Graphic Novel Review: SUNSHINE

Title: Sunshine: A Graphic Novel by Jarrett Krosoczka

Book Beginnings page:

First bubble: "I was sixteen when I first worked at a camp for kids with life-threatening illnesses. It forever changed the trajectory of my life."
Second bubble: "Just about everyone who asks about the experience seems to have the same knee-jerk reaction: It must have been so sad."

Page 58:

First bubble (Camp director): "Okay, everyone, I hope that everybody is ready for a fantastic day at camp. I'm going to ask counselors to head to their stations."
Second bubble (Camp director): "Parents, after you've dropped of your kids at their designated spot, we're all going to meet up by the lake for some team-building activities."
Third bubble (Jarrett): "I watched as my friends all joined their groups. I have to be honest. I had been looking forward to working with littler kids, so being assigned to a teen was at first a little disappointing."

Summary: Jarrett Krosoczka, a graphic artist I met in his first memoir, Hey Kiddo, which is about being raised by his grandparents since his mother abandoned him to drugs and he never knew his father, continues his story about his experiences at Camp Sunshine. He is assigned to be a one-on-one counselor to a teenager with a brain tumor who doesn't want to be at camp. But along the way Jarrett and that boy become friends and have fun doing some really surprising activities. Jarrett also bonds with other campers and his fellow counselors who all admit that the experience was life-changing. 

Review: I have some friends, who are my age, that volunteer at Sister Pat's Cancer/Kid's Camp every year in New Jersey. C., a cancer survivor,  and her husband, K., wanted to give something back to the cancer-care community the first year, and now go back every year because they are hooked. I bet they'd agree with Jarrett that the camp experience has changed the trajectory of their lives.

When Jarrett Krosoczka was selected as a counselor for Camp Sunshine he was fairly judgmental of the other student counselors in his group. But as the week went by, these teens also bonded through their shared experiences, creating lifelong friendships. Near the end of the week together one of their teacher advisors talks about how the math of it all doesn't add up:

First bubble (female advisor, note the cigarette): "Oh can it, Mr. Granier, once you experience this kind of work, you never look at life the same way again. There isn't a place more beautiful than these grounds. And the feeling you get by helping these families."
Second bubble (continuation): "The funny thing about being in service to others is that the math of it all doesn't add up. No matter how much work and energy you put into these weeks, you get back way more than you ever put in."

I know that feeling. Sometimes one thinks they are helping others when really they are helping you. 

I really loved this book but I think you should read Hey, Kiddo first. You will meet Jarrett in that book and understand what a hard life he has lived, making this book all the sweeter.

Rating: 5 stars.

-Anne