“Mom and Dad tell me I will keep growing into my name. They say it to my brother, too. ‘Be who we named you to be’.”

This quote introduces an important lesson Ryan’s parents try to instill in her and her brother, Raymond. Mr. and Mrs. Hart believe it is important for their children to have names with powerful meanings, which they invoke to remind their children of who they are. The reminder “Be who we named you to be” is a powerful statement that gives Ryan and Raymond a standard to both guide their actions and live up to.

“My brother’s name is Raymond. We call him Ray. His name means “protector” and Dad says he should be keeping me, his little sister, safe [...] He is always telling me you can’t do this and you shouldn’t be so that [...] Maybe because he doesn’t know the meaning of my name, how tough I really am.”

Ryan introduces her older brother, Raymond, and explains the meaning of his name. Since he is the older sibling, Ryan’s parents often remind him to look out for Ryan. Ryan resents Ray’s role as her “protector” at times because she believes he coddles her or views her as being weak. Instead of seeing her brother’s actions as protective, Ryan views him as being overbearing or acting in a way that suggests he does not view her as capable.

“It’s okay to be sad. Change is scary [...] Ryan, we’ll all still be together. This is just a house. We are the ones who make it home. Home is wherever we go.”

Ryan struggles with the news that her family is moving to a new house due to her father’s new job not paying enough money. Ryan’s mother, sensing her unease, reminds Ryan that family is more important than physical or material items. Mrs. Hart also tries to cultivate a sense of comfort and security for Ryan by reminding her that “home” is more of a mindset, and that she can find home within the foundation of her family, which will always be there for her.

“Here’s the thing about ice cream. No matter how sweet it is, no matter if it’s given to you even when you aren’t supposed to have it, no matter if you’re told you can come back for seconds–it doesn’t take away the sadness.”

Ryan loves food and cooking, and food is often associated with positive emotions for her. So, when her parents break the news of their move to Ryan and Raymond, Ryan feels especially upset that her favorite treat ruined with the news of change and upheaval in her life. She reflects that even her favorite ice cream cannot take away the sting of knowing that so much is changing in her life.

“I stand on one of the big rocks trying to get even closer to the clouds and Ray holds me up. ‘Be careful,’ he says. ‘You might fall.’ Even though I am not wavering at all.”

This quote is an example of the resentment and frustration Ryan feels towards Raymond, even when he is trying to help her and look out for her. Instead of seeing Ray as trying to help her or protect her from falling off the big rock, Ryan interprets his actions as trying to belittle her or coddle her. She says that she is not wavering at all on the rock, and therefore Ray must be trying to bother her, rather than doing his job as her big brother to look out for her even when she can do something on her own.

“I make up stories about the things we’ve found-fun stories that aren’t creepy or sad. I tell a story about the most beautiful bouquet of roses the woman was given on her birthday.”

Ryan loves stories and is always looking for the bright side of a situation. When she finds the tin canister of trinkets in her closet, she uses her imagination to craft a story about each of the items and their owner. This contrasts her brother, Ray, who tells her that the items are haunted or left behind because the owner died. Ryan disagrees with this morbid assertion and thinks instead about a story that is lighter and happier, which illustrates Ryan’s outlook on the world.

“Ryan, don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re learning. No one expects you to get it right every time.”

After burning the chicken for dinner, Ryan is disappointed in herself for the meal not turning out the way she wanted. When she apologizes to her parents, her father shows her that it is okay to make mistakes, and even to fail at times. This quote shows the supportive environment that Ryan and Ray live in with their parents, in which they are able to make mistakes and errors without fear of ridicule. This frees Ryan to be able to experiment with her recipes and to not become discouraged when something does not go the way she expects it to the first time.

“I sprinkle some of the rosemary on my slice of cheese. I’ve never tried this before. When I take a bite, it tastes so good.”

This quote is another example of how Ryan views the world through a lens of opportunity. After her disappointment over the new chicken recipe, she still finds a way to innovate. Though she has never tried putting rosemary on her pizza, she finds that the experiment is a successful one. With her father’s encouragement that it is okay to not get everything right all the time, Ryan feels empowered to try something new, with positive results.

“Baby girl, you are beautiful. Not just your hair or your clothes. But who you are. Your kindness makes you beautiful and the way you’re always willing to offer help makes you beautiful [...] The only thing that will determine that is how you treat others. If you are mean to people, if you act ugly toward them, that’s what takes your beauty away.”

After Ryan comments that she looks beautiful only when she has straightened hair, her Grandma gently corrects her and offers a valuable lesson. She tells Ryan the importance of inner beauty over outer beauty, and that her actions have far more impact on how others perceive her than her appearance does. This lesson will echo for Ryan throughout the story as she encounters difficult decisions with peers and has to decide whether she will act “ugly” towards those around her or realize that she feels better about herself when she treats others with kindness.

“I think about my family and friends and how Mom told me it’s the people who make a place a home. Without love, all you have is a house. Mom is right about so many things.”

After the Harts’ Easter celebration, Ryan reflects on the importance of her family and friends. Even though she still struggles with her feelings about moving to a new house and all the other changes in her life, she realizes that her friends and family are a stable constant in her life. The love she has for her friends and family, and the love she feels from them in return, makes her realize that the house is just a place, and it takes love to make it feel like a home. Ryan may not love the house just yet, but she loves the home that she has with the people in it.

“I stare at myself and my tangled hair and try to remember what Grandma said about beauty. I think maybe I acted ugly today–wanting to prove Amanda was my best friend, swapping Red’s cake, and wanting to show off [...] I don’t wait for a compliment from Amanda. I like the way my hair looks”

Ryan recalls her grandmother’s lesson after she has a conflict with another girl at Amanda’s birthday party. The other girl, Red, was insecure about Amanda and Ryan’s friendship, and treated Ryan unkindly as a result. Ryan gave in to Red’s goading to have a breath-holding contest underwater, which Ryan wins but at the expense of getting her hair wet. Reflecting on the situation in the bathroom, Ryan realizes that her actions were not “beautiful”: she allowed someone else to get under her skin and acted poorly in response. Ryan reaffirms that she wants to act in alignment with her morals and do what she knows is right. This decision encourages Ryan, and she is able to find confidence again in her curly hair. The fact that she does not wait for a compliment from Amanda about her once-again curly hair shows that Ryan has restored her inner confidence, and she does not need affirmation from anyone else other than herself.

“‘Yeah, I can tell,’ I say. ‘She thinks she’s all that.’ The words feel strange coming out of me. Like when I taste something that I don’t like, but I eat it anyway.”

Ryan feels uneasy after agreeing with KiKi’s assertion that their classmate Hannah Wilkerson thinks “she’s all that.” Ryan’s instinct is not to treat others unkindly, or to pass judgment on them without seeing evidence, so when KiKi states that Hannah is stuck-up or over-confident, Ryan finds that she does not agree. This moment is challenging for Ryan because she feels stuck between not wanting to disagree with her friend and knowing that what she says is not right or kind. Using the simile to describe her feeling of being judgmental–tasting something that she does not like but eats anyway–illustrates that Ryan is uncomfortable with the situation but does not stand up and disagree with KiKi. Ryan knows that what she is saying is unkind, but for now does not feel confident enough to stand up for what is right.

“Maybe it’s no big deal to them because they are not trying to show off. Maybe they do what Mom says I should do–be their best for themselves, not for others, so even if they don’t get the award (but they almost always do) they will still feel proud because it was something they had fun doing.”

Ryan compares herself to people around her like Ray and Hannah Wilkerson. She finds herself lacking because she believes she does not have discernible talent. From Ryan’s perspective, she believes that “talented people” like Ray and Hannah are better able to just be their best and be proud of themselves, while Ryan still struggles with this. As Ryan will learn throughout the text, her assumption is untrue, and she learns that even the most talented people have challenges and moments of self-doubt.

“[Hannah] is in line standing next to an older woman, maybe her grandmother. Seeing her makes me think about what KiKi said–that Hannah thinks she’s all that. Seeing her here makes me think that maybe there’s a lot about Hannah that we don’t know.”

Seeing Hannah in the line for the can redemption machine causes Ryan to realize that everyone has challenges in their life that others know nothing about. Ryan was unkind to Hannah earlier in the text when she acted as a bystander. When KiKi assumed that Hannah was stuck up, Ryan agreed with KiKi rather than standing up for what she knew was right. Seeing Hannah in the line affirms for Ryan that her instincts were right, and that Hannah’s singing talent does not automatically make her stuck up or snobby. In fact, Ryan realizes that Hannah may be struggling more than they know, and that Ryan has more in common with Hannah than she previously thought. This quote shows Ryan’s capacity for empathy, and ability to change her mind when she learns new information about a situation.

“Ray reaches out to hold my hand as we pass the house with the barking dogs. He knows I’m afraid of dogs–even dogs behind gates who can’t get to me.”

Even though Ryan and Ray argue, Ray shows that he takes his job as Ryan’s protector seriously. After Ryan tricks Ray into eating the spicy chicken, Ray forgives her and still looks out for her even when he may be frustrated by her. Ryan, who at times is frustrated when Ray looks out for her, acknowledges that Ray does a good job of protecting her and watching out for her even in a situation where there is no imminent danger. The dogs are behind the fence and cannot reach them, and yet Ray still holds her hand to show her that he is there to support her.

“I wonder, what if Ray and Amanda have it wrong? What if the woman who lived here left it all behind on purpose? Maybe it’s some kind of welcome gift–some kind of special tin that I should keep and add on to and leave behind for the next person who sleeps in this room.”

Ryan thinks about the mystery of the tin canister, and how Ray and Amanda assume it has some morbid or unhappy back story. In contrast, Ryan believes that the tin may have some brighter meaning; that perhaps the earlier owner left it behind on purpose to welcome the room’s new occupant. Ryan considers that she may be able to contribute to the tin as well and add her own special item to it for the next person who lives there. This is another example of the way Ryan views the world: that things are inherently good and meaningful rather than unhappy and bad.

“Well, next we need to make some sunshine.”

An allusion to the title of the text, Ryan does not let the rain ruin her opportunity to make fun memories with those she loves. When they are unable to attend the parade, Ryan leads Amanda and Zoe through an afternoon of making their own “sunshine” by hosting their own indoor parade. Ryan uses her creative problem-solving skills to lead the girls in setting up her room for a parade: stuffed-animal spectators, construction paper suns and clouds, and a scooter to ride on as a float. The afternoon ends up being fun for all three girls, and Ryan proves to herself and her friends that challenges do not have to derail a situation, and that sunshine can be made even on a rainy day.

“Maybe I’ll be a princess one day and I’ll get to tell the mayor how we should start a program that feeds the hungry. How we should cook gourmet meals for them, food that’s healthy and so good, everyone will want to eat it. Not just starting people. Because everyone deserves to have something in their bellies other than not-that-hot soup and rock-hard bread.”

Ryan remembers seeing the man begging for change outside of the Saturday Market, and his statement that the food at the local soup kitchen is often of poor quality. Ryan loves to help others and thinks deeply about others’ needs, and so when she envisions a future for herself as the Grand Floral Parade Queen, she thinks about how she can use her power and influence for good. Like her name means “leader,” Ryan thinks of ways that she can use her leadership skills in order to make things better for everyone. This quote also illustrates Ryan’s firm sense of right and wrong, and her belief that everyone deserves equal access to basic human necessities regardless of their status in life, as any good leader does.

“I believe Mary Beth’s hair kept falling in her face and getting in the way–like hair does sometimes–and she asked her friend Gloria if she could borrow a hairpin. I believe they danced all night at the neighborhood celebration.”

Ryan imagines another story about the girls in the photo Laura shows her, Mary Beth and Gloria Mae, who wear matching hairpins in their hair. Even though Ryan never completely solves the mystery of the hairpins and the owner of the tin canister, she chooses to create an imaginative and happy story about the girls in the photograph. This shows Ryan’s ability to look on the bright side of a situation and her belief in viewing the world through a lens of positivity. This quote also illustrates the power of belief, and that what people believe about things can influence how people view and experience the world.

“You told me nerves are good, right? That we can use that energy to push us to do our best–all we can do is our best.”

Ryan encourages Hannah before they both go out onstage to start the talent show. Ryan believed earlier that Hannah could not possibly be nervous because of her immense talent. Ryan supports Hannah before the talent show begins by reminding her that she can use her nerves to fuel her performance, and that even if she makes a mistake, she just has to do her best. Ryan has also had to learn this lesson throughout the text and remembers this lesson herself as she gets ready to MC the talent show, which is a challenge for her.

“Not only is this little baby ruining ice cream and cake. She’s doing it on the last day of school, on the day that I grew into my name and pushed through my fear to speak in front of my classmates.”

Just after Ryan overcomes one big fear of hers–public speaking–she faces another challenge: a new baby sister. This quote illustrates Ryan’s frustration at having another challenge posed to her just as she overcame another one. Ryan acknowledges her own growth: she lived up to her name by being a leader and volunteering to MC the talent show, but now she feels the news of a new sibling overshadows this. Ryan will have to decide how she wants to respond to the news, and whether she will continue to live up to her name and be the person she was named to be in processing this information.

“I don’t want her to know I refused to eat the cake and ice cream, that I complained about all the things that wouldn’t be the same. I think to myself how awful that would feel to know her big sister was so upset.”

This is a powerful quote that shows Ryan’s growth and self-reflection. Ryan is an empathetic person, which she illustrates by imagining herself in her future sister’s position. Ryan realizes that her actions and response to learning about the new baby could one day hurt the baby’s feelings and make her feel unwanted or unloved. This illustrates Ryan’s ability to empathize with others and consider how her actions and thoughts could affect those around her.

“I do more math equations in my head: 2 + 1 = 3. 1 brother + 2 sisters = more girls. 1 dad + 1 brother + 1 mom + 2 sisters = more girls.”

As she continues to find ways to be excited about her new baby sister, Ryan realizes that the girls in the Hart family will soon outnumber the boys. The Harts often address conflicts using a voting system, and Ryan realizes that with another girl on the way the girl votes will surpass the boys’. This is another example of Ryan’s ability to shift her mindset in order to find the positives in situations that are challenging for her.