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Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
Told through the voices of young Tess and her grandfather Bruno, The Sun Will Shine Again is a powerful memoir written by his daughter, Cynthia Goldstein Monsour. It shares his memories of growing up Jewish in Austria during World War II from ages 3 to 10. He recalls pretending a chair was a car when he had no toys, watching his father taken away, and hiding under a new identity in a Catholic orphanage, which were painful times, yet somehow also full of strength and hope. There’s a section at the end of the book with photos of the real people in the story, including Bruno, his twin, Jack, his parents, and his granddaughter, Tess. This personal story brings history to life, not through textbook facts, but through the real experiences and emotions of a child who lived to tell about it, and shows that even in the darkest times, the sun will shine again.
As an educator, I appreciate how The Sun Will Shine Again by Cynthia Goldstein Monsour handles serious topics in a way kids can understand. It also introduces key vocabulary like “evacuation,” explains terms in German and French, and provides their definitions so that independent readers who may be unfamiliar can understand. I also learned about lesser-known Holocaust camps like Saint-Cyprien, Gurs, and Camp des Milles, and how people were often moved between them. Bruno’s memories are unforgettable—his father trading book pages for scraps of bread, or the moment he returns and Bruno recognizes him only by his voice. One of the most touching scenes is when Allied soldiers arrive in Brussels and toss gum and chocolate to the children. Bruno’s joy over chocolate is something today’s kids can understand. The discussion questions and photos at the end make this a powerful teaching tool, perfect for classrooms learning about WWII and the Holocaust.
