Sunshine

by Norma Klein

Sunshine is about a young woman with terminal cancer and was based upon a true story, taken from the young woman's tape-recorded diary.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, True Story, Death, Classics, Illness

223 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Norma Klein was born in New York City and graduated cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa from Barnard College with a degree in Russian. She later received her master's degree in Slavic languages from Columbia University.

Ms. Klein began publishing short stories while attending Barnard and since then she had written novels for readers of all ages. The author got her ideas from everyday life and advised would-be writers to do the same -- to write about their experiences or things they really care about.

Ms. Klein died in 1989.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think those who reacted negatively to this book don't understand osteosarcoma. By the time it is found in the leg, it has most likely metastisized. Meaning she would have gone through the surgery and died just a few months later. And this was back in the 60's and 70's. So she spent quality time with her daughter. I absolutely adored this book when I read it in high school and also remember the movie.
There was also some type of follow up I remember where I saw real pictures of the husband and letters to the daughter. I definitely miss the literature of the 70's. I still have this book on my shelf.

[*TUDOR^QUEEN*]

I've actually never read this book, but acquired a rare used paperback copy several years ago. The TV movie made a huge impression on me back in the early 70's when I was a child. I even taped the audio using one of those old Panasonic portable tape records just so I could re-listen to the audio, again and again. I actually just acquired the movie on DVD a couple of weeks ago, but it can also be seen on YouTube. It's amazing how my views on the main character of Kate Hayden have changed over the decades, now that I have the life experience and maturity I lacked as a child. I still love this movie the same as ever, though. For those who never saw it, it's based on an actual real story. If you Google Jacquelyn M. "Lyn" Helton, you can see old photos and newspaper articles about her. She died at the age of twenty, leaving behind a two year old daughter. Shortly after giving birth to her daughter, she had painful knee problems. It was at first misdiagnosed as bursitis, but was actually a rare form of cancer called osteosarcoma...a bone cancer. The only surefire way of a cure is to amputate her leg, but Kate (I'll use the names from the movie from this point on) refuses to have the surgery. She actually became pregnant by her husband, but was already separated from him when she met and fell in love with Sam. She and Sam meet at a ramshackle hut where you hear banjos and guitars being played at a kind of hippie gathering. John Denver music is played throughout the movie. Sam is a struggling musician trying earnestly to get paying gigs with his band. Kate's cousin plays the banjo in the band, and they are often practising at the house. Sam doesn't mind when he finds out Kate is pregnant by her ex-husband. They fall hopelessly in love, and after Kate has the baby Jill he tells the hospital personnel to put his name down on the birth certificate, and they even hold a wedding ceremony in the hospital. Sam owns one of those iconic VW vans and it's painted in true hippie style. They live in Washington state, where it's cloudy a lot of the time, but Kate loves nature and the mountains and often asks to go there to find peace and happiness. For awhile Kate consents to radiation and pills, and as we see her lying down in the hospital receiving those treatments her thoughts revert back to when she met Sam, having Jill, and the story slowly unfolds in this dream-like way. In fact, the movie begins to the strains of John Denver's "Country Roads" and Sam holding Kate's cremation urn. She asked for her remains to be sprinkled over her beloved mountains. All their hippie friends and even her cancer doctor (played by the lovely and talented Brenda Vaccaro) is there. Kate is frustrated by her hair falling out, how sick she feels and her resultant bursts of anger at Sam and Jill. She tells everyone that she won't cut her leg off because it's not fair to Jill when she can't run around with her, and she can't spend any quality time with her when she's not feeling well after taking the pills. Of course back then as a child of 10 watching this I found it all tragic and romantic, but now I have a lot more to think about it. First and foremost, wouldn't it make more sense to have the surgery and actually be around for your child for years and maybe even decades? Jill was only two when Kate died. The movie was all about Kate dying "her way", but now that I am a parent I can't imagine doing anything that would deprive my child of being around. Also, Kate was big on the natural way of being, so Jill is seen throughout the movie just wearing underpants and no shoes. If she goes outside, the only difference in this attire is they put a short sleeve top on her. One of the most touching moments (of many) in the movie is when Sam finally gets a paying gig at this bar and he has to carry Kate in, sitting her at a table and chairs. She's wearing one of those long comfortable breezy skirts and a crocheted shawl around her shoulders. As she watches Sam perform "Lady, are you Crying?" by John Denver, she's both smiling and crying. Before the band started playing, the packed bar was very loud with talking and no one was paying attention. However, the band performed this song so ernestly and beautifully that gradually everyone was paying rapt attention and was riveted by the emotional delivery. Of course Kate dies at the end, and Sam gets on his motorcycle struggling with tears to ride away his grief. Little adorable Jill is standing outside with the female downstairs neighbor and Sam asks her if she'd like to go on a ride. Again, she has no shoes on and just her white panties and blue sleeveless shirt. He puts her up on the motorcycle in front of him, buttoning his coat around her for security, as they drive away. The camera focuses on the beautiful smile on Jill's face as they drive away in the wind, and that's the last vision that remains on the screen. This movie is hopelessly sad and beautiful, especially when seen by the eyes of a young impressionable child like I was back in 1973 when this aired. Of course now I am a little cynical and judgemental about a lot of things now that I am in the senior years of my life, but that nostalgic feeling of loving this movie will never wane. Back to the book, as depicted in the movie, Kate's cancer doctor played by Brenda Vaccaro gives her a portable tape recorder and blank tapes so that she can leave behind her thoughts for her daughter Jill...so that Jill would be able to somehow know her. Sam promised to have everything on the tapes typewritten and bound, so this book must be the result and contain excerpts of Kate's ramblings.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't remember if I saw the movie or not. I read this when I was in high school and I loved it at the time. I cried and cried and that was part of the appeal. It was all the tragic drama that you can't get enough of at that age. I haven't reread it because I haven't wanted to spoil the way I remember it. I think so much has changed both in me and my outlook (as now someone who is in my mid-40's), the world in general, the way we think about and can deal aggressively with cancer and our expectations about success (in fighting cancer). And also, about a young mother and the choices she made. She was 18!!! It's not that we don't still have 18-year-olds giving birth, but today we see them as "kids having kids". Today she would have had the same legal rights of course, but I think she might have faced an onslaught of "adults" telling her she had to fight. Her parents might go before a judge trying to declare her too young and immature to make the decision for her and try to get her Medical POA. It's a book about a time in history, a very young mother, and a tragic loss.

[Algernon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was planning on writing another review tonight, about a serial killer thriller I finished a week ago, but then I watched ‘Sunshine’ [1973] and I cannot think of anything else.
The story of a young mother, a free spirit born in the aftermath of the flower power generation, who dies of cancer at only twenty years of age and records her thoughts on tape for the benefit of her daughter, has haunted me for more than thirty years, ever since I first saw the movie in a ‘cinematheque’ as a student. It never played again anywhere, and I was wondering if my older self would be as impressed with the story as my young and impressionable twenties one did.

Finally, I asked a friend to buy me the recently issued Blu-ray disk from the States, and tonight he delivered. And I believe I am even more of a fan now that I should know better about tear-jerkers and star-appeal. Yes, Christina Raines is as lovely as I remembered, and the music of John Denver as corny and sentimental as ever (this was the very first time I listened to ‘Take Me Back, Country Roads’ and ‘Sunshine, On My Shoulders’), but this is not what makes the movie / the novelization so memorable.

It’s the true story angle, the love of nature ( Let’s go to the mountains ), their power to soothe the wounded soul and recharge your drained batteries. It’s the strength of the emotion on display, the appeal to honesty in relationships, even when they are going through some rough patches. It’s the request for respect of personal choices and the right to hold on to your dignity as you are about to exit the scene.

I don’t know how easy to find this novelization by Norma Klein is, or if the sequels she eventually wrote merit the same praise, but I believe the movie deserves to be rediscovered and cherished by younger generations. It may have as strong an impact on them as it had on me, all those years ago.

[Azim · Rating 4 out of 5]

این مصیبت بزرگی است که احساس کنی مورد عشق کسی واقع نشدی، و بدتر از آن، این که مدام مردم سرت داد بکشند و بگویند تو انسان بدی هستی.
بسیار متعجم که این کتاب تا کنون در چاپ اول مانده و هنوز تجدید چاپ نشده است با وجود اینکه از انتشار اولیه ی آن نه سال می گذرد.
آفتاب درخشان بی شک یکی از تاثیرگذار ترین داستان هایی می باشد که تا کنون خوانده ام و هر لحظه از آن را با غم و اندوه سپری کردم و گاهی حتی نزدیک بود که اشک هایم جاری شوند.
کتاب درباره ی زنی به نام کیت است در آستانه ی ورود به سنین جوانی قرار دارد و یک ازدواج نا موفق و نوزادی به جا مانده از آن دارد. او تازه با سام آشنا شده و به ظاهر روز های بسیار شیرینی را با یکدیگر سپری می کنند تا اینکه متوجه می شود به سرطانی بسیار نادر مبتلا شده است و به ناگاه همه ی خوشی های او جلوی چشمانش رنگ می بازند.
این را هم باید اضافه کنم که داستان این کتاب بر اساس واقعیت بوده و از روی صدای این خانم بخت برگشته که با ضبط صوت خود ضبط کرده بود توسط نورما کلین به صورت یک رمان خواندنی درآمده است.
گفتن این نکته نیز خالی از لطف نیست که بر اساس این اثر گرانقدر یک فیلم و همچنین سریالی نیز ساخته شده اند.
#آفتاب_درخشان
#نورما_کلین
#اشرف_منظوری
#نشر_آموت
#bestnovelbooks

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, it’s schmaltz, no, it’s not great literature, but I was captivated by this story of a very young mother battling cancer. Ok, I read it when I was close in age to the main protagonist, and it was a long time ago, and I am fascinated by stories of people with cancer, but I would still recommend it. I reread it several times, and I would bet it holds up ok.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

It gets an extra star out of nostalgia for how much my teenage self romanticized the movie and loved the John Denver songs in it. I've grown up and had a daughter of my own. Result? I understand why my grade 8 teacher reacted so negatively when she saw the movie on TV. Get your leg amputated and be there while your daughter grows up!

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I grabbed this book off the shelf at my library in school...I think it was late middle school. It was the first book I remember reading and the first book that ever made me cry. I love this book. I was probably too young to appreciate it at the time, but this book turned me on to reading. I had no clue to was ever a movie until I saw the review. Awesome!!

[Heather Puckett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book over and over again as a tween. An incredibly powerful story that has stuck with me even into adulthood.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am guessing I read this book when I was about 12. I absolutely loved it. It was the year I decided I wanted to be a poet and move to the Rocky Mountains and live a life like Jacquelyn - simple, pure, true. Except I did not want to die from cancer at 20 years old. I just wanted to live in the sunshine and have someone love me like Sam loved her.

It moved me powerfully, Jacquelyn's story, and I pushed it on all of my friends. My best friend from high school claims even to this day that it remains HER favorite book ever because of my passion for it. Now that's passion. For some reason it came to mind today; I guess because life is so complicated and I find myself longing for simplicity, and I am ready to move to Colorado again and try my hand at poetry for a living. Thank you, Norma Klein, for influencing me even now, after all these years.

[Sue Seely · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was 12 when i read this and loved that there were a few swear words. I felt so grown up. This story made me feel compassion for others, and gave me an understanding of love, illness, and friendship and family. perfect bridge from childhood to teens.

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a young teen in the Seventies. 30+ years later, I still remember how poignant it was. I don't know if I would love it as much now as I did then, but I loved it then.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about a young mother around 20 who finds a lump on her leg. When she goes to have it checked out she gets the run around.
Her leg gets worse so the man she is living with takes her to a bigger hospital where there they tell her its cancer and they will have to take the leg. This is the story of Kate deciding to keep the leg and live the rest of her life to the fullest she can with her little and the man she loves. This is a story of heartbreak, courage and strength for one so young, she is only 19.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this 2-3 times and it’s beautiful and immersive every single time. For the negative reviews that mentioned she should have had her leg amputated and taken chemo, It’s always so easy to judge another from the outside looking in, isn’t it?

[Jazzy Lemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel based on a true story of a young woman dying of cancer in the early 70s.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago. I also saw the movie way back in the ‘70s. I loved it then and I love it now. This is the story of a young woman who has her whole life in front of her. She has a new baby, a new partner and devastatingly, a cancer prognosis that doesn’t look good. Osteogenic Sarcoma is a cancer that starts in the bones and spreads to other parts of the body. The treatment for it is usually amputation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. There are no guarantees! Kate decided to stop all treatment when her life seems to start to unravel. The treatment is brutal and she feels that she can’t be a good mother and wife while she is on it. Back when I first read the book (which is more in-depth than the movie) I could sort of understand Kate’s reasoning for stopping the treatment. But unless you have been down that road you don’t fully understand. Now that I also live with cancer I can fully understand what she went through.
Sunshine is based on the real life story of Jacquelyn Helton who kept a diary for her daughter Jennifer.
Highly recommended, but bring the tissues!

[Jessica Decarlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book at a thrift store when I was 14 years old and it still haunts me till this day and I’m 34. The book is about a young woman who finds out that she has a rare cancer. The doctor wants to amputate her leg but she refuses and says she wants to try the alternative route and go for chemo and radiation. I don’t want to give too much of the story away.. but the the woman is both wise and foolish and maybe just naive due to youth. But her beauty is captured within the true story. It’s about a woman who wants to keep her power and keep making her own choices.

You can find photos of the real character by the name of Jacqueline Helton on google. I’m not sure why, maybe because the photos are black and white, but so haunting and sad

[Zachary Littrell · Rating 1 out of 5]

At first, I was afraid Sunshine would be so sweet and maudlin about the tragedy I would get a cavity. And indeed, there's a lot of saccharine sentiments flowing around protagonist Kate, like a cringe-inducing metaphor about making love while pregnant involving the child. But then the book took a very unpleasant turn, and it wasn't the discovery of cancer.; it was the unwelcomed reveal that every single character in this book is a real piece of work.

(I should mention that this book is based on a TV movie and the journals of a real 20 year old mother who died of cancer. It would be nice to know how much of this is Klein's elaborations).

I'm fine with characters with flaws, but not when there isn't anything else to like about them. Death can bring out the worse in people, and boy does it do that here. Kate doesn't give amputating her leg a real consideration...because she doesn't want her daughter to have a one-legged mother? No mother is better? Her daughter's father shows up for five minutes, growls, and inexplicably disappears. Her new husband Sam's patience eventually wears thin, and he goes off and leaves his adopted daughter for a bit when the going gets rough. Everyone makes big grandiose statements about looking out for Kate's little girl, Jill, but then go and do whatever gives them some short term satisfaction.

The worst part though is how Klein manipulates the reader into thinking Kate is such a hero. Yes, it is very sad and I would probably be a mess in that situation as well. And I even teared up at the end -- because I could not fathom how Kate could be so narrow-minded. And I could not fathom how her doctor didn't even try to convince her to fight! FIGHT GOSH DAMMIT! I feel very sorry she went through this pain, but to ignore the possibilities that could have prolonged her time with her daughter is aggravatingly hypocritical. These were people with serious personality warts, and it is infuriating to see them unexplored, swept under the rug, and only brought out when it's time to pull at the heart strings.

So on one hand, the book succeeded. It elicited a strong emotional response from me, and it portrayed imperfect humans dealing with an unfortunate tragedy. And I appreciate that the characters aren't saints. But I did not like it. There is nothing romantic about what happened. It was a tragic loss and end of a young family with a genuinely shitty support network; to bill this as a love story is dishonest to the reader and dishonest to the story actually told. In conclusion, don't piss on my foot and then tell me how beautiful and impactful it was.

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just re read this and it is kind of bad. I realized that this book was based on the TV movie that I remember so well, not the other way around. it does not do justice to the real life story at all. The writing is spare and dull. Norma Klein does not give this heartbreaking and special story any more care than one of her lesser teen novels.

It's an interesting and tragic story about a young single mother who develops terminal cancer. The thing that is so profoundly sad about this story is how Kate's naivety, optimism and poverty kill her. She continues to be treated by an obviously unqualified and terrible doctor even after realizing he is a quack. This doctor passes off her obviously serious symptoms as "bursitis". Kate knows it's complete bullshit and knows that there is something probably seriously wrong but neglects to take responsibility for her own body out of thrift (neither she nor her boyfriend seem to have steady jobs), and a kind of wistful innocence. It is only when she collapses from the pain that she and her equally irresponsible boyfriend concede to spend the money and go to a legitimate doctor in a real hospital.

When she is told in no uncertain terms that she needs to have her leg amputated immediately or she will die, she chooses to die and leave her baby daughter motherless. Again, I felt a kind of pang of sorrow. I wanted to beg her to have the operation. She is 22, sweet and full of life and love for her daughter. I remember even as a child watching the made for TV movie thinking "Wait! Your leg is not worth your life!"

It is a depressing glimpse into the lives of a young, decent, loving couple who are nothing but sweet and kind to everyone around them. They are great as long as they are living their lives free of too much responsibility but when hit with a real life trauma, are seemingly overwhelmed by their situation and incapable of making good decisions.

[Leslie Uribe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sunshine is a very touching story about a young girl who got married at a very young age. A girl who is curious, and a happy person with her little baby girl Jill. A true story about a girl who's life ended at the age of 20 years old who watches her life ebb away knowing that she must taste of life love and happiness for the last time, especially with her daughter.

I recommend this book to everybody because its a heart touching story. I loved this story alot. Sunshine is the meaning of the girl who is telling the story, trying to enjoy her life because she knows she is going to die. Read the book and you will see why and understand it more.

The author of this book did a good job writing this book. I started reading another of her books and it seems to be interesting just like sunshine. Most of her stories must be about people having problems but those problems are more like understandable since the story is true. Read the book and I promise you won't regret it.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, I remember reading this and Eric and Love Story and crying and crying. I started with 2 stars (it is okay), but the truth was I liked it. Actually, ala Sally Field, I liked it, I really liked it.

[Jennifer Gurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was approximately 8 years old! That would have been in 1977!

It has stayed with me. A delay that Avon by offering this book to young readers with its subject matter they were years ahead of their time something we may not even let young people read which is sad because I learn sympathy empathy and learn how a young mom felt but most importantly I realize the quality of life which is so important and she knew exactly what she wanted for her life no matter what the doctor said.

Now at the age of 51 doctors have forced my children to take and be infused with biologic medications with alter your DNA and what these patients don't understand is that they have a right to refuse these drugs based on quality of life it might not happen right then but the side effects are cancer and worse death.

I cannot wait to read this book again.! I'm waiting anxiously by my mailbox.

[Heather Rawlins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this so long ago. More than once. Got it from Scholastic Books when I was in grade 7. What a beautiful story.
Ironically, one of the first TV shows I remember (slightly) was Sunshine and my favourite song is Sunshine on My Shoulder which was made for the tv show. The show made me happy, probably because of the baby, I was only 3-5 years old.
The book, though, was so well written. I still recommend this book to anyone who asks. The story of a very young mother telling her baby about her mum and all the events that happened.
I still recommend this book. I need to re-read it too.

[Ooma Indigo N · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took longer to get through this book than when I first read it at age 9 or 10 in the 70’s. Kate Hayden is so strong. Surviving childhood with a cold mother who always wanted to think the worst of her. Kate married at 16 to get out of the house yet she traded in her cold mother for a controlling husband. She leaves despite being pregnant. Meeting Sam is so amazing. He loves Kate and he looks at Jill as his own. The cancer comes. It really is tragic to watch Kate die. I really miss these awesome young adult books of the 70’s. Better than all that weird vampire or magic novels for teens.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a young teen when this came out, I fell in love with the music, movie, and book. Still an avid John Denver fan, I also have never forgotten the story of the characters. I remember writing a book report on it in my freshman year of high school. I may just pick it up again all these years later and read it again.

[Brhydi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I watched the movie countless times when I was younger as it was my mums favourite. Cried every time and the book was no different. I cried so much at the end that I could hardly read.
It broke my heart but inspired me.

[Tina McCallum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story of heartache and joy

[Lynnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was much younger, I’m glad I read it again. Now that I’m older I find new meaning.

[Becky Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning some very strong language but a beautiful story.

[Nicole Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book...