Jen White's A Thousand Minutes to Sunlight is a sensitively-written middle grade novel 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.
"Anxious kids will certainly appreciate the recognition, and they will also find this a helpful depiction of their struggles for the adults in their life; readers of all stripes will be glad to see Cora moving out from under the thrall of Brain and growing more confident."
Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books
"The struggles of a young person coping with anxiety will invoke empathy."
Kirkus Reviews
"With appended facts about pediatric mental health and support contacts, Cora's story, as told in her own words, will elicit empathy and resonate with those who experience anxiety and similar mental health conditions. Recommended."
