Genuine and very heartwarming.

This was a good book showing how growing up can suck, and not everything will stay the same & you can't trust everything always to remain (friendships, routines etc.), but you can expect to grow for both better and worse. Life is about experiences pushing yourself, and holding back, and I enjoyed the scenes that showed that.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I was provided with an ARC of this novel in order to conduct an interview with the author. Please see the resulting discussion below:

1. You’re a prolific middle grade writer, having published five books for this age group so far, including Small Medium At Large, Crushing It, Double Trouble, Fish Out of Water, and The Sun Will Come Out! You also have Sorry For Your Loss coming out later this year. What are some of your favourite things about writing for this target audience? Are there any particular challenges about writing for this age group?

I love writing middle grade! As a creator, it’s a fun age to write because I feel like there are fewer limits on creativity. Nearly anything goes, no matter how outlandish the ideas can seem to grown-ups. Kids at that age are so creative themselves and will go along on pretty much any journey with you. They have big ideas and aren’t limited by what really is or what exists in the real world, so authors can really take their stories anywhere. Also, another thing I love about writing for this age is exploring ‘firsts’. First crush, first time alone, first heartbreak, first betrayal, first big triumph. These are pivotal moments in everyone’s lives and I love exploring them. As for challenges? Getting the voice just right is probably the biggest one. Kids are smart and savvy and can sniff out an adult who is trying too hard or has lost touch with their audience. As I get older, I’m getting further away from my target audience and have to really work at channeling that inner tween.



2. I was always too shy and introverted to attend a sleepover camp as a child, so it was a lot of fun to live vicariously through Bea’s experiences at Camp Shalom! Did you ever have any fun adventures at summer camp when you were growing up?

I did go to summer sleep-away camp! In fact, The Sun Will Come Out was partially inspired by one of my three years at camp. I had zero friends, a cabin filled with meanies, and discovered that the infirmary could be a pretty nice place to hang out. There aren’t many details in this book that are exactly the same as my experience, but I was definitely able to mine my feelings from that time for the book. But other than the one year of angst and horror, I did have two great years at (a different) camp where I made friends and had summers away from home filled with crafts, watersports, and maybe even a crush or two. Being away from family for the first time can be such an amazing experience filled with opportunities for independence and, of course, good and bad decisions that all come with consequences. Excellent fodder for books.



3. Bea is nervous to attend Camp Shalom without her best friend, Frankie, particularly because she’s shy, quiet and used to hiding in her outgoing friend’s shadow. Do you have any advice for young readers who, like Bea, are stepping outside of their comfort zone for the first time?

No.

I’m just kidding! Sort of. It’s so hard to give young people advice like this because who believes it? For example, in the book, Bea’s parents tell her she’ll make friends and have a good time. But Bea doesn’t believe them. And why should she, because how could they know that for sure? But I guess that’s one of the reasons I write books like this – so kids can see situations that seem hopeless at first, but turn out okay in the end. Maybe even better than okay. So I guess my best advice is: read more books. 😉



4. I loved getting to know all of Bea’s new friends at camp, including Regan, who’s visiting from Ireland, Nurse Lisa, and Harry, who Bea befriends at the infirmary. Was there a character you particularly enjoyed writing about and why?

When I was at camp one year, there was an exchange student counsellor from Ireland named Julie who everyone told me I looked like – we were constantly asked if we were related. So much, that by the end of summer, I had adopted a (hopefully?) charming Irish accent and pretended to be her sister. So Regan is sort of my homage to Julie and her charming accent. But I particularly enjoyed writing Harry. He was a challenge because I didn’t want him to merely be a prop for Bea’s growth so I worked extra hard to make him a layered character who had his own growth arc. I don’t want to give anything away, but the eyebrow thing still makes me laugh. Every. Single. Time. Making characters you come to love like they’re real people is one of the great things about writing.



5. Bea is bullied by two of her cabinmates at Camp Shalom and is initially reluctant to tell anyone in authority for fear of retaliation from the bullies in question. What would you say to a middle grade reader who finds themselves facing a similar challenge?

At camp it’s a bit harder because you’re away from your trusted people – parents, teachers – people you know. But chances are, no matter where you are, there’s an adult or even a trusted friend who will help you. Don’t keep it to yourself that you’re struggling or that people are treating you badly. You deserve to be safe and free of harassment wherever you are. No matter how scary it feels, find someone who will listen and help you. There is no shame in asking for help if you’re in over your head – and that counts for any situation. As humans we’re made to help each other and I don’t know of anyone who has never needed even a little help sometimes.



6. Annie plays a big role In the novel, being that it’s Bea’s favourite musical, the show they perform at Camp Shalom, and (presumably) the inspiration for the title of the novel. Why Annie, and what’s your favourite musical?

As a kid, I loved the 1982 Annie movie. I watched it, I don’t know how many times, but enough that I learned all the songs. That I was the same age then as Bea is in this book felt perfect because I knew Bea’s love for Annie would feel genuine and authentic. That the production is mostly kids, makes it a perfect camp play – so, there were a lot of factors that went into that decision. I had occasion to see Annie the musical when I was in New York City a few years back when I first started writing this book and was SO impressed by the child cast – such talent! It brought back so many memories and I knew then for absolute sure it was the perfect musical to use in the book. The title is definitely taken from Annie, but came much later when we were almost in production – I think the cover had already been designed by that point and it was time to put the title on it. It had a much different title for many years that ended up getting tossed. The Sun Will Come Out feels absolutely perfect on many levels, so I’m glad my publisher asked me to go back to the drawing board and come up with something better than what I had.

I haven’t seen a ton of stage musicals, but I’m a Les Miz fan. Oh and I loved La Cage aux Folles. Oh and Spamalot! Wait… Cats! Apparently, I’ve been to more musicals than I’d thought! I can’t choose just one favourite.



7. From first crushes and new (and old) friendships to discussions of anxiety, problem-solving, mortality and faith, The Sun Will Come Out touches on a number of topics I have no doubt many young readers will find timely and relevant to their own lives. What do you hope readers will take from the novel?

That whatever you’re going through, no matter how it may seem unique to you, it’s normal. That whatever you’re feeling is okay and normal and we’ve all been there. From anxiety, to heartbreak, to grief and the realities of life, none of us are immune to having life hand us a few lemons along the way. We may not share the exact same details of what has happened in our lives, but our feelings are real and are so often universal. Loss, fear, jealousy, anxiety – we’ve all felt those things for many reasons and it’s a part of being human. So I hope readers see themselves in my books and are comforted in knowing they are not alone and that even through difficult times, there can be silver linings.

But going back to my answer about the bullying – if any of it, even if it’s how you’re feeling about something that has happened, feels like more than you can handle, reach out and get help. Find a teacher, parent, or the parent of a friend – they will probably feel honoured that you trusted them enough to ask and will help you in any way they can.

Thank you so much, Jen. This has been an honour and you’ve asked me such thoughtful and wonderful questions. I hope that maybe I’ve inspired you to want to go to camp, if even only in the pages of a book!

'The Sun Will Come Out' is an interesting middle-grade coming-of-age novel about a young girl who goes to sleep-away camp, without her best friend. There, she encounters other kids, some of them kind, others not so much, as she learns more about what it means to be her own person.

Personally, I felt that this book was pretty much your basic coming-of-age novel featuring middle-grade characters. Bea, the main character, has to learn how to stand up for herself and others in the midst of dealing with The Mean Girls™, The Crush™, and The Traitorous Friend™, all while at summer camp.

Don't get me wrong - this book was relatively well-written, quick, and a blast to read. I just felt that it didn't bring anything new to the table (other than a certain character) - it followed the middle-grade realistic-fiction formula and didn't deviate much from it.

As someone who has read many books with similar or nearly the same plotlines, I wasn't captivated much by this book. While it certainly was a charming read, it didn't do much for me, although it's hard to tell whether this is because I'm not the target audience, or if I've simply read too many of these sorts of books.

Either way, I'd recommend this book to middle-grade readers who are fans of coming-of-age plotlines and all that it entails. Ultimately, this book, for me, was enjoyable, yet forgettable. It was good, but it could have been much better.

Middlegrade novels are the best & this one did not disappoint. Never been to summer camp myself, I love getting to live vicariously through Beas time at camp. From first crushes, misunderstandings, to new friendships, this is a perfect book for young readers.

Cute and sweet, great summer reading for shy kids looking for adventures--just outside of their comfort zone!

I really loved this middle grade summer camp story. I appreciated the Jewish culture representation as well as the representation of a character with progeria. It was such a fantastic story of first crushes, misunderstandings with friends, and not running away from you problems. Would definitely recommend to middle graders looking for a fun camp story.

Bea is devastated when she learns that her best friend will be going to a more expensive horse camp instead of the Jewish camp they were supposed to go to together. She is surprised though to make a friend on the bus and things start looking up. But mean girls, a crush revealed, hives, and misunderstandings cause Bea to retreat. Again she is pleasantly surprised when she meets a boy in the infirmary who despite his life threatening disease teaches her to be brave and to stop running away from her problems.

A solid middle grade book that tackles friendship issues well. I enjoyed this.

I enjoy reading books about summer camp because as a kid I looked forward to going to them. So many scenes in this story brought back a lot of great memories!
I laughed, I cried and most of all I had fun with this book. I needed a light hearted read and this was the perfect read.
It's a coming of age story that the middle graders or really anyone can enjoy.
My problem was that I felt this book was too short because it was that good!
The author has done an excellent job and left my soul feeling full and satisfied.
My thanks for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Bea is a young girl looking forward to going to summer camp with her best friend and her best friend's brother, on whom Bea has a big crush. Bea is very disappointed when her friend can't go, and nervously sets off for her four weeks at Jewish summer camp. Bea navigates issues with new friends, boy trouble, and mean girls, and then meets a very special boy who starts to change her outlook on things.

While I did somewhat enjoy the book, I really felt like it went a little too quickly and didn't dive deeply enough into the different characters. For all that her relationship with Harry was life-changing, I definitely felt it was kept too surface-level in the story. I didn't feel the emotions that went along with the story. It was supposedly a book about friendship, as well, but I didn't like how most of the relationships with other kids were depicted. Bea had unrealistic expectations of her friends, and was too quick to just push them away due to anything that disappointed her. It was nice to see a story about modern Jewish kids, who are underrepresented in fiction, but the faith didn't seem to play a significant part in the story.

A fairly expected plot. We have the typical shy girl entirely dependent on her best friend, suddenly separated from her. She has to learn to define herself as an individual, and of course camp is a great place to do that. The characters are fairly flat, the plot taking few chances.

An amazing middle grade that teaches a lesson and gives a great point of view. The summer camp feels we’re exactly what I needed and this was such a fast read.

This compulsively readable story brought back all the joy and angst of summer camp as a tween. The friendships and dramas felt familiar and true. These are characters I'd love to meet again, maybe at a Bat Mitzvah?

This is a cute story and a fast read. I read it in about 90 minutes and was hit in the feels.

Bea Gelman is going to have the best summer ever with her bestie Frankie at Camp Shalom. However, Frankie breaks the news to friend she will be going to a very expensive horse camp instead. Bea is terrified that she is now going to spend four weeks at a camp where she knows no one and no one will be her friend. However, predictably, Bea meets a new friend the very first day before they even get to camp. And she makes another unusual friend with a genetic disorder, they bond over a shared love of the musical Annie. Of course, there are the mean girls at camp too. This story of wonderful friendships and unexpected surprises.

I liked Bea's character, the overdramatic pre-teen who thinks her world is ending because she is in a place full of strangers. I have been in her situation changing schools my senior year of high school. I liked that she was always trying to find the silver lining when skies were gray, even when she thought there couldn't possibly be one. I think everyone should have a friend like Regan, a worldly girl with her own pony, a no-nonsense attitude when it comes to bullies and a charming Irish accent.

I would recommend this to young readers.

The Sun Will Come Out will appeal to middle-grades readers and they will likely be able to connect to the protagonist, Bea, as she navigates her first sleep-over summer camp and learns what it means to be a friend...but the heavy focus on her crush and the fact that the “mean girls” were allowed to be mean throughout the story left me underwhelmed.

I am a sucker for a book that highlights a summer adventure and this is exactly the kind of middle grade fiction I love! As someone who actually works at campground, I was excited. Speaking of, Bea is excited to go on the trip and take a break from the pressures of everyday life.

If I had to describe this book in three words, I would say caring, captivating, and funny. I cared about Bea from the moment I met her and could identify with the multitude of feelings she was experiencing in her quest for understanding and belonging. The author of this book told a compelling story, so much so that I found myself so caught up in it that I kept reading because I wanted to see what would happen next. The author's writing style was smooth and easy to read. What endeared me even more to the book was the author's sense of humor.

Overall, highly recommend this book no matter what age you are.

With thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for an early copy in return for an honest review.

This story definitely made me want to go back to summer camp! This is a MG story about Bea and her time at Jewish Summer Camp. While away at camp she learns what it means to overcome fears and not run away when things get hard. A quick and easy #OwnVoices read.

Note: I might not recommend this to readers who are on the MG/YA edge as they might find it a bit young.

So now I'm feeling really, really nostalgic for summer camp.

Major credits to the cover artist, because ngl, THE SUN WILL COME OUT had me yearning for those camping days before I'd even opened the first page. But the story inside is equally sweet - it follows 12 year old Bea as she confronts a summer at Camp Shalom without her best friend by her side. Bea is far less enchanted with the idea of camp than I am; which is understandable, considering the only person she knows is her crush, mean girls hide everywhere, and she has a terrible habit of breaking out in hives. What more could go wrong?

Joanne Levy writes with a lovely, lyrical ease, and I found myself following the story like a gentle summer day. It's a fun exploration of tween crushes and complicated relationships - I particularly liked the growing bond between Bea and Harry, the mysterious boy who doesn't seem to leave the infirmary. It's paced quickly and I imagine plenty of middle grade readers will be able to relate.

However, it did rely on some tropes I've become rather disillusioned with. Female friendship was presented negatively overall; while I do love the representation of complex relationships, we have a pair of name-calling mean girls whose only function in the story is to be ... well, mean; we have a horse-obsessed BFF who 'betrays' Bea by attending a different camp; and we have Regan, a new girl who also 'betrays' Bea by [mild spoiler alert] kissing her crush, Jeremy. This last point felt particularly unfortunate, because although Bea & Regan make up, they only do so because it turns out Jeremey tried to kiss Regan, not the other way around. The story never corrects Bea's assumption that it's okay to call "dibs" on someone, even if they clearly don't like you, and that sharing the same crush is impossible to deal with in a female friendship.

I also worried a little bit that Harry's purpose was only to teach Bea perspective through his illness. But I do think the author handled his situation with genuine care & thoughtfulness, and as I've mentioned, I adored the scenes between them <3

Overall, a fun, easy read with wild appeal to lovers of contemporary MG. With strong writing and relatable themes, THE SUN WILL COME OUT is only dragged down by a couple of uncomfortable representations around girls, friendship, and crushes that don't seem to be addressed. But perhaps this will serve as a great jumping off point for discussion once the book has been read! 3/5.

I was an anxious kid with stress-related health issues growing up, so I definitely identified with Bea in this book. Honestly, I appreciated her "flawed" character, seeing her develop through her friendships with Regan and Harry. The camp setting was fun, and the happy ending was a nice treat!

This sent me back to summer camp! The strong points of this story include the setting, the diversity, and a young character learning what it means to be a friend and facing her fears. I didn’t realize the Annie reference in the title until I was reading it in the book, I’m not super familiar with the musical but it was a fun element throughout the story. Overall this was a fun summery read that I think people of all ages could enjoy!

What didn’t work for me was the heavy focus on her crush (best friend’s brother, which I’m also not a fan of) and the means girls essentially getting away with it through to the end.

There were a couple words & phrasing included in this that I don’t appreciate in middle-grade especially. “I would rather die” and repeated use of the word “stupid”.