**Spoiler Warning**
I'll Give You the Sun
I recently read I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, and it's now one of my favorite
books ever. I had this book sitting on my shelf for months, and I never got around to reading it,
but I wish I had sooner. It is a heartwarming story of two twins spanning their high school and
middle school years.
Throughout their childhood, Noah and Jude had been inseparable. They
were each other's best friends. In middle school they start to grow apart. Jude is going to
parties all the time, while Noah is constantly bullied by the same people Jude hangs out around.
Jude has lots of friends, and Noah has none. Jude even ruined the one friend Noah managed
to make.
Their mom encouraged their love of art, which lasted even after her death, and Noah's
biggest wish is to go to the local art school for high school, but when Jude gets in and Noah
doesn't, their relationship takes a huge hit. Noah goes to the public high school, and Jude goes
to the art school, and their roles are reversed. Noah has made a lot of friends, while Jude has
pulled away from people, including Noah.
When Jude enlists the help of a grumpy old artist to
make the sculpture of her life, a series of relationships and connections are unveiled that bring
the twins back together and uncovers secrets about their mom previously unknown.
This story was impossible to put down.
The hint of mystery and romance woven into a
tale of familial healing and love created an incredible novel. I also loved the writing because it
was so unique, and enhanced the story and characters so much. It captures the hopelessness
and confusion of being a kid, but was also hilarious at times. I've read a lot of contemporary
young adult novels, and this book is easily at the top of my list.
-Ella, Alameda TAB