A Thousand Minutes to Sunlight

by Jen White

Jen White's A Thousand Minutes to Sunlight is about a girl struggling with anxiety, family secrets, and the meaning of friendship.

Cora is constantly counting the minutes. It's the only thing that stops her brain from rattling with worry, from convincing her that danger is up ahead. Afraid of the unknown, Cora spends her days with her feet tucked into sand, marveling at La Quinta beach's giant waves and her little sister Sunshine's boundless energy.

And then danger really does show up at Cora's doorstep--her absentee uncle, whose sudden presence in the middle of the night makes her parents nervous and secretive. As dawn breaks once more, Cora must piece together her family and herself, one minute at a time.

Genres: Middle Grade, Mental Health, Realistic Fiction, Friendship, Fiction, Emotion, Childrens

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 20, 2021

About the author

Jen White writes middle grade fiction. Her second book, A THOUSAND MINUTES TO SUNLIGHT, is out 4.20.21. Her debut, SURVIVAL STRATEGIES OF THE ALMOST BRAVE, has been translated into several languages. She grew up in Southern California and currently resides there with her family. Jen received her bachelor of art's degree in English and her master's degree from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults. You can find out more at www.jenwhitebooks.com.

Reviews

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an inspiring story. Jen White did a great job in portraying mental health issues and how people and their environment handle this.

Cora is an interesting character to follow throughout the story. In the book, we get to see her struggle against her 'talking brain', which was very fascinating to discover. White made Cora into a complex character, which the reader can connect with and understand.

I love how Cora's friendship with Patrick eventually grows and how she begins to see things in another light. That she can actually make friends and maintain them. The adventures she goes on with Patrick, are lovely to read.

The story about uncle Richie was one I would've loved to read more about. I would've loved to know how the two of them bonded together later on. That was an aspect I missed in the story. The ending was rather rushed on that part.q
The writing style was easy to read, yet very fascinating.

I love how White talks to the reader at the end of the book and provides sources to go to if you're struggling.

I think A Thousand Minutes to Sunlight is a wonderful story about mental health, family and friendship;

Thank you to the author and Xpresso Book Tours for the free e-copy. This in no way affected my opinion.

[Gwenyth Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this novel, I know this because I didn't take too many notes. I was too busy reading! It was a wonderful story of friendship, family, and self-growth.

I really connected with Cora, because I understand her. I have pretty bad anxiety, and it's honestly only getting worse as I get older, because there are more things to worry about! But, I really connected with her after reading this passage (that I also shared on my Teaser Tuesday post previously):

A silent house, in the middle of the night, might be one of the loneliest places on the planet.

Did you hear that?

Brain says: Absolutely an ax murderer.

Crouched in the hallway, I'm poised for anything. It's 11:31 P.M. to be exact, and a wonder that I can even hear Brain, with my heart hammering in my eardrums.

Inside my head, I count.

1 2 3 4 5

This is pretty much how I react to weird noises at night, or even without any noise to prompt me at all. I just lie awake thinking someone is going to try and get into my house and hurt us. The only difference is I don't count. I use a variety of other coping mechanisms, but I don't think I have ever counted. Counting is Cora's big thing, that and her conversations with Brain.

I hate Brain, but that's what the author wants. Brain makes Cora question everything and makes her keep to herself. Brain tells her she is no good, that no one will ever want to be her friend, and that people are always thinking bad things about her. I love watching Cora grow and realize that maybe Brain isn't right all the time and maybe she should ignore Brain and just go with the flow. The first time she told Brain to "Hush" I actually cheered out loud a little. It was nice to slowly watch Brain fade into the background and Brain to actually question "What the heck is going on?" as Cora becomes more and more independent.

Patrick was my favourite character in the book. Everyone needs a Patrick in their life. He is so happy, energetic, and doesn't let anything, or anyone's opinions, get in the way of enjoying his life. He is a great friend and always there for you, supporting you however he can. I really enjoyed his storyline, and LOVED how they "resolved" it. I love how Cora and Patrick bond over their goals, just 2 kids with 2 impossible dreams.

The novel is simply written, and perfect for middle grade readers. The chapters are short and easy to get through, and I loved the intriguing and unique chapter titles. The subject of mental illness is addressed cautiously and with tact. I love that both parents are in the picture and are supportive. I love Cora's sister, Sunshine, and how supportive she is always trying to be, especially with the affirmations. She is such a little sweetheart! I love that therapy is used and medication is discussed. I also like how they worked in a possible family connection to show it's not just her and that mental illness runs in the family.

My only issue was I wish they would have left out the two incidents that "may" have caused the issues with her brain, because I would have preferred a character with mental illness with no causation as I feel it might have been easier for other kids to connect with her and what she is dealing with without the causation aspect.

Overall it's a fabulous book that is very well written for the target audience and I recommend it to everyone.

The Pros:
Mental health is addressed in a positive and helpful manner.
The characters are all very well done and realistic.
The importance of family and friendship is strong.
Patrick!!!

The Cons:
The idea of something possibly causing the mental health issues made me feel uncomfortable in this specific novel.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cora's anxiety keeps her locked in constant conversations with her Brain, counting the seconds and minutes in her days, and avoiding other students in her new middle school. Her panic attacks increase after her only friend moves away, and then matters get worse when her long-lost uncle, who has alcoholism, comes into their lives.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice development of character, and the focus on anxiety, friendship, and forgiveness were well done. Only 4/5 because I do think it could have had a bit more emotional impact, but overall, I did like this one.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a 3.5 for me. Everyone has coping mechanisms. Some of them are a little stranger than others, but if something helps them get through the day, then that's probably okay. In the case of Cora Altman, a sixth grader, it is counting the seconds and minutes until the next thing happens. Cora suffers from extreme anxiety and finds it hard even to place a breakfast order at IHOP or deal with crowds. In order to quiet Brain, the voice inside her that questions everything and reinforces her insecurities, she focuses on time. Because her one friend at school, Minny, has moved across country, Cora is feeling even shakier than usual and even had a meltdown at school on Friday before the novel begins. While searching the beach for treasure, she meets a rather odd boy, Patrick, who plans to travel through space and time during an upcoming lunar eclipse to meet his deceased parents. At first Cora wants nothing to do with him, especially since he's so friendly and comfortable with everyone and she definitely isn't. She also suspects that he's been assigned by school authorities to be her friend, something that makes her feel pathetic and unwanted. Eventually she realizes that he is a real friend, and the two of them can help each other with their individually projects--finding the gold coins rumored to have been lost during a plane crash on the beach and being launched into a wormhole in order to travel back in time. But when Patrick is on the verge of launching himself into the atmosphere using two large batteries, Cora realizes that he could hurt or kill himself by doing so and that sometimes being a friend means keeping someone from doing something dangerous. Cora's growth is gradual, and there are several embarrassing scenes that show just how public and humiliating her breakdowns are. She even vomits all over Patrick while on an amusement park ride. The fact that she's misjudged popular classmate Ando adds depth to the story as does a subplot concerning Cora's long-lost Uncle Richie who has returned to the family and is in rehab. While her father forgives his brother for his past actions, Cora's mother struggles to do so. Interestingly, her uncle has turned to drugs and alcohol to deal with his own demons and Cora has moments of awareness that the two of them may have a lot in common. Ultimately, although Cora hasn't been magically cured of her anxiety by the end of the book, she has found friends who accept her as she is and has learned to muffle Brain while realizing that the missing treasure is nowhere as valuable as the treasure she's found in her new friends and new way of living as well as her awareness of the importance of forgiveness and second chances. Each chapter is entitled according to some sort of time or amount of minutes until an event happens, which gives readers a glimpse into how she thinks. I was pleased to see yet another book for young readers with a character facing mental health challenges since the more books such as this one that exist, the less stigma will surround mental health or keeping silent when someone is in pain. After all, no one is happy every moment of every day. I was with Cora each step of the way as she struggles, and even though things are wrapped up pretty neatly in the end with even Humberto, Ando's friend and Cora's constant belittler, becoming part of her friendship circle, I still enjoyed reading her story. While she says she's willing to give him a second chance, in reality it would take longer for both of them to change their minds.

[Rajiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

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To begin with, I thought the author did a lovely job with the story. She addresses mental health issues and how people cope with them.

Cora is a complex character. I appreciated how the author wrote her struggles against her mind when she gets panic attacks. I enjoyed the way the author portrayed Cora’s feelings. She has interesting conversations with her brain, where you can read her thoughts through actual dialogues between the brain and Cora. Interestingly, the author also managed to convey difficulties with adults, such as Uncle Richie’s addiction problems.

Moreover, it is never easy losing a best friend, and I thought the author portrayed Cora’s friendship with Patrick nicely to move on from Minny. Patrick and Cora share lovely company and some of their moments were very cute. Also, Patrick oozes optimism and positivity that you cannot help but adore. I enjoyed the scenes where he takes Cora on the ride and takes her to Bingo. On a side note, I also loved Queen Bea and thought she made the story extra special.

However, I would have loved more scenes and interactions between Cora and Uncle Richie. I felt that we didn’t get enough closure on the topic. Moreover, I would have liked it if the story spent less time on Cora’s hunt for Cat’s treasure and spent more time at her bonding with her Uncle. On the other hand, I enjoyed Patrick’s time travel storyline and wondered how it would progress.

Overall, “A Thousand Minutes to Sunlight” is a charming middle-grade novel that focuses on mental health issues with a touch of friendship and adventure.

[Fatima Anwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Thousand Minutes to Sunlight gives a new perspective to family mental health issues. It talks about a teenage girl with anxiety and panic disorders.
Jen White's writing style is really fluid and expressive. I really enjoyed how the author has wonderfully portrayed Cora's character, her mindset, her personality, and her thoughts. Cora is indeed a complex character in this story, her thoughts keep contradicting each other and it is surprising to see how she tries to be a child yet an adult at the same time. The conflict between her thoughts, her expressions, the stream of consciousness in the writing, the depth of the characters, and the flow of thoughts are portrayed perfectly.
I liked the writing style a lot, it is a bit perplexing but the way the author has personified her inner thoughts and alternatively split the writing between her conscious thoughts and unconscious mind aka "Brain" is appreciable.
A Thousand Minutes To Sunlight by Jen White is an enjoyable read that surrounds mental health problems, friends, and family. It can be enjoyed by teens as well as adults. I would give it 4.2/5 stars because the conscious writing style sounds amazing at first, but gets a bit annoying to read in the middle.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many relatable experiences in this book. I know that it is written for middle grade, but as a mom of 3 (youngest just starting middle school), I felt like this book has a lot to offer young readers and adults alike. White has an amazing ability to describe Cora’s anxiety along with her dreams and fears in a way that helped me better understand people who struggle emotionally. All of us have feelings like these to some degree, but reading from the perspective of Cora helped me as a mom to realize that sometimes pushing our kids out of their comfort zone is not always the best thing to do to help them progress. It also helped me to see that most people are just doing their best with the situations in which they find themselves. The adventures are captivating, the characters are well developed and compelling, and the overall book has a great message of hope and optimism for families going through challenges and individuals overcoming personal/mental challenges. Thank you Jen White for writing a great book!

[Vernon Area Public Library KIDS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cora pays attention to the minutes. It helps stop her never ending battle with her brain, which is always yelling at her, constantly telling her to be on high alert. Regardless of that, she spends her days in the sand on the beach near her house and her little sister's endless amount of energy.

When an absent uncle shows up unexpectedly in the middle of the night, her parents suddenly become nervous and secretive, making Cora even more anxious than she already is. Throw a new friend into the mix and Cora soon finds herself trying to piece herself-and her family- back together one minute at a time.

Cora's struggle and journey to cope with her anxiety was actually quite remarkable. I was so impressed with how she handled it and was able to block out her brain to actually live her life and make new friends. It's a great message to those with mental health problems that you are strong and you can get through it, no matter what.

Reviewed by Skye Kordistos, Youth and School Services Librarian, Vernon Area Public Library

[Sayword B Eller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Sixth grade Cora deals with severe anxiety. She’s just had a very embarrassing panic attack at school and her best (and only) friend has moved across the country. The only one she has left is Brain, that voice in her head that tells her how horrible she is and how she messes everything up. Cora’s parents are trying everything they can to help her cope with her anxiety, but it isn’t until she meets Patrick and the two become one another’s Number Twos that she begins to understand maybe Brain isn’t looking out for her best interests after all. This is a middle grade novel, but I think it transcends its genre and can be appreciated by all ages, and especially by those who deal with anxiety and stress disorders. Five stars to this delightful, heartwarming, and entertaining book.

[Jennifer Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

It seems there is a plethora of anxiety/ depression books for middle schoolers and I’m glad. I think mental illness needs to be addressed for this age and the fact that it looks different for everyone.

As Cora’s best friend moves all the way across the country, she is worried about school, she has no other friends, she had a panic attack and feels like she is a weirdo no one likes and everyone makes fun of. After running away from school she is put with a “friend” Patrick, who Cora thinks is a weirdo. She feels he is a forced friend. Her brain, Brain, tells her a lot of negative things and as Cora and her therapist work through things, she begins to realize that she can do things and can be in charge of Brain.

[Lacey Mubanga · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the anxiety rep in this book. As someone who has also struggled with an anxiety disorder since I was a child, I could relate and thought it was very well done. It was nice to see the relationship between Cora and her parents. I enjoy seeing parents interacting with their children in middle grade novels. Unfortunately, the rest of the book fell a bit flat to me. I was bored for a big portion of this novel, though I did enjoy the resolution. Take my review with a grain of salt. Though I do enjoy a fair number of middle grade books, I am not the intended audience. I think a middle grade reader, especially one dealing with any sort of mental health condition, might really connect with this story.

[Ann Jacobus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This warm, gentle story about family and friendship stars eleven-year-old Cora who is struggling with the loss of her best friend who just moved away, a new "forced-friend," an outgoing younger sister named Sunshine who eclipses Cora, family substance abuse issues, and most of all with debilitating anxiety, as evidenced by her snarky brain with its own negative voice. The matter-of-fact treatment of Cora's mental health and the support from her family and school (mostly) are realistic and reassuring, sensitively portrayed, and a triumphant window and mirror into living with mental illness for all kids.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cora has anxiety and her brain talks to her. Her one friend has moved and now she is alone. In order to keep calm and under control, she counts minutes. She loves to treasure hunt with her father at the beach. But when some school peers find her there, they make fun of her. Her little sister Sunshine is the opposite - full of energy and outgoing. Cora often wishes she was more like her. When her long lost uncle shows up in the middle of the night, Cora's parents are suddenly secretive and busy. It is up to Cora to piece together what happened and find a way to cope with the change in their lives.

[Jenny Ashby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cora is weighed down by Brain who sends her negative messages all the time. She is facing further issues now that her best friend has moved to Florida and Cora has to get through a school day all alone. When Patrick is assigned to be her friend she is turned off by his exuberant personality and reaction to everything, but their friendship builds realistically and slowly. Patrick is great! And all the people who are attracted to Patrick's universe are also great. The story moved so nicely that I didn't even realize we were hearing less and less from Brain until several chapters after he had mostly disappeared. A nice look at anxiety without anxiety being the main focus of the story.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

12-year old Cora is a treasure-seeking middle school girl plagued by fierce anxiety. (It wasn't mentioned in the book, but she seemed to be on the autism spectrum, too.) Her best friend has just moved away at the same time her long-lost alcoholic uncle reemerges in her family's life. If that wasn't enough to exacerbate her anxiety, a boy at school wants to become her best friend and help her on her quest to find the fabled treasure of a missing woman. This is an important middle-grade book because of its inclusion of characters with mental health and addiction issues. While I appreciate the representation displayed in this book, I did get frustrated by Cora's constant conversations with Brain (negative self-talk). I think her anxiety and intrusive thoughts could have been portrayed in a more subtle and less annoying way. It really interfered with the flow of the story.

Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!

Cora and Patrick are really relatable characters and I enjoyed the whole plot. The sorry wasn't super predictable, which was fun. I loved how Cora finally realized at the end of the book ***spoiler alert*** that she doesn't have to listen to Brain. She taught me that I don't have to listen to that voice in my head, MY Brain, telling me I'm not good enough. I can follow my heart, use my gut and my listen to my instincts.

Thank you Jen White for the world of possibility you've opened up for every kid who reads this book.

Five stars, comes completely recommended

[Eileen Winfrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cora has a metal detector and spends her free time searching for treasure near her home in La Quinta California. Cora also has anxiety, manifested in a negative voice in her head she calls Brain. Her one friend moved away and she had her first public panic attack in her 6th grade hallway. A new friend, strange and enthusiastic, adopts her and life goes on. The anxiety was written so well it gave me anxiety and I had to finish this book just to get it out of my life. Well-meaning and hopeful.

[audrina k · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is so cute! i will right a better review after school, but i loved it sm, the characters are relatable and it was definitely a quick read! i was in a reading slump and this got me back into reading within a day!! i definitely recommend this book, it does deal with mental health issues, and i think it’s done wonderfully. go read it!!! :)

[Gracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I liked this book well enough and I thought that the ending was pretty good. I do wish that at the end Cora would’ve actually just picked up the coin instead of leaving it for her friends. I feel that she could’ve easily made it onto the trolley and have the coin and riches for life. But, that’s just me.

[LS Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m in love with Cora and Patrick. I want to know the rest of their story and how their friendship develops. These characters will stay with me and that’s a sign that I loved the book. The book is not a quick read because there are a lot of developed details but I found each one necessary. All 295 were wonderful.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story about learning to accept yourself.

Our 12 year old POV character has soul-crushing anxiety. When her best friend moves away, it gets even worse. Compound that with family drama, and things are hard.

However, she makes a new friend and realizes that people don't hate her, and she starts to take control over her anxiety.

[Allison]

A sensitive, realistic look at what it's like to be a kid with anxiety. Would recommend to young readers who enjoy stories about kids struggling and overcoming challenges. Good themes of friendship and family.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet book, helps you think about if being worried about what others think is really worth it and how much joy can come from being free from the fear of judgement. It was a little hard to get into but by halfway point it was an engaging story.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cora struggles to find herself. It's remarkable how a friend can help with that.

[Yukai Lim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story as it was such an inspiring story about a young girl with who talks to her brain .

[ellyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** rating: 3/5 stars
boring

[Kammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started reading this story, I wasn't sure of the format-- Cora narrating with frequent interruptions from Brain. However, after the first few chapters I was caught up in the story and didn't find it distracting at all. Jen White has created characters easy to sympathize with. Cora's insecurities and interpretations of social situations are relatable to all readers, regardless of their age. I loved this family and their efforts to be better and happier.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had anxiety for as far back as I can remember and I wish there would have been a book about a girl like Cora when I was growing up. I think many kids will be able to relate to this story and find some hope for what they are experiencing.

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, thanks to NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Cora is having a rough start to her school year. Her best friend has moved, she given a "forced friend" to spend time with, and Brain is over the top in contributing to her life. Add to that, a mysterious man, who we find out is her uncle, who is having his own problems with mental health and addictions.

Trying to deal with anxiety, Cora resorts to counting., counting everything! Especially time. But thankfully, she is surrounded by a loving family who really does want the best for her, regardless of what she may think some times.

Overall, I really liked the way the author dealt with the mental health/non-neurotypical issues as they came up, including how she had friends and classmates relate to Cora. I also appreciated the fact that we see an intact family, struggling to do their best.

Will I encourage my middle grade students to seek it out? Probably. But will it get a huge push, probably not. In the scheme of things, it just wasn't very memorable.