The Sun Will Come Out

by Joanne Levy

Overview

The Sun Will Come Out is a funny and heartwarming account of a shy girl’s first summer away from home, where she learns she really can do anything and that silver linings can be found just about anywhere.

Twelve-year-old Bea Gelman and her best friend Frankie are planning the BEST SUMMER EVER at Camp Shalom—a sleep-away camp. But at the last minute, Frankie bows out, leaving painfully shy Bea on her own. Just talking to strangers causes Bea to break out into ugly, blotchy hives. As if the hives weren't bad enough, Bea gets pranked by a couple of girls in her cabin and is betrayed by someone she thought was a new friend. Bea has had enough! She decides to spend her summer in the infirmary far away from everything that’s stressing her out. No more boys (including her crush, Jeremy), no more horrible mean girls, and no more fake friends! At the infirmary, Bea meets Harry, a boy facing challenges way more intense than stress breakouts. Inspired by Harry’s strength and positive outlook, Bea decides to face her fears—in a big way.

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459825871
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	04/13/2021
Pages:	296
Sales rank:	244,996
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.50(h) x 0.75(d)
Lexile:	640L (what's this?)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Joanne Levy is the award-winning author of a number of books for young people, including Double Trouble, Fish Out of Water and The Book of Elsie in the Orca Currents line and the middle-grade novels The Sun Will Come Out, Small Medium At Large and Sorry For Your Loss, which was nominated for the Governor General’s Literary Award and won the Canadian Jewish Literature Award. She lives in Clinton, Ontario.

What People are Saying About This

Jennifer Nielsen

“An endearing coming-of-age story that will make you laugh, cheer, and warm your soul.”

Editorial Reviews

Levy’s work is sweet and inspiring…Through this realistic depiction of a shy girl’s first summer away from home, this novel teaches its reader that being different doesn’t may you an outcast and that this is always a silver lining.

Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Canadian Children’s Book News

The challenges Bea faces will be familiar to readers of all backgrounds…She is a realistic and relatable eleven-year-old girl who learns and grows in a delightful coming-of-age tale.

Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL)

A story very much on target for its pre-teen audience, especially its pre-teen Jewish audience. Recommended.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

Levy's narrative is spot on.

Booklist

The challenges Bea faces will be familiar to readers of all backgrounds…She is a realistic and relatable eleven-year-old girl who learns and grows in a delightful coming-of-age tale.

Association of Jewish Libraries

Levy’s work is sweet and inspiring…Through this realistic depiction of a shy girl’s first summer away from home, this novel teaches its reader that being different doesn’t may you an outcast and that this is always a silver lining.

Canadian Children's Book News

An endearing coming-of-age story that will make you laugh, cheer, and warm your soul.

Jennifer Nielsen

04/01/2021

Gr 3–7—Eleven-year-old Bea, who is white, has always dreamed of attending sleepaway Camp Shalom with her best friend. Shortly before the summer begins, Bea learns that her friend is going to horse camp instead. Attending camp alone is Bea's first experience with independence. At first she is so nervous that she breaks out in hives and gets picked on by a pair of mean girls. But she also makes new friends and learns to confront problems instead of running from them. The camp production of her favorite musical, Annie, provides a through line and eventual triumph. Bea is a relatable narrator. Judaism and kind camp staff provide language and support for Bea's life lessons. Readers who share her faith may recognize words, but all readers will relate to concepts such as kindness and bravery. VERDICT Books about gaining independence at summer camp are a crowded field, but there is plenty of room for this sweet, fresh take.—Amelia Jenkins, Juneau P.L., AK

School Library Journal

2021-01-26
Bea and her best friend, Frankie, are horse-crazy 11-year-olds excited to spend a month together at Camp Shalom, a Jewish sleep-away camp.

When Frankie’s parents arrange instead for her to attend Circle M, a much more expensive horse camp, Bea feels betrayed. She’s hurt by Frankie’s willingness to abandon her and upset about her own parents’ inability to afford the pricey Circle M. This friendship crisis isn’t Bea’s only problem—she has also started breaking out in hives at the worst possible times: in front of her longtime crush (who is also Frankie’s brother) and the mean girls who share her cabin and when she auditions for the camp musical. But Bea finds silver linings as well: one is Regan from Ireland, who becomes her bunkmate and close friend; another is Harry, the camp directors’ son, who has progeria, a life-limiting genetic disorder. While Harry spends time in the infirmary and avoids the other campers, who are not always welcoming to him, Bea’s struggle with hives gives her a chance to get to know him beyond his illness. With help from Harry, Bea learns that she is brave enough to face hard things. The story gives voice to the experience of Jewish preteens; chronic illness and disability are also sensitively tackled in this complex tale about difference, acceptance, and self-confidence.

A heartfelt tear-jerker about love, friendship, and courage. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews