Book Review of The Sun Will Shine Again
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The Children’s Book Review
The Sun Will Shine Again
Written by Cynthia Goldstein Monsour
Ages: 9-12 | 58 Pages
Publisher: Amsterdam Publishers (2025) | ISBN: 978-9493418387
What to Expect: World War 2, the Holocaust, family, and a first-hand narrative.
The Sun Will Shine Again delicately navigates the challenging topic of the Holocaust with a sensitive tone and gentle storytelling to lead the reader through the struggles faced by young Bruno and his brother during a pivotal time in the twentieth century.
Through her father’s memories of his childhood, author Cynthia Goldstein Monsour has crafted a book that not only enables readers to develop a deeper understanding of the past but also fosters an awareness of the consequences of intolerance. Readers gain a personal view of Bruno’s life from Nazi-occupied Austria to Belgium, both before and during the Nazi occupation. The firsthand account Bruno provides shows the consequences of the systematic persecution of Jews and how his family was impacted.
With language and subject matter carefully tailored for their age range, Monsour has crafted a book that is perfect for upper elementary and middle school students. Younger readers will be able to comprehend the story thanks to the definitions and translations of German words and phrases provided. Photographs are included in the book to help the reader picture and connect with young Bruno and his family. Additionally, Monsour offers a teacher’s guide that includes exercises and questions to promote thought-provoking conversations.
The Sun Will Shine Again is a well-written and relatable narrative, perfect as a standalone novel or supplemental text for Holocaust studies in any middle-grade classroom.
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About the Author
Cynthia Goldstein Monsour studied political science at Barnard College, Columbia University, with a focus on refugees and human rights.
During college, she also studied abroad in Aix-en-Provence, France, not far from where her grandfather was interned during World War II.
She continued on to law school to pursue her interests in conflict resolution and writing.
She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband, daughter, and two cats.
The inspiration for this book came one day while watching her father and then six-year-old daughter having fun playing a card game. Their connection made clear the responsibility of passing on her father’s story of survival to her daughter and future generations.
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