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Because of the Sun
From the backyards of suburban Florida to the parched desert of New Mexico, Because of the Sun explores the complexity of family, the saving grace of friendship, and the healing that can begin when the truth is brought to light.
Dani Falls learned to tolerate her existence in suburban Florida with her brash and seemingly unloving mother by embracing the philosophy Why care? It will only hurt. So when her mother is killed in a sudden and violent manner, Dani goes into an even deeper protection mode, total numbness. It’s the only way she can go on.
But when Dani chooses The Stranger by Albert Camus as summer reading for school, it feels like fate. The main character’s alienation after his mother’s death mirrors her own.
Dani’s life is thrown into further turmoil when she is sent to New Mexico to live with an aunt she never knew she had. The awkwardness between them is palpable. To escape, Dani takes long walks in the merciless heat. One day, she meets Paulo, who understands how much Dani is hurting. Although she is hesitant at first, a mutual trust and affection develop between Dani and Paulo, and Dani begins to heal. And as she and her aunt begin to connect, Dani learns about her mother’s past. Forgiving isn’t easy, but maybe it’s the only way to move forward.
Dani Falls learned to tolerate her existence in suburban Florida with her brash and seemingly unloving mother by embracing the philosophy Why care? It will only hurt. So when her mother is killed in a sudden and violent manner, Dani goes into an even deeper protection mode, total numbness. It’s the only way she can go on.
But when Dani chooses The Stranger by Albert Camus as summer reading for school, it feels like fate. The main character’s alienation after his mother’s death mirrors her own.
Dani’s life is thrown into further turmoil when she is sent to New Mexico to live with an aunt she never knew she had. The awkwardness between them is palpable. To escape, Dani takes long walks in the merciless heat. One day, she meets Paulo, who understands how much Dani is hurting. Although she is hesitant at first, a mutual trust and affection develop between Dani and Paulo, and Dani begins to heal. And as she and her aunt begin to connect, Dani learns about her mother’s past. Forgiving isn’t easy, but maybe it’s the only way to move forward.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 3, 2017
22 people are currently reading
936 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
February 9, 2017
This one's tough to rate. I'd say 3.5 is more accurate. Definitely enjoyed it overall.
Read the in-depth review on my blog: Read Diverse Books
Read the in-depth review on my blog: Read Diverse Books
February 5, 2017
4.5 or 5 stars. I've got to think on it. either way this book was amazing. go buy it now
April 6, 2017
3.5 stars
Review to come.
Review to come.
February 7, 2017
• Find my reviews here: Literary Meanderings
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From the backyards of suburban Florida to the parched desert of New Mexico, "Because of the Sun" explores the complexity of family, the saving grace of friendship, and the healing that can begin when the truth is brought to light. Dani Falls learned to tolerate her existence in suburban Florida with her brash and seemingly unloving mother by embracing the philosophy "Why care? It will only hurt." So when her mother is killed in a sudden and violent manner, Dani goes into an even deeper protection mode, total numbness.
- - -
Let me first tell you that I devoured this book in 3 hours. I took one bathroom break but that is IT. I was glued to the pages. It wasn't necessarily because it was an edge-of-your-seat type of story, but because the protagonist, Dani, was so hypnotizing.
Dani feels as if she's never had a real place in the world. Dani isn't your typical, clichéd, angsty teenager. She's had a tough life thanks to her verbally (and sometimes physically) abusive mother. Her father is absent. It has always been just Dani and her mother. Until her mother is mauled by a bear and dies a bloody death. It sounds harsh, but the author portrays the attack with a slight air of aloofness—and slight comedy. It is so slight that you may not even notice it, but I totally did. Like just the idea that your mother is outside sunbathing topless... and dies by bear attack. It's outlandish, really. I liked that the author gave me a few smiles with this.
Dani is sent to live with an aunt she never knew existed. Her mother always told her she had no family, so the mere existence of said aunt was a shock. Moving from Florida to New Mexico is also a shock. Dani meanders through the process of moving with silence, numbness, and disbelief. The entire situation has a dreamlike feel to it. There is little actual interaction between Dani and her aunt Shelley until almost the end of the book.
While Dani is in New Mexico she, of course, meets a boy. Now, don't freak out. Again, this author took the story in a different direction than I would've originally thought. Instead of going the usual route of boy-saves-girl-from-(insert something bad or depressing here), she simply makes this guy a friend to Dani. Yes, they share a kiss, but this doesn't magically make her get over her mother's death or the confusion that comes with trying to mourn someone who treated you like crap. NO. Getting through day after day, moment after moment, making friends, getting to know her aunt—and her mom through her aunt—is what helps Dani to heal.
Somewhere near the 2/3 way point we flashback to the past. Aunt Shelley tells us the story of herself and Dani's mother. Their life was awful. Their mother and father were dysfunctional and some terrible things happened to them. This flashback brings to light the reason Dani's mother ended up being the abusive person she was. We also learn a little about Dani's father. I won't spoil anything here, but it all makes sense after you read this. You can then play devil's advocate.
On a side note: Dani sees this bear that killed her mother ALL THE TIME. It's a hallucination/dream/etc., but she sees it and there is a ton of symbolism in why this is so. The bear sometimes just stands there menacingly, while other times it growls or even speaks. I think this gave a strange but interesting aspect to the story.
Overall, I enjoyed this book so much! It is a new favorite of mine. I think the characters were well built and the plot was fleshed out nicely. Both things were done in a new, fresh manner (in my experience). The story is told in a dreamlike fashion with beautiful prose and wonderful symbolism. The book really showcases relationships—those between parents and children, husband and wife, siblings, friends, and more. I appreciated the message I received from the story and the ending was perfect.
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Book source: From the publisher for review
Publisher: Delacorte Press
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February 12, 2017
Actual rating 3.5 stars
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
I received an e-ARC of this book from Delacorte Press and Random House Children’s via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Critically
Plot – 3 out of 5 stars
I don’t really know how to explain the plot of this book because it’s not really a common one. It was really easy to get pulled into and was really easy to read which means I flew through it. It’s divided into three parts with no chapters which was a little hard for me to get used to but made so much sense when I look back. This book deals with loss, grief, violence, abuse, honestly, pain, overwhelming emotions and acceptance. It’s a little strange but very powerful.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
The writing style is very particular and unique. It’s engaging, powerful and intense. The author uses a lot of descriptions and details to paint a very emotional and heart breaking picture. Some of the scenes were kind of confusing and it took me awhile to suspend my belief and immerse myself in the main character’s perspective. But the best thing ever is that there’s Spanish and it’s written correctly which YES! However, it was italicized which threw me off but I still appreciate it.
Characters – 3 out of 5 stars
This story is about Dani and her relationship with her family, there’s no way around that. Even though I enjoyed the side characters, they definitely don’t have that big of a role in the story as a whole. We see from Dani’s POV and it’s all about her, most of the time. I had a hard time connecting with Dani. I felt for her and what she was going through but I didn’t feel any connection to her. I’m blessed to have never lost a parent and even then, I most likely would not feel as conflicted and shut off to it as Dani does. She’s angry and sad but also numb to all those things and letting life go on around her. She’s practically silent and mute, very introverted and lost within herself. She’s grieving but not really allowing herself to go through the process completely because she’s full of rage at the same time. I loved reading about her growth and her journey through all these tumultuous emotions though. She meets a guy named Paulo and his grandmother Doña Marcela and they are so amazing. They bring Latinx culture into this story which I really loved. I really liked Paulo and his interactions with Dani. He understood her in a way that I didn’t and I connected with him on a different level, so getting to see him talk and help Dani, helped me to understand her better as well. Doña Marcela says very little but she’s definitely tough. One of those grandmothers with a no nonsense attitude but the kindest soul and touch of anyone else in your life. I loved her silent support. Finally, Dani learns of her family through Shelly, her aunt she’d never known she’d had. They both struggle so much in this book but I really enjoyed the progression of their relationship and how they slowly began to open up to each other. That was definitely my favorite part of this book.
Emotionally
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
I received an e-ARC of this book from Delacorte Press and Random House Children’s via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Critically
Plot – 3 out of 5 stars
I don’t really know how to explain the plot of this book because it’s not really a common one. It was really easy to get pulled into and was really easy to read which means I flew through it. It’s divided into three parts with no chapters which was a little hard for me to get used to but made so much sense when I look back. This book deals with loss, grief, violence, abuse, honestly, pain, overwhelming emotions and acceptance. It’s a little strange but very powerful.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
The writing style is very particular and unique. It’s engaging, powerful and intense. The author uses a lot of descriptions and details to paint a very emotional and heart breaking picture. Some of the scenes were kind of confusing and it took me awhile to suspend my belief and immerse myself in the main character’s perspective. But the best thing ever is that there’s Spanish and it’s written correctly which YES! However, it was italicized which threw me off but I still appreciate it.
Characters – 3 out of 5 stars
This story is about Dani and her relationship with her family, there’s no way around that. Even though I enjoyed the side characters, they definitely don’t have that big of a role in the story as a whole. We see from Dani’s POV and it’s all about her, most of the time. I had a hard time connecting with Dani. I felt for her and what she was going through but I didn’t feel any connection to her. I’m blessed to have never lost a parent and even then, I most likely would not feel as conflicted and shut off to it as Dani does. She’s angry and sad but also numb to all those things and letting life go on around her. She’s practically silent and mute, very introverted and lost within herself. She’s grieving but not really allowing herself to go through the process completely because she’s full of rage at the same time. I loved reading about her growth and her journey through all these tumultuous emotions though. She meets a guy named Paulo and his grandmother Doña Marcela and they are so amazing. They bring Latinx culture into this story which I really loved. I really liked Paulo and his interactions with Dani. He understood her in a way that I didn’t and I connected with him on a different level, so getting to see him talk and help Dani, helped me to understand her better as well. Doña Marcela says very little but she’s definitely tough. One of those grandmothers with a no nonsense attitude but the kindest soul and touch of anyone else in your life. I loved her silent support. Finally, Dani learns of her family through Shelly, her aunt she’d never known she’d had. They both struggle so much in this book but I really enjoyed the progression of their relationship and how they slowly began to open up to each other. That was definitely my favorite part of this book.
Emotionally
Read
March 8, 2017This book is. . . odd?
First off, I wasn't entirely sold on the beginning of the story. It begins with Dani's mother getting killed by a bear. In their backyard. In suburban Florida. I've never been to Florida and maybe there are tons of bears just walking around.. But I would've been able to find it more realistic if maybe it was an alligator? Anyways, I decided to look past this.
Dani is a hard character to enjoy.
I think Jenny Torres Sanchez had a brilliant reason for creating Dani and a beautiful outcome for her story.. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything to connect with her in order to finish the book. I got about 25% into the story before calling it quits.
I'm a little disappointed, but this book is certainly not for me.
Dani's disconnection is hard to get through because it's so depressing. It's hard for me to read this story when I've been dealing with my own father's passing, and maybe if it was another me reading this then I'd enjoy it.. But sadly, I just couldn't finish it.
First off, I wasn't entirely sold on the beginning of the story. It begins with Dani's mother getting killed by a bear. In their backyard. In suburban Florida. I've never been to Florida and maybe there are tons of bears just walking around.. But I would've been able to find it more realistic if maybe it was an alligator? Anyways, I decided to look past this.
Dani is a hard character to enjoy.
I think Jenny Torres Sanchez had a brilliant reason for creating Dani and a beautiful outcome for her story.. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything to connect with her in order to finish the book. I got about 25% into the story before calling it quits.
I'm a little disappointed, but this book is certainly not for me.
Dani's disconnection is hard to get through because it's so depressing. It's hard for me to read this story when I've been dealing with my own father's passing, and maybe if it was another me reading this then I'd enjoy it.. But sadly, I just couldn't finish it.
February 7, 2017
Check out this review, a Q&A with the author, and other nifty bookish things on my young adult book blog, Here's to Happy Endings!
Aside from being absolutely obsessed with the beautiful cover of this book (those colors mixing together, and the simple silhouettes of the people and water tower in the background) I was also drawn to the synopsis for this. Because of the Sun sounds like such an emotional, powerful read, full of pain, acceptance, and looking for a place to call home.
As soon as I picked this book up, I was engrossed in it, and finished it in a single day. It was such a great read, and with the length of the book (only 272 pages), things were paced just right so that it held my attention and made it possible to fly right through this one. Because of the Sun didn't even start off slow - it jumped right into an interesting (and quite bear-filled) story that set the stage for the rest of the novel.
Dani lives with her mother, traveling from place to place instead of ever really settling down for long. They moved often, with her mother always getting excited about their new place, saying how much better it was than the place they left behind. Dani's mother also enjoyed getting boyfriends and drinking alcohol - and never really developed much of a relationship with her daughter, except to remind her that she only ever ruined her life.
Dani has grown accustomed to moving from place to place and never being close to her mother. So when her mom is violently killed while outside sunbathing, Dani doesn't feel the emotions that one would expect her to. She briefly stays with her neighbor, and then finds out that her aunt, whom she never knew existed, would be taking her in and giving her a place to live. The only thing that Dani would need to do is move from her Florida home to New Mexico.
Since Dani is used to moving around, she just goes with it. She will have a place to stay, with this relative she did not even know about.
Dani's aunt Shelly doesn't know how to care for a teenage girl, especially one who just lost her mother and seems lost in life. At first the two of them do not talk much, especially when it comes down to Dani's mother. Dani goes about her life, enjoying summer vacation as much as she can due to the circumstances, and starts taking long walks. Not accustomed to the summer heat in New Mexico, she faints, and she meets a boy her age named Paulo, when she visits his grandmother's gas station. Over the course of the novel, Dani spends more and more time with Paulo and his grandmother, and feels a sort of comfort with him, because he has experienced a devastating loss, as well.
As time goes by and Dani starts to come out of her numbing fog and starts to really process that her mother is gone and that she is feeling so much grief, she and Shelly start to talk more, and Dani learns a lot about what family really is.
I will admit that there are parts about this book that I thought were a little strange, such as the events with the bear that Dani keeps seeing around. One of the scenes in the book that featured a bear had me wondering what was going on for a minute, but at the same time, the bear wasn't just a bear - it symbolized something a lot deeper that Dani had to conquer in order to heal, so it was an essential part of the story.
As far as characters go, while I did have a bit of a hard time connecting to Dani at first, I think it was for the best honestly - she was numbed by her mother's death and pulled into herself, making her a difficult character to figure out and get to know on a deeper level - until around the middle of the book, where we really got inside her head and started to understand the emotions she was feeling. While this would normally bother me about a book, in this case it kind of added to the story, because she had a lot of issues to deal with. It's also through Dani that we get to know her mother a lot better, as well, as flashbacks are frequent in Because of the Sun.
Shelly's character seems closed off when we first meet her, but as time wears on, we discover why. Shelly actually has a section of the book that is told in her perspective, and it sheds light on what life was like for her and Dani's mother as teenagers. Here's a hint - it isn't pretty.
Although I do wish there would have been more interaction with Paulo, his character played a really important part in Dani's story, and he really added to her. Paulo had his own issues to deal with - tragedies that we learn about toward the end of the book.
There was so much raw, gripping emotion in Because of the Sun, and it was a difficult book to read at times, but at the same time, it wasn't something I could put down. I spent hours just in love with Dani and Shelly's stories, and the more I read, the more I just felt like I knew their characters on a deeper level.
There was so much character development in this book, as it really was a character driven novel. Dani has to learn to come to terms with her mother's death, and Shelly has to learn how to cope with her sister's passing and having a niece that she has never known. Because of the Sun was such a beautiful and emotional read, and you can bet that I will adding Jenny Torres Sanchez to my list of authors that I will automatically purchase books from from now on!
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Aside from being absolutely obsessed with the beautiful cover of this book (those colors mixing together, and the simple silhouettes of the people and water tower in the background) I was also drawn to the synopsis for this. Because of the Sun sounds like such an emotional, powerful read, full of pain, acceptance, and looking for a place to call home.
As soon as I picked this book up, I was engrossed in it, and finished it in a single day. It was such a great read, and with the length of the book (only 272 pages), things were paced just right so that it held my attention and made it possible to fly right through this one. Because of the Sun didn't even start off slow - it jumped right into an interesting (and quite bear-filled) story that set the stage for the rest of the novel.
"I learned not to get attached to people or places long ago. To simply get up and go without a care about who or what we left behind."
Dani lives with her mother, traveling from place to place instead of ever really settling down for long. They moved often, with her mother always getting excited about their new place, saying how much better it was than the place they left behind. Dani's mother also enjoyed getting boyfriends and drinking alcohol - and never really developed much of a relationship with her daughter, except to remind her that she only ever ruined her life.
Dani has grown accustomed to moving from place to place and never being close to her mother. So when her mom is violently killed while outside sunbathing, Dani doesn't feel the emotions that one would expect her to. She briefly stays with her neighbor, and then finds out that her aunt, whom she never knew existed, would be taking her in and giving her a place to live. The only thing that Dani would need to do is move from her Florida home to New Mexico.
Since Dani is used to moving around, she just goes with it. She will have a place to stay, with this relative she did not even know about.
"I like the idea of nothing mattering, not deeply. Especially not memories. Memories can be just events if we take the emotion away."
Dani's aunt Shelly doesn't know how to care for a teenage girl, especially one who just lost her mother and seems lost in life. At first the two of them do not talk much, especially when it comes down to Dani's mother. Dani goes about her life, enjoying summer vacation as much as she can due to the circumstances, and starts taking long walks. Not accustomed to the summer heat in New Mexico, she faints, and she meets a boy her age named Paulo, when she visits his grandmother's gas station. Over the course of the novel, Dani spends more and more time with Paulo and his grandmother, and feels a sort of comfort with him, because he has experienced a devastating loss, as well.
As time goes by and Dani starts to come out of her numbing fog and starts to really process that her mother is gone and that she is feeling so much grief, she and Shelly start to talk more, and Dani learns a lot about what family really is.
I will admit that there are parts about this book that I thought were a little strange, such as the events with the bear that Dani keeps seeing around. One of the scenes in the book that featured a bear had me wondering what was going on for a minute, but at the same time, the bear wasn't just a bear - it symbolized something a lot deeper that Dani had to conquer in order to heal, so it was an essential part of the story.
As far as characters go, while I did have a bit of a hard time connecting to Dani at first, I think it was for the best honestly - she was numbed by her mother's death and pulled into herself, making her a difficult character to figure out and get to know on a deeper level - until around the middle of the book, where we really got inside her head and started to understand the emotions she was feeling. While this would normally bother me about a book, in this case it kind of added to the story, because she had a lot of issues to deal with. It's also through Dani that we get to know her mother a lot better, as well, as flashbacks are frequent in Because of the Sun.
Shelly's character seems closed off when we first meet her, but as time wears on, we discover why. Shelly actually has a section of the book that is told in her perspective, and it sheds light on what life was like for her and Dani's mother as teenagers. Here's a hint - it isn't pretty.
Although I do wish there would have been more interaction with Paulo, his character played a really important part in Dani's story, and he really added to her. Paulo had his own issues to deal with - tragedies that we learn about toward the end of the book.
There was so much raw, gripping emotion in Because of the Sun, and it was a difficult book to read at times, but at the same time, it wasn't something I could put down. I spent hours just in love with Dani and Shelly's stories, and the more I read, the more I just felt like I knew their characters on a deeper level.
There was so much character development in this book, as it really was a character driven novel. Dani has to learn to come to terms with her mother's death, and Shelly has to learn how to cope with her sister's passing and having a niece that she has never known. Because of the Sun was such a beautiful and emotional read, and you can bet that I will adding Jenny Torres Sanchez to my list of authors that I will automatically purchase books from from now on!
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Read
October 6, 2017The definition of a "quiet read" and one wherein the ~magical realism~ is 100% realism but through the lens of grief and dreams and hallucination.
Dani's mother is killed by a bear, and she's sent to live with the aunt she's never known on the other side of the country. It's a sold story about grief and loss, one which reminds me a bit of Nina LaCour's WE ARE OKAY in how it's presented as something so solitary and individual and all-encompassing. But what I disliked was how there's a whole chapter in the end of part two which is just the info dump of backstory. It's not woven in well, and it made me a little irritated because it could have been done much more masterfully.
The book has a lonely feeling and that's a good thing. Torres Sanchez captures a feeling so raw and overwhelming and does so in a way that's authentic and resonates.
Dani's mother is killed by a bear, and she's sent to live with the aunt she's never known on the other side of the country. It's a sold story about grief and loss, one which reminds me a bit of Nina LaCour's WE ARE OKAY in how it's presented as something so solitary and individual and all-encompassing. But what I disliked was how there's a whole chapter in the end of part two which is just the info dump of backstory. It's not woven in well, and it made me a little irritated because it could have been done much more masterfully.
The book has a lonely feeling and that's a good thing. Torres Sanchez captures a feeling so raw and overwhelming and does so in a way that's authentic and resonates.
February 7, 2017
This review was originally posted on As Told By Tina My Review
Because Of The Sun was one of my most anticipated releases of 2017. It was the first time in a long time I finished a book in a day. From the first page to the last page, I was instantly drawn into the story. There were times I felt like I had to emotionally step back from the book because being inside Dani’s head could be too much but after a couple breaks here and there I found myself finishing the book without even realizing it.
After finishing the book, I’m left with mixed feelings. I thought the story was unique and captivating and above all emotionally draining but in the good kind of way. That being said, this book does contain emotional and physical abuse and if any of these are trigger for you, then I would proceed with caution.
It is hard to explain the plot but it is so unique and tied so well together. Most of the time, I had a hard time trying to figure out where this was headed and where the connection was. Like I mentioned this book deals with emotional and physical abuse, it also deals with grieving and it is done in a unique powerful narrative. There were times when I couldn’t figure out where the story was headed and that was a bit of headache.
I really enjoyed the writing and the way this book was written. It was divided into three parts each playing a unique role in the story and tying it together so beautifully. The way this book is set up it doesn’t have chapters that was a bit hard to get use to but after you finish the book it makes perfect sense as to why it was written this way.
Dani was a character that was hard to like. She was such a mess because of her situation and how she viewed herself. It was hard to read and understand. But I felt from the beginning of the story to the end of the story really grew. I also really liked Shelly and she again was another character who was hard to like but at the end of the story I loved both Dani and Shelly. My favorite character in the whole book was Paulo. I felt like he was the only real likable character from the beginning to the end and I kind of wish he would have had a bigger part in the story but I understand why he didn’t and I absolutely loved that.
Jenny didn’t let the romance part of the story take over (which is incredibly rare in YA) and she also had Dani save herself, which again is incredibly rare now at days in YA. I felt that was what made me like this book a little more. Dani needed to heal herself. Shelly needed to heal herself and they did and they didn’t really need anyone but themselves to do it. And I think that’s why I enjoyed Because Of The Sun as much as I did.
It didn’t completely blow me away and I felt like it left me with more questions then answers but I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed how Jenny was able to weave together three parts that didn’t seem to go together into one beautiful, tragic, heartbreaking story.
Because Of The Sun was one of my most anticipated releases of 2017. It was the first time in a long time I finished a book in a day. From the first page to the last page, I was instantly drawn into the story. There were times I felt like I had to emotionally step back from the book because being inside Dani’s head could be too much but after a couple breaks here and there I found myself finishing the book without even realizing it.
After finishing the book, I’m left with mixed feelings. I thought the story was unique and captivating and above all emotionally draining but in the good kind of way. That being said, this book does contain emotional and physical abuse and if any of these are trigger for you, then I would proceed with caution.
It is hard to explain the plot but it is so unique and tied so well together. Most of the time, I had a hard time trying to figure out where this was headed and where the connection was. Like I mentioned this book deals with emotional and physical abuse, it also deals with grieving and it is done in a unique powerful narrative. There were times when I couldn’t figure out where the story was headed and that was a bit of headache.
I really enjoyed the writing and the way this book was written. It was divided into three parts each playing a unique role in the story and tying it together so beautifully. The way this book is set up it doesn’t have chapters that was a bit hard to get use to but after you finish the book it makes perfect sense as to why it was written this way.
Dani was a character that was hard to like. She was such a mess because of her situation and how she viewed herself. It was hard to read and understand. But I felt from the beginning of the story to the end of the story really grew. I also really liked Shelly and she again was another character who was hard to like but at the end of the story I loved both Dani and Shelly. My favorite character in the whole book was Paulo. I felt like he was the only real likable character from the beginning to the end and I kind of wish he would have had a bigger part in the story but I understand why he didn’t and I absolutely loved that.
Jenny didn’t let the romance part of the story take over (which is incredibly rare in YA) and she also had Dani save herself, which again is incredibly rare now at days in YA. I felt that was what made me like this book a little more. Dani needed to heal herself. Shelly needed to heal herself and they did and they didn’t really need anyone but themselves to do it. And I think that’s why I enjoyed Because Of The Sun as much as I did.
It didn’t completely blow me away and I felt like it left me with more questions then answers but I enjoyed the story. I enjoyed how Jenny was able to weave together three parts that didn’t seem to go together into one beautiful, tragic, heartbreaking story.
January 7, 2017
liked the plot of the story, but i had a hard time diving into it.
full review soon! :)
full review soon! :)
February 4, 2017
2.5 stars. This is a tough one for me. On one hand, there was some lovely writing in this story. However, there were times where the overly-flowery, highly-metaphorical language was confusing as a reader.
The character of Dani, the main protagonist of the book, is very difficult to connect to, mostly because she has totally checked out after her mom's passing. She is totally numb, and her character shows no emotion for a large chunk of the book.
I liked Paulo. He was my favorite character in the book, and his backstory was so sad.
Dani's arc felt very strange to me, pacing-wise. The first half drags on and on with her being completely void of ambition or determination. Then there is a small part in the middle where we see her relationship with Paulo progress. But then end was kind of a mess for me, beginning with the flashback to see her Aunt's and mom's backstory I was bored silly by this passage in the book. I get that we are supposed to see Ruby in a new light because if this...but it doesn't work for me at all.
I feel pretty disappointed by this book because I think the concept has merit. Between that and the lyrical writing style, this story had major potential. Unfortunately. The execution was lacking.
The character of Dani, the main protagonist of the book, is very difficult to connect to, mostly because she has totally checked out after her mom's passing. She is totally numb, and her character shows no emotion for a large chunk of the book.
I liked Paulo. He was my favorite character in the book, and his backstory was so sad.
Dani's arc felt very strange to me, pacing-wise. The first half drags on and on with her being completely void of ambition or determination. Then there is a small part in the middle where we see her relationship with Paulo progress. But then end was kind of a mess for me, beginning with the flashback to see her Aunt's and mom's backstory I was bored silly by this passage in the book. I get that we are supposed to see Ruby in a new light because if this...but it doesn't work for me at all.
I feel pretty disappointed by this book because I think the concept has merit. Between that and the lyrical writing style, this story had major potential. Unfortunately. The execution was lacking.
December 16, 2018
Didn't really like this book. I was a bit confused at times and didn't understand why the main character kept "seeing" a black bear.
May 7, 2017
After her mother dies in a bizarre fashion in the yard of their Florida home, Dani moves to New Mexico to live with an aunt she didn't even know existed. While she deals with her feelings of grief and loss, she connects with the feelings of alienation experienced by the protagonist in Albert Camus's The Stranger. How can literature mirror so perfectly her own feelings of detachment? Then again, feeling detached has long been Dani's own way of coping with life with her mother who always seemed so unfeeling and disinterested in her daughter. As Dani goes for long walks in the desert and tries to sort out her feelings, she meets Paulo, a kind, patient, and hard-working boy who has a tragedy of his own in his past. As Dani opens up to him, she and her aunt Shelly also begin to trust one another, and Dani learns many truths about her mother's past that explain her behavior. In the end, as Dani chooses to forgive her mother so that she can move steadily into the future, she realizes that she is not to blame for her mother's unhappiness, and that her own survival is noteworthy. Although parts of the book may be confusing to readers because of how haunted Dani is by the bear that killed her mother, the bear can also be seen as a symbol of all the things she fears. Much of the book feels dreamlike or as though someone has wandered into the desert without proper hydration and is now experiencing delusions. Although the book ends on a hopeful note, my heart broke at how detached Dani felt she had to be in order to make it through every day of her life. Just to make it through one day, Dani had to travel as light as possible.
December 7, 2019
1.5 stars. This is a novel about grief and dysfunctional people. It feels like an attempt at stream of consciousness writing, but as if the author didn't fully understand the concept. The narrator comes across as a mentally limited teen, with a low IQ and never felt comfortable to me. The book attempts to capture the feel of a border town, with the reality of violence, but it's so grazed over with little depth. Also, the author is Hispanic and yet her dysfunctional and flawed characters are white. One wonders what reception a white author would get if they currently wrote a book in which the only flawed people were non-white. One also wonders if the bad guys in all of her books are white males. I won't be reading another to find out. This book had some good ideas, but it was in need of a good editor to make a lot of changes.
Also, some of the Mexican characters are resentful of the fact that America doesn't want them. You break into a country illegally and you're surprised the citizens don't want you? Really? Did you expect to be welcomed with open arms? That's like a rapist being surprised that his victim resents him. When you force yourself on someone else, you're going to experience pushback. If Mexico is so bad that you have to flee it, the correct thing to do is stand your ground and fight against the people making it bad, not invade another nation.
Also, some of the Mexican characters are resentful of the fact that America doesn't want them. You break into a country illegally and you're surprised the citizens don't want you? Really? Did you expect to be welcomed with open arms? That's like a rapist being surprised that his victim resents him. When you force yourself on someone else, you're going to experience pushback. If Mexico is so bad that you have to flee it, the correct thing to do is stand your ground and fight against the people making it bad, not invade another nation.
July 28, 2017
"I look at Mom's grave and the sea of headstones around us and the trees standing tall, the branches full and slightly swaying, and I realize...Sometimes there is shade, there is respite, there is beauty and love" (249).
This was my favorite line from this book. It's largely a story about dealing with profound grief in the most unforgivable circumstances. I had a hard time relating to Dani, so I know that tainted my review of the book.
I also felt like this book lacked a punch. I felt like it was building...but never fully arrived anywhere.
This was my favorite line from this book. It's largely a story about dealing with profound grief in the most unforgivable circumstances. I had a hard time relating to Dani, so I know that tainted my review of the book.
I also felt like this book lacked a punch. I felt like it was building...but never fully arrived anywhere.
Read
January 5, 2018Because of the Sun is an intimate, difficult story. It takes a second to get going, but once it does, Because of the Sun doesn't pull any punches. It navigates complex, challenging emotions with boldness and beauty in a way that feels important.
February 20, 2018
This is a tough one...I read it in a single day. It is an engaging read, but not completely satisfying. Complex, and flawed. I do think it should be read, and am glad I did.
Want to read
September 28, 2018Book received in Book Case Club book box!
Read
December 11, 2016Dani's mom is killed suddenly--she's mauled by a bear. Dani ends up having to leave Florida to live with her aunt in New Mexico (who she didn't even know about; her mom was estranged from her family). She meets a guy and learns why her mom was the way she was (and why she never talked about her family).
This is a really odd book. I don't mean that in a bad way (it's very beautiful and very sad) but this is not really a straightforward narrative. Dani imagines the bear that killed her mom is coming to kill her too, and so the bear keeps popping up, but it's rarely scary.
Dani also reads The Stranger, and that's a decent chunk of the story, too. Initially, she's just as detached as that main character, which makes for an interesting parallel.
I enjoyed this novel but if you like linear stories where everything is immediately clear and obvious, this is not for you. The reader is expected to do some of the work here.
This is a really odd book. I don't mean that in a bad way (it's very beautiful and very sad) but this is not really a straightforward narrative. Dani imagines the bear that killed her mom is coming to kill her too, and so the bear keeps popping up, but it's rarely scary.
Dani also reads The Stranger, and that's a decent chunk of the story, too. Initially, she's just as detached as that main character, which makes for an interesting parallel.
I enjoyed this novel but if you like linear stories where everything is immediately clear and obvious, this is not for you. The reader is expected to do some of the work here.
March 11, 2025
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quotes
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3.5 Stars
"It's so white, so hot, that I can't hear anything except what's inside my head. It feels like I'm in an airplane, and suddenly I wonder if I am. If the world is going in reverse. And I wonder if this is what it feels like to be unborn."
"But I couldn't quite picture you just walking away either. Leaving me alone with the bear. So I wonder, Mom, what did I mean to you?"
"Someone once told me we're made of stars. I wonder how the stars that made me came together and ended up in my mother's womb. I think about the stars that make up the bear in the sky. I see him dancing. I imagine being born.
A shooting star in a blacker-than-black sky."
3.5 Stars
"It's so white, so hot, that I can't hear anything except what's inside my head. It feels like I'm in an airplane, and suddenly I wonder if I am. If the world is going in reverse. And I wonder if this is what it feels like to be unborn."
"But I couldn't quite picture you just walking away either. Leaving me alone with the bear. So I wonder, Mom, what did I mean to you?"
"Someone once told me we're made of stars. I wonder how the stars that made me came together and ended up in my mother's womb. I think about the stars that make up the bear in the sky. I see him dancing. I imagine being born.
A shooting star in a blacker-than-black sky."
February 8, 2017
Dani Falls travels from Florida to live with her aunt in New Mexico when
her mother dies. She has never met her aunt or heard about her. This is a
story with a lot of meaning, tragedy,and feelings of dispare. Dani is an
Unloved child filled with a tragic past and her aunt is also trying to overcome
the loss of a sister she could not help and a parent. It deals with emotions,
And complexity of family and the healing that occurs after truth comes out
and forgiveness takes it's place.
her mother dies. She has never met her aunt or heard about her. This is a
story with a lot of meaning, tragedy,and feelings of dispare. Dani is an
Unloved child filled with a tragic past and her aunt is also trying to overcome
the loss of a sister she could not help and a parent. It deals with emotions,
And complexity of family and the healing that occurs after truth comes out
and forgiveness takes it's place.
February 7, 2017
Because of the Sun by Jenny Torres Sanchez is a slim volume that takes The Stranger by Albert Camus as a starting point and weaves it into a quiet tale of a teenager who is lost after her mother is mauled to death by a bear.
http://pussreboots.pair.com/blog/2017...
http://pussreboots.pair.com/blog/2017...
January 6, 2017
3.5 stars!
I still don't know how I felt about this book but I don't feel any connection with the characters nor the story. Review will be posted tomorrow!
I still don't know how I felt about this book but I don't feel any connection with the characters nor the story. Review will be posted tomorrow!
August 15, 2022
When Kenza was working in a literary agency in New York, she read this book . She recently came across it, published and recommended it to me. I had a ton of work to do today, but dipped into it... and then lost the day. I couldn't put it down. Such a wonderful, deep look into messy family relationships and the way abuse carries down from one generation to the next. I loved it.
Book description:
From the backyards of suburban Florida to the parched desert of New Mexico, Because of the Sun explores the complexity of family, the saving grace of friendship, and the healing that can begin when the truth is brought to light.
Dani learned to tolerate her existence in suburban Florida with her brash and seemingly unloving mother by embracing the philosophy Why care? It will only hurt. So when her mother is killed in a sudden and violent manner, Dani goes into an even deeper protection mode: total numbness. It’s the only way she can go on.
But when Dani chooses The Stranger by Albert Camus as summer reading for school, it feels like fate. The main character’s alienation after his mother’s death mirrors her own.
Dani’s life is thrown into further turmoil when she is sent to New Mexico to live with an aunt she never knew she had. The awkwardness between them is palpable. To escape, Dani takes long walks in the merciless heat. One day, she meets Paulo, who understands how much Dani is hurting. Although she is hesitant at first, a mutual trust and affection develops between them. And as she and her aunt begin to connect, Dani learns about her mother’s past. Forgiving isn’t easy, but maybe it’s the only way to move forward.
Book description:
From the backyards of suburban Florida to the parched desert of New Mexico, Because of the Sun explores the complexity of family, the saving grace of friendship, and the healing that can begin when the truth is brought to light.
Dani learned to tolerate her existence in suburban Florida with her brash and seemingly unloving mother by embracing the philosophy Why care? It will only hurt. So when her mother is killed in a sudden and violent manner, Dani goes into an even deeper protection mode: total numbness. It’s the only way she can go on.
But when Dani chooses The Stranger by Albert Camus as summer reading for school, it feels like fate. The main character’s alienation after his mother’s death mirrors her own.
Dani’s life is thrown into further turmoil when she is sent to New Mexico to live with an aunt she never knew she had. The awkwardness between them is palpable. To escape, Dani takes long walks in the merciless heat. One day, she meets Paulo, who understands how much Dani is hurting. Although she is hesitant at first, a mutual trust and affection develops between them. And as she and her aunt begin to connect, Dani learns about her mother’s past. Forgiving isn’t easy, but maybe it’s the only way to move forward.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2018
I read this in one sitting. Dani's voice is so clear and rings so true, even in the midst of her shock and confusion. Anyone who has done time in a dysfunctional family will recognize this story. "I remember wondering if we'd find Mama dead when we walked into the trailer." When I was a teenager comng home from school, I'd walk into our house and say, "Hello, I'm home" and wonder if I would find one or more family members dead. This was a routine and ordinary experience in my life, but it didn't occur to me that anyone else in the real world (i.e. the world outside our house) would have had those thoughts too. It is weirdly comforting as well as horrifying to know other people have experienced this. And survived! For ultimately, this is a story about survival. The relief I felt at the core of my being when in therapy I finally realized for sure that my mother's illness was truly not my fault. That relief is here too as Dani climbs her way out of her own hell-pit. Thank god for the people in our lives that can listen to us quietly, witness our craziness and still also see us whole and loving the way we wish to be. Dani is blessed to find such people to help her heal. I would give this to high school or above. The f word is used frequently, so I'd hesitate to shelve it in middle school, but the language is totally realistic and not overdone, so I'd have no problem handing it to a mature 7th or 8th grader who might identify with Dani and benefit from her journey.
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October 28, 2019 This book explores the intricateness of family , the importance of friendship , and the healing that can begin when the truth is finally revealed . "now we are like the flowers sprouting from the bears mouth". The quotation is powerful because of the way it signifies how they moved on and forgave the past . The most important part would be when Dani confronted the bear in the trailer , which she later finds out there is a past that she did not know existed . A scene that i found interesting was when Paulo (the boy she fell in love with) surprises her with a film of how they first met because it shows how thankful he is to have found someone that understands him .
I would use the adjective touching to describe this book because of all the controversial topics the author talks about and goes threw . "I put down the sun and pick up the liquor bottle "this one" i tell him "is because it's how i knew her best . With this in her blood . I always wondered what she would have been like without it ...." . The evidence shown is Dani explaining how her mom was always drinking and how their was not a day where she saw her sober .
A teenager would enjoy this book i would say because it speaks about friendships, having to move to a new place , and how there is much pressure to become something in life .
I would use the adjective touching to describe this book because of all the controversial topics the author talks about and goes threw . "I put down the sun and pick up the liquor bottle "this one" i tell him "is because it's how i knew her best . With this in her blood . I always wondered what she would have been like without it ...." . The evidence shown is Dani explaining how her mom was always drinking and how their was not a day where she saw her sober .
A teenager would enjoy this book i would say because it speaks about friendships, having to move to a new place , and how there is much pressure to become something in life .
September 3, 2021
This was a book club book, yet I thoroughly enjoyed it despite it's harsh reviews. This perfectly coincides with my summer reading of The Stranger by Albert Camus and I was interested to see how it tied into the book. I loved the characterization of all the characters and the numbness she felt within the book. The author has definitely experienced grief or depression because she perfectly described the black empty hole you feel that hurts and numbs everything, yet it doesn't numb you from the pain, which you so desperately want. She desperately wanted what Mersault had, the inability to feel. The contrast between her pain from her hatred of her mother, as well as coming to senses with her change of surroundings is beautifully described. I liked the introduction of Pualo but I don't think you need a love interest to fix what's within. Also the scene at the end where he made a film sucked. If I was her I would've laughed and left. They don't really have love, they have a trauma bond. I also liked the aunt's backstory, but I wish there was more of a section on how she changed since her childhood. Also I would've liked more of the transition period of how Ruby became who she was. Overall, I loved this book and I might go back for some metaphors I didn't catch.
May 6, 2017
3.5 stars
Kind of a hard book to review. I'm not quite sure in the end if it pulled off the effect it was looking for, or slid a little into 'trying too hard'. But there's definitely some good writing, and some good points made, and left in the reader's thoughts.
The deep point of view was the reason I picked up the book, after skimming the first few pages, and it didn't disappoint me. Dani's drifting through her life, unanchored. Emptied. Not really looking for something to care about; on the contrary, she's trying not to care, and succeeding. And the POV shows that, lets the reader feel how she's come undone, know the sensation of living life with a film between you and it, understand the blank it-doesn't-matter feeling. That's some strong writing.
The actual plot seems to be about the cycle of abuse, and breaking free from it. Forgiving the past and believing that there can be a future. But there's no wrap-everything-up everything-will-be-perfect ending, and I'm glad. That could have ruined it. Instead, the ending encompasses both hope, and the realistic understanding that not everything has meaning, and sometimes the best you can do is hold on and survive.
Kind of a hard book to review. I'm not quite sure in the end if it pulled off the effect it was looking for, or slid a little into 'trying too hard'. But there's definitely some good writing, and some good points made, and left in the reader's thoughts.
The deep point of view was the reason I picked up the book, after skimming the first few pages, and it didn't disappoint me. Dani's drifting through her life, unanchored. Emptied. Not really looking for something to care about; on the contrary, she's trying not to care, and succeeding. And the POV shows that, lets the reader feel how she's come undone, know the sensation of living life with a film between you and it, understand the blank it-doesn't-matter feeling. That's some strong writing.
The actual plot seems to be about the cycle of abuse, and breaking free from it. Forgiving the past and believing that there can be a future. But there's no wrap-everything-up everything-will-be-perfect ending, and I'm glad. That could have ruined it. Instead, the ending encompasses both hope, and the realistic understanding that not everything has meaning, and sometimes the best you can do is hold on and survive.
July 7, 2017
I am working on a middle grade novel, so I have been reading lots of books for teens this summer. In this mode, I just finished BECAUSE OF THE SUN by Jenny Torres Sanchez, and all I can say is wow! Interestingly, my latest novel is about a girl's conflicted relationship with her mother, so this book became like a mentor for me. The mom in my book is mentally ill, but the mom is Sanchez's book is damaged, and the damage causes her daughter's loneliness and psychological trauma-its own kind of damage. How can a daughter reconcile with an "absent" mother? Perhaps knowing the history of that mother can help, though-before that point-the rage, the fear, the despair become "touchably alive." And for Dani Falls-she has no idea who her mother is or was, and has learned to be on her own, like an orphan before she actually becomes one. Until....not about to provide a spoiler alert for this, but trust me, you MUST read this beautifully written and landscaped book. You might cry, but the tears will be good ones!
January 2, 2017
Dani and her mother are not what you would classify as "close". When her mother is brutally killed by a bear--Dani is forced to deal with their crumbling relationship and breadcrumb life. If that wasn't enough Dani is shipped off to live with an aunt she never knew existed. Dani deals with her feelings by mirroring the main character in the book she is reading--"The Stranger". There are some memories none of us ever want to relive, and then there are those we must in order to move forward.
Written in three parts and in short choppy sentences, you get the feeling that you are reading poetry more than a novel. It is well constructed to help you feel the same unease Dani feels and allows you to traverse the battleground together.
Written in three parts and in short choppy sentences, you get the feeling that you are reading poetry more than a novel. It is well constructed to help you feel the same unease Dani feels and allows you to traverse the battleground together.
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