The Sun Will Come Out

I really loved this book. I loved hearing about Bea's time at Camp Shalom and all the people she met. Although at times I cringed, I love that it made me feel like it was real.

The Sun Will Come Out, by Joanne Levy, is a realistic fiction book about a girl named Bea who must attend summer camp alone. Bea is so excited to go with her BFF Frankie to Camp Shalom. When Frankie tells Bea she won't go to Camp Shalom with her, Bea is shattered. Making matters worse, Frankie plans to go to the camp they both dreamed of, Circle M - a fancy horse riding camp. Bea begs her parents to send her to Circle M Camp, but her parents tell her they don't have enough money for the expensive tuition. Bea starts her first four weeks of sleepaway camp alone a few weeks later. There, she meets Reagan, whose from Ireland, and they become friends, but is that enough for Bea? There are many true-life moments in this novel. In the first chapter, Bea runs home and argues with her parents about how it's unfair that she can't attend Circle M. When her parents explain that the camp is more than twice as much as Camp Shalom, it's hard not to share Bea's frustration and empathize them all. I loved this book because Bea has to adjust to new situations and face her fears. I love this book so much because as I read it, I could jump right into the scenes, easily imagine the camp, smell the campgrounds, envision Harry (a character with progeria, a rare genetic disorder that causes children to age rapidly), and hear the "Sun Will Come Out" from the camp's production of Annie. Speaking of Annie (do you get the title connection?), I wish there were more written about the actual performance. And while I'm not crazy about cliffhangers, I was disappointed that there isn't a sequel. I'd be keen to see more of Bea's life. Will Bea like Camp Shalom? Or will she hate it and wish she was at Circle M? I highly recommend this book because it is inspirational, with characters saying things like "You'll find a silver lining somewhere" or "Don't push back the hard stuff in life." There are several life lessons here - the biggest takeaway is that nothing will be the same forever, and you might have to adjust to new changes, but in the end, it will be ok. This book is excellent for kids who feel different and who have had to turn what feels like bad luck into a blessing. This book is a must-read!