Somewhere there is still a sun
Michael Gruenbaum
Somewhere there is still a sun
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
A Memoir of the Holocaust
by Michael Gruenbaum
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.
About This Book
What would you do if your whole world changed overnight? Twelve-year-old Michael and his family are taken from their home in Prague to a place called Terezin, where danger and hope exist side by side. Can his mother's courage protect them from the terrible fate that looms?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel follows twelve-year-old Michael and his family during the Holocaust, as they are deported to the Terezin concentration camp. It explores themes of survival, family resilience, and historical tragedy appropriate for readers ages 9-12, providing a sensitive portrayal of Jewish life during this dark period. Parents should be aware that the book deals with serious and potentially distressing historical events related to the Holocaust.
Why we rated Somewhere there is still a sun 12IE
Somewhere there is still a sun is written at a Level 7 reading level across 375 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Somewhere there is still a sun works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate Somewhere there is still a sun as 12IE ("Intense — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight, social complexity, thematic difficulty — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, Somewhere there is still a sun explores jewish children in the holocaust, family, survival, historical, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers. Each of these themes is concrete enough to seed a real conversation, not just a moral lesson.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about jewish children in the holocaust, family, survival.
- ✓ Curious kids who prefer real-world topics over made-up stories.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12IE — Intense — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
5/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
Similar Books
Based on content and theme analysis
Prisoner B-3087
Alan Gratz
Prisoner B-3087
Alan Gratz
Sunrise west
Yaakov ben Gershon Rosenberg
Sunrise west
Yaakov ben Gershon Rosenberg
Torn thread
Anne Isaacs
Torn thread
Anne Isaacs
Survivors
Allan Zullo
Survivors
Allan Zullo
Holocaust
Gerald Green
Holocaust
Gerald Green
After the War
Carol Matas
After the War
Carol Matas
Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9781442484863
- Pages
- 375
- Publisher
- Simon and Schuster
- Published
- 2015
- Type
- Nonfiction