The Sun Will Come Out

by Joanne Levy (Author)

The Sun Will Come Out
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
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 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.
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School Library Journal

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

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"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"
Joanne Levy

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.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781459825871
Lexile Measure
640
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Orca Book Publishers
Publication date
April 13, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV015020 - Juvenile Fiction | Health & Daily Living | Diseases, Illnesses & Injuries
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
JUV033020 - Juvenile Fiction | Religious | Jewish
JUV031060 - Juvenile Fiction | Performing Arts | Theater
Library of Congress categories
Camps
Best friends
Bashfulness
Resilience (Personality trait)

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