent coping skills, and Grandma's wisdom is great for readers of all ages.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme of friendship in Ways to Share Joy. What does it mean to be a "true friend"? Who are your closest friends? How are family relationships like friendships, and how are they different?
How does curiosity help the characters of Ways to Share Joy solve problems? What's your favorite way to learn new things you are curious about?
In what ways does cultivating empathy for others help people learn more about themselves? One way to cultivate empathy is to communicate with others about their feelings. What are some other ways?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Cooking , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Curiosity , Empathy
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bloomsbury Children's Books
- Publication date : September 27, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 7 - 10
- Number of pages : 208
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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