Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ways to Make Sunshine | 2020 | Renee Watson | Buy |
| 2 | Ways to Grow Love | 2021 | Renee Watson | Buy |
| 3 | Ways to Share Joy | 2022 | Renee Watson | Buy |
| 4 | Ways to Build Dreams | 2023 | Renee Watson | Buy |
The Ryan Hart series, starting with Ways to Make Sunshine in 2020, follows a young Black girl named Ryan Hart who approaches life’s challenges with optimism and resourcefulness. Set in Portland, Oregon, the books deal with ordinary middle-grade concerns like money worries, friendship conflicts, and sibling dynamics.
Watson writes Ryan as a problem-solver who looks for the good in difficult situations without ignoring that those situations are genuinely hard. The four-book series traces Ryan’s growth as she learns how to make sunshine, grow love, share joy, and build dreams, with each title reflecting the theme of its story.