Winnie Nash Is Not Your Sunshine

Author: Nicole Melleby

Hardcover

In this powerful new novel by award-winning author Nicole Melleby, 12-year-old Winnie Nash is forced to live with her grandma for the summer and finds herself torn between her family's secrets and the joy of celebrating Pride.

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Summary

Description

Winnifred "Winnie" Nash is not a senior citizen, despite what anyone thinks of her name. And she is definitely not excited to live with her grandma in New Jersey for the summer. Not only are they basically strangers, but Winnie-who's always known she's gay-has been pushed into the metaphorical closet by her parents, who worry what Grandma will think. So Winnie keeps quiet about the cute girls she befriends; plays card games with seniors, which she does not enjoy; and dreams of the day she can go to the Pride Parade in New York City-a day that can't happen when she's hiding the truth from Grandma.

Meanwhile, her mom's latest pregnancy is approaching its due date, and Winnie is worried it might end like the ones before, with Winnie still an only child. As she tries so hard to be an agreeable, selfless daughter, getting to NYC for Pride is feeling more and more like her only escape from a family who needs her to always smile. Winnie Nash is not your sunshine-and maybe it's time to show the world who she really is.

Critic Reviews

"It's not a perfect summer at the beach, but Winnie's feelings are perfectly real, and the resolution is satisfying and hopeful."--School Library Journal

"Melleby's latest expertly captures the tumultuousness of tween emotions through its dialogue and third-person narration. While many in Winnie's generation are so confident in their queerness, the story importantly touches on how it's not always safe to be out. Multiple queer characters--peers, adults, and elders alike--contribute to an exceptional sense of community that shows the many ways support can manifest.... A powerful, emotional look at queerness, pride, and what it truly means to feel held."

--Kirkus Reviews
"Melleby's latest is a tearjerker with heart--a triumphant exploration of lesbianism, extended family, and
miscarriage from the eyes of a young, would-be sibling. Hand to middle-grade fans of Kate DiCamillo or Ashley Herring Blake."--Booklist
Praise for Nicole Melleby:
"Moments of madcap humor and familial warmth characterize this emotionally generous summer tale from Melleby, which showcases the author's command of fully realized characterization and distinct relationship dynamics." --Publishers Weekly (Sam Makes a Splash)
"It captures that camp feeling of getting away from home, meeting different people, and growing as a person, all over the course of just two weeks. At its heart, an enjoyable summer camp story." --Kirkus Reviews (Camp QUILTBAG)

"This emotional read shows the power of friendship and family without omitting the work that goes into loving someone." --Booklist, starred review (The Science of Being Angry)

"A raw yet honest portrayal of a young person's experience with depression, this is a must-read for both middle grade readers and the teachers, counselors, parents, and other adults who interact daily with youth undergoing similar experiences." --School Library Journal, starred review (How to Become a Planet)

"This funny, tender, and heart-wrenching story will have readers calling for an encore." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review (In the Role of Brie Hutchens. . .)

* "Melleby deftly tackles weighty topics--mental illness, child protective services, single parenting, sexuality--while effortlessly weaving in elements of the life and works of Vincent van Gogh, creating a thoughtful, age-appropriate and impressive novel." --Shelf Awareness, starred review (Hurricane Season)

About the Author

Nicole Melleby, a New Jersey native, is the author of highly praised middle-grade books, including the Lambda Literary finalist Hurricane Season, ALA Notable book How to Become a Planet, Camp QUILTBAG (co-written with A. J. Sass), and The House on Sunrise Lagoon series. She lives with her wife and their cats, whose need for attention oddly aligns with Nicole's writing schedule. Visit her online at nicolemelleby.com.