Swing It, Sunny

After her visit to Gramps's surprisingly lively retirement community in Florida (Sunny Side Up, rev. 9/15), Sunny is now back home in Pennsylvania. She begins middle school with some trepidation, and she faces it without the (complicated) presence of her troubled older brother Dale, who has been sent away to military school in hopes he can be helped. The subject is manifestly serious, and the Holms respect just how dark the story can get while maintaining its mainstream appeal as a middle-grade graphic-novel comedy. Both author and illustrator are adept at shifting the mood quickly, as when Sunny and her mother are laughing over something cute the baby's done, and Mom asks Sunny to call Dale to dinner. Three wordless panels ensue to convey all the whoopses of that moment. A new, older girl moves in next door, providing Sunny with the welcome experience of a supportive big sister--and lessons in flag-swinging (for the marching band) to boot. But it's Sunny's relationship with Dale that is of primary resonance here; the family drama is so, so good, and resolved hopefully but honestly. Matthew Holm's evocation of the exact kid-culture landmarks of the fall of 1976 and spring of 1977 ("Love Will Keep Us Together," Brady Bunch reruns) will be as madeleines to a certain demographic. roger Sutton