Sunshine Graphic Novel Review by the Hobbit. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Know Before You Read Sunshine
Book: Sunshine: How One Camp Taught Me About Life, Death, and Hope
Author: Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Publication Date: April 18, 2023
Genres: Graphic novel, memoir
Major Themes: Dealing with illness, special summer camps, hope
Pages: 400
Reading Age: 13 and up
Warnings: Kids with terminal illnesses. Note though that this is a very hopeful book.
Brief Sunshine Graphic Novel Summary
The summer before his senior year Krosoczka is chosen as one of a few who get to be counselors at Camp Sunshine – a summer camp for pediatric cancer patients. This is the story of the week he spends there, his experiences, and the effect that week has had on his life.
About the Author:
Jarrett J. Krosoczka is a New York Times bestselling author, a two-time winner of the Children’s Choice Book Award for the Third to Fourth Grade Book of the Year, and an Eisner award nominee. His previous graphic novel memoir Hey, Kiddo was a National Book Award Finalist. We also love his Lunch Lady graphic novels.
Sunshine Graphic Novel Review (Contains Spoilers)
Serving at Camp Sunshine is a tradition for incoming seniors at Holy Name High School. Everyone wants to serve – so, to be fair, names are drawn out of a hat. Jarrett is one of the ones whose name is drawn. He (and the others going) are not sure what to expect. Camp Sunshine is a camp for pediatric cancer patients and their families. As one expresses, “I’ve never seen a kid with cancer before. What is that even going to be like?” They do know they will be given different responsibilities. Jarrett is assigned to work with teens and is given a one-on-one with a kid who has brain cancer.
Before Jarrett meets his assigned camper, Diego, he meets the Orfaos – Mother Shelly, daughter Mary, and sons Jason and Eric. Eric has cancer but treatments have been working and they are hopeful. He quickly bonds with this family. On the second day, Diego arrives. His mother tells Jarrett, “He does not want to be here.” It takes a while, but Jarrett starts to break down the communication barrier by quickly drawing a picture of Batman, Diego’s favorite superhero, and following that up with another of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
The week is full of many activities and Jarrett bonds closely with the Orfaos and helps Diego have a good time. As he grows older, he stays in contact with the Orfaos. As he says in the introduction, “…camp was happy, the happiest place I’ve ever been…the kids I met weren’t dying – they were living. Living life to its fullest.”
Related Content: Jerry Craft Books New Kid, Class Act, and School Trip
This is, as the title indicates, a book about death – and hope. Some of the kids die. But how they live, and how their families live, is a wellspring of hope. This is one of those books that will affect how you think about life. Not everyone can (or should) be a counselor at a camp like this. But Jarrett’s experience, and the experience of those around him, can inspire everyone.
The artwork is similar to that of his previous memoir. Orange, yellow, grey, and white for most of the book with some full color. Krosoczka is an artist and makes great use of the limited palette he has chosen to display a range of concepts and emotions.
Continue reading for our Sunshine Graphic Novel Discussion Guide
Sunshine Graphic Novel Quotes
For somebody who doesn’t like high school, you sure try to record every aspect of it.
Listen. You all are about to be part of something really important here.
The week these families spend at camp? It will be one of the happiest they’ve had in some time, perhaps all year. And the memories they make here are important.
So before you even don that staff shirt, remember- this experience is bigger than any of you.
Nothing really seemed to matter after camp. And by that I mean, the small stuff didn’t phase me. And I realized that most everything that worried me before was small stuff.
The ramifications of their time affected everyone who came in contact with them, sending ripples well beyond the months and years we had with them.
Sunshine Graphic Novel Discussion Guide, Based on Quotes
- “We drove back to Worcester in silence”. Have you ever had an experience that left you not wanting to say anything for hours? What was it?
- “Nothing really seemed to matter after camp. And by that I mean, the small stuff didn’t phase me. And I realized that most everything that worried me before was small stuff.” What do you worry most about? Has reading this novel affected that?
- “The ramifications of their time affected everyone who came in contact with them, sending ripples well beyond the months and years we had with them.” Do you know anyone like this? Who? How can people we normally don’t see as important have such an effect on others?
Related Content: Warrior Girl Unearthed Review
Down The Hobbit Hole Blog and this Sunshine Graphic Novel Review use affiliate links. We only link products we think you’ll like and you are never charged extra for them. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. All images used in this post were either original designs from Canva or used from media kits We also use cookies to gather analytics and present advertisements. Find our other reviews with discussion questions here. And our posts about family stuff here.