It is no secret on this blog that I am a big fan of Jeff Zentner's books, so it should not be a surprise that I have finally come around to talking about Sunrise Nights, a young adult novel he cowrote with Brittany Cavallaro. A mixture of poetry and prose, the book follows two teens across three separate nights, over the course of three years.
The Situation: Jude Wheeler loves photography, and has since he was a young kid. He has a good eye, and it is the one thing that allows him to feel in control. With his parent's splitting up, retreating to his camera gives him solace, and it is the reason he is attending Harbor Arts Camp in Michigan. It is also where he meets Florence, a girl who loves dancing, and knows she is good at it. Thing is, she is losing her eyesight, and it is all but certain the her time as a dancer is limited. When the two meet, they proceed to spend the entire last night together - known at the camp as Sunrise Night - by exploring the town, only parting at sunrise after they make a pact: no contact for the next year. Not even through social media. And they will meet up next year at camp.
The Problem: Both Jude and Florence manage to stick to their agreement, but simply meeting up the next year at camp proves to be more complicated than it sounds. Quite a bit has happened to both of them over the last 12 months, and neither of them is ready to be completely honest about it. When a misunderstanding threatens to undo the bonding they have managed to do in just the handful of hours they have known each other, it is not clear what the next 12 months will do to their relationship, and what their last Sunrise Night at camp will bring.
Genre, Themes, History: This young adult fiction novel is a collaboration between Zentner and Cavallaro, and takes place over three separate nights, each one 12 months after the previous one. Split almost equally between poetry and prose, with the prose being mostly conversation, Jude and Florence proceed to get to know each other exclusively during what is known as Sunrise Night at the Harbor Arts Camp in Michigan. Since the campers are allowed to stay up past their usual curfew, though they must check-in at predetermined times, Jude and Florence explore the city, ending up at a bowling alley, diner, coffee shop, arcade, and even a Target. As they take turns being the first person narrator, Jude and Florence tell their story, while they also learn about each other.
My Verdict: I opened this book at a time when I was kind of lamenting my inability to find YA books like this in 2024. Clearly, I am either not looking hard enough, or my search method is flawed, because this book is exactly what I was hoping it would be. The format is a welcome change, and while I am always quick to admit my struggle in reading and understanding poetry, what is found in this book is accessible, fun without being vapid and cliched, and the conversation is smart, witty, but also believable. Jude and Florence are two teenagers whose worlds are changing a little quicker than they may like, and they only get to catch up with each other for one night of the year. It is an interesting concept that the authors pull off well.
Favorite Moment: There is a reoccurring character that shows up at one point during each of the Sunrise Nights, and every encounter is funnier than the last.
Favorite Character: Jude Wheeler is a lot braver than he thinks he is, as he never would have met Florence if he had not gathered up the courage to approach her on that first Sunrise Night.
Recommended Reading: I recommend Zentner's In the Wild Light, his most recent solo YA novel.
