This study guide was created using the following version of this book: Gerard, Sarah. Sunshine Stater. Harper Collins, 2017. First Edition.

Sunshine State is a collection of eight non-fiction essays. The essays stand alone, but are linked by the author’s connection to the state of Florida. The opening essay, "BFF," is about the gradual breakdown of a friendship as the two friends evolve and change over time. What begins as an intensely intimate relationship between two girls during puberty becomes an estrangement as they take different paths, deal with mental illness, and experience successes and failures.

Other essays involve the author’s family. In "Mother-Father God," the author explores her parents’ involvement in a unitarian church, as well as the history of the thought movements behind it, and the origins of Christian Science. In "Going Diamond," the author’s parents become Amway distributors and find that it changes the way they view their success and lifestyle. The author compares this to how she and her husband look at real estate and how their desires and expectations change.

"Records" is another personal essay, but one in which names have been changed to protect those in the story. It is a deeply personal essay that tackles evolving friendships during the transition from high school to college. In the essay, the author explores sexual assault, drug use, independence, and risk taking. In the essay "Before: An Inventory," the author makes a list of items and observations on the occasion of turning thirty.

In "Rabbit," the author examines her relationship with her grandparents in contrast with her own life. The titular rabbit is a gift from her grandmother, and the grandmother is the primary focus. The author compares her own marriage to that of her grandparents'. The essay also examines the frailty of her grandparents, her grandfather’s death, and her grandmother’s dire health. By spending time with her family as death looms, the author is able to learn more about her father and reflect on her own childhood.

"The Mayor of Williams Park" and "Sunshine State" are essays that exist outside of the author’s immediate family. In "The Mayor of Williams Park," the author interviews G.W. Rolle, a homeless man who struggles with recovery. She spends time with him and learns not only about his past incarceration and drug dependency, but also his literary pursuits and passion for helping others dealing with homelessness. Different attempts at helping to solve the country’s homelessness epidemic are explored, researched and presented as the author witness G.W.’s successes and failures.

"Sunshine State" focuses on a bird sanctuary in Florida owned by Ralph Heath. The author goes to work at the sanctuary to do research for her essay. In doing so, she learns a great deal about the financial and ethical problems faced by the sanctuary and its owner. While the facility is designed to save, rehabilitate, and educate about birds, the owner struggles with his own demons, which puts the sanctuary at risk. Rumors about embezzlement, a mystery financier, and hoarding all contribute to the downfall of the sanctuary