Sunshine
Published May 18, 2021
Synopsis
Set in the northern Minnesota wilderness, a timeless novel about a boy and his imaginary dog explores the legacy of guilt and blame—and what really constitutes a family.
Newbery Honoree Marion Dane Bauer evokes the “summer that changed everything” in the life of a boy growing up without a mother. Since as far back as Ben can remember, it’s been him, his devoted dad, and Sunshine—Ben’s little dog, who rarely leaves Ben’s side. It was Mom who did the leaving, and Ben’s about to spend a whole week with his suddenly present mother in the wilds of northern Minnesota. On the remote island she calls home, Ben will learn to camp, canoe, weather the elements, and weigh a burning question: when will she come back to where she belongs? A must-read for dog lovers, children of divorce, and the imaginative and outdoorsy, Sunshine is a poignant, ultimately hopeful story about self-discovery, facing big realities, and finally, forgiving the things—and people—you can’t forget.
Reviews
Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books - When the chance comes to spend a summer week in the wilderness of northern Minnesota with his mother—who walked out when he was three and never came back—Ben is excited but more than a little nervous. Fortunately, along for the trip and ready to calm his fears is his faithful but imaginary dog Sunshine. Desperate to prove he’s a son worth coming home for, Ben pretends he’s fine with the primitive cabin, not terrified of the woods, the wolves, and the bears, and definitely not still hurt and angry. Adventures into nearby lakes and forests soon draw the two closer, but Ben’s attempts to get his mother’s attention lead to a series of near-disasters that ultimately force the pair to face the unspoken pain of the past and Ben to understand the hole that Sunshine has been filling. Bauer offers an imaginative and emotionally compelling take on the story of a boy and his dog here. Ben’s confusion over his mother’s departure and his desperation for the normality he thinks her return will bring are keenly and believably drawn, and even young readers new to the idea of symbolism will appreciate how the adorable and adoring Sunshine serves as more than just an imaginary friend. The atmospheric setting, meanwhile, sets the stage for hard-won lessons in courage and independence, with just enough danger to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Ultimately a moving story of forgiveness and early maturity, it’s also a strong recommendation for adventure readers and dog lovers. AM
Meghan Cox Gurdon - Wall Street Journal - “It’s a tribute to Ms. Bauer’s skill as a writer that she allows the reader to share Ben’s divided state of mind. We know that Sunshine doesn’t exist, and at some level Ben knows it too, yet through him we can see and feel her.”
Rosi Hollinbeck - I hear from a very nice publicist from Candlewick Press now and then, and she offers me books in exchange for honest reviews. I received a couple recently, and once I started reading Sunshine by Marion Dane Bauer, I just couldn’t put it down. Here are my thoughts on this charming book. This review is longer than usual for me since I’m not constrained by the rules of the book reviews I usually write for. Read More
Kirkus Starred Review! - When Ben was just 3, his mother abandoned him and his father.
Now the boy is to spend a week with her on an extremely isolated island in a lake on the Minnesota-Canada border. Fortunately, he has his golden-red dog, Sunshine, to accompany him. His pragmatic dad says he’s far too old for an imaginary pet, but Sunshine is what keeps this “what-if kid,” as his father calls him, safe. She pushes his fears down as Ben and his mother paddle across one lake and then another to reach her cabin. Although Sunshine attacks a bear and her cub that his mom takes them to see, they come through the danger unscathed. It’s only after he takes the canoe and nearly fails to paddle back against a driving wind that he recognizes Sunshine’s shortcomings. Without the dog’s support, he finally confronts his mother about what he believes he did to drive her away when he was a toddler. Then he learns the crushing truth: that, after the damage of her own abusive upbringing, she feared she would hurt him. A terrifying fire on the island forces him to courageously help his mother and eventually come to grips with both her flaws and his. Richly character driven, immersive, evocative, and painfully sad, this effort can’t fail to move young readers. Ben and his family seem to be White.
An outstanding exploration of childhood trauma from a masterful author. (Fiction. 8-11)
School Library Journal - “A moving story about a boy and his dog and the solace a pet, real or imagined, can bring.”
School Library Connection - After years of separation Ben is spending a week with his mother at her home, the sole cabin on an island in a Minnesota lake. Ben is joined by Sunshine, who readers soon discover is Ben's imaginary dog. Sunshine has been a constant companion to Ben ever since his mom left. Ben has hopes of reuniting his parents and finally becoming a kid with a mom. What follows is a lyrical story sprinkled with moments of outdoor exploration gone awry. Ben learns the truth behind why his mother departed so suddenly, and he also learns about himself and Sunshine. Young readers may struggle with the imaginary friend concept at first, but as the story grows they will become empathetic and understanding of the value and support Sunshine gives Ben. Book groups will thrive with this title, as there is much character development and action upon which to reflect. This would be a strong title to consider for parent engagement as well. Caitlin Bennett, School Librarian, Londonderry Middle School, Londonderry, NH
Recommended
Star Tribune - Ben’s mother abandoned the family when he was 3 years old, leaving him with his dad and his imaginary dog, Sunshine. Ben barely remembers her, but the ache of missing her runs through every part of his life. Now he’s come up with a plan — he’ll spend a week with her on the island where she lives and writes near the Canadian border, and that will persuade her to move back “home” to St. Paul. From the moment he arrives at his mom’s cabin, Ben, a nervous “what-if kid” at home, is challenged to face his fears and follow his mother into places of terrifying and unexpected beauty. St. Paul author Marion Dane Bauer tells a pared-down story full of hard truths, flawed adults and the solace of the North Woods. - Reviewed by Trisha Collopy
Waking Brain Cells - Ben lives with his father and his faithful imaginary dog, Sunshine. This summer, he's going to spend an entire week with his mother, whom he hasn't seem since he was three. She lives alone on an island in northern Minnesota. As he and his father journey to meet her, Ben struggles to ignore Sunshine, since his father thinks Ben is too old to have an imaginary friend. After journeying to his mother's island home by canoe, Ben finds himself struggling with his anxiety and often unable to speak. He has so many questions he wants to ask her and has imagined many conversations together, but nothing comes out. He desperately wants to figure out how to get her to return to living with them. Instead of asking, Ben spends his days on the island, giving his mother time to read. After a disastrous expedition to see some bears and another harrowing solo journey in a canoe, a disaster hits the island and a path to forgiveness is formed.
Bauer is such a remarkable writer. Her books are invitingly brief for young readers and also offer real depth of emotion. In this novel, she shows the struggles of someone with anxiety who is often asking "what if" rather than diving in. She doesn't allow it to be superficial, instead really exploring what it feels like. At the same time, readers will realize that Ben is incredibly brave and fueled by anger that he won't acknowledge. His connection to Sunshine is fully realized, from the way they curl up to sleep together to her position in the canoe to their ongoing friendship in a new place.
Ben is a complex character and so are his parents. His father is fastidious, clearly anxious himself in ways that Ben can't articulate. His mother is a remarkable character in children's literature. A mother who left her child behind for reasons that are hinted at but not fully revealed until later in the novel. Yet she is given the space to be warm, kind and caring while also being rather distant and reserved. She is many things, and also far more than she realizes.
A book full of dangers, adventure and heart. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
