THE TROUBLE WITH SUNSHINE IS IT COMES EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU DON’T DESERVE IT.
Dorani's mom, Isa, taught her to be bold and challenge the rules if they don’t seem fair. People are more important than rules. But she never taught Dorani how to do it all without her. So, when Isa dies on the way to speak with the principal about Dori's latest revolution, Dori loses her voice. Her grief and guilt become the loudest parts of her.
Moving from vibrant Miami to quiet, middle-of-nowhere Wyoming with her aunt feels like the punishment she deserves. She spends most of her time with their newest horse, Sunshine. Sunshine was involved in an accident that's left her skittish and hard to care for. Tia Ivette knows her behavior comes from fear, and she is trying everything to make Sunshine brave again.
But Dori knows grief can feel like fear… and grief is just love with no place to go.
Speaking up for Sunshine reminds Dori that the very best parts of her mother live on through her, and so when she starts to notice that the rules at her new school unfairly target specific students, she knows just want her mother would do…
Hola, Yamile! How was the creative process behind The Trouble with Sunshine and what inspired you to write it?
Hola, Mariely! I’m so excited for this opportunity to talk about The Trouble with Sunshine, which is a loose retelling of one of my favorite books ever, Heidi, by Johanna Spyri. Instead of the Swiss Alps, I chose Wyoming for my Miami girl, and instead of goats, I have her Sunshine, the horse of my dreams. Dorani is named after a good friend of mine.
As a Boricua, I got excited and nostalgic to see Puerto Rican characters, food, traditions, and problems we are facing right now, like gentrification. What can you tell us about the importance of representation in books?
Countless studies say that children read more when they can see their experiences and/or cultures represented in books. When I was a young child, growing up in Argentina, I fantasized that I was one of the March sisters in the US, or Heidi in Switzerland, or Anne of Green Gables in Canada. I write to hopefully help a child see themselves in my books, or to allow young readers to imagine themselves in scenarios that are very different from their circumstances.
Dorani Gutierrez is always fighting for what she believes in, like helping others when there is injustice, talking about the problems of banning books, and always raising her voice. How can we shift the perspective to emphasize that the voices and opinions of children are just as vital, and that adults should listen to and acknowledge their perspectives?
I think we can start by acknowledging that children are their own individuals who deserve respect. As adults, sometimes we forget what it’s like to be a growing child, and we need the reminders. Plus, the world our children experience is very different from the one most adults grew up in.
As a school psychology grad student, I was drawn to the themes of grief, family relationships, healing, therapy with animals, and prejudice at the schools. What can you tell us about your research process to include these topics in the story?
From my research I learn that stories can help us feel validated and seen. Grief sometimes is very lonely. To know that others have experienced our same sorrows, even if it’s in a story, is validating and empowering for young readers.
Who is your favorite character and why?
All the characters are my favorite, but I loved writing Oscar, the mom’s fiancé. He’s a good guy.
And, just for fun, name 5 random facts about you.
- I speak five languages.
- I have five children and two of them were born at home (on purpose).
- I know how to knit, crochet, embroider, and sew, but I can’t draw!
- I’m scared of the dark!
- When I was young I had an imaginary friend, a girl who lived in the mirror and I called “Amiga.”
Yamile Saied Méndez is the award-winning author of many books for young readers and adults, including Wish Upon a Tray, The Beautiful Game, the Horse Country series, and others. She was born and raised in Rosario, Argentina, and now lives in a lovely valley surrounded by mountains in Utah. She's a graduate of Voices of Our Nation (VONA) and the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA Writing program. She's also a founding member of Las Musas, a marketing collective of Latine writers. When she's not writing books, she loves spending her time in nature, preferably riding a horse. Connect with her at yamilesmendez.com.
