I'll Give You the Sun

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson (2014)

I first posted about this book a little over a year ago here, but I finally convinced my Not-So-Young Adult book group at work to read it so that meant I needed to read it again too.

I went into this a little worried that I wouldn't love it this time, and I felt a bit of pressure since I told everyone in my book group how fantastic it is. But by the time I finished, I think I felt all of the same feelings as I did the first time. This was surprising since I knew what was going to happen, but I think it's a testament to Jandy Nelson's writing that my emotional response is apparently based less on the surprise and the events of the story, and is more about just how she tells the story and how much I care about the characters she has created.

The two main characters, Jude and Noah, are twins and each of them tells half of the story; Noah, the parts that took place when they were 13 and Jude, the parts that took place when they were 16. At the heart of the novel is a tragedy that changes them both, but there's a lot more happening as well. At 13 both twins were applying to get into an arts high school, though Noah was seen as the more promising artist. He also had a budding romance with the boy next door to distract him. Jude was less serious about her art and was more mainstream, hanging out with lots of popular kids from school. Post-tragedy it is Noah who hangs out with the popular kids, conforming as much as possible, while Jude is struggling at the arts school, avoiding boys at all costs, and living her life based on a book of superstitions passed down from her grandmother.

I loved the characters so much, and not just Jude and Noah. The artist Guillermo Garcia, who Jude begins taking sculpting lessons from, is tortured and difficult, but ultimately a really wise and wonderful person. Likewise, his young British friend Oscar is troubled and impulsive and makes terrible decisions, but you can't help liking him anyhow. The twins' mother is one of the most human parent characters I've read about in a teen book, and even their father, while not quite as central or well fleshed-out as other characters, was quite sympathetic.

Possibly one reason why this book evokes such an emotional response is because of the amount of risks taken or at least considered, and the number of betrayals that occur. A few different characters must make some high-stakes decisions and weigh the choice to take the safe route or do what they really want even though it could be disastrous. Even more painful are the times that people hurt others who they care deeply about. Seriously, nothing in this story is easy and a lot of painful choices are made, but it's all understandable when you get to know the characters.

Earlier I mentioned that Jude is sort of obsessed with superstitions and she is forever carrying around strange objects or foisting them onto others because of the magical properties they allegedly hold. It was a little sad that she was so desperate she was grasping at such things, but it was also very fun and I think these rituals gave her a sense of control that she really needed to feel. Noah wasn't superstitious, but what gets him through everything is his "invisible museum," the paintings he create in his head all the time. I loved the descriptions of all his artwork, those he actually made and those that only existed in his head. I wished I could actually see all of his art, which is one of the frustrating things about any book where art is central. Imagining it is good, but I do really want to see what the author is envisioning.

Obviously, I have a lot to say about this book, and that is because it's wonderful. Do you like teen books? Do you like good books? Do you like books that make you feel feelings? Then get yourself a copy of this one. Trust me.

I'll Give You the Sun

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson (2014)

Twin siblings Noah and Jude are very close when they are 13. Jude is outgoing and popular and rather a daredevil, while Noah is more on the edge of the social scene, quietly falling for the boy next door. Both are talented artists and their mother is encouraging them to apply to an arts high school. Three years later they are barely speaking, Jude having retreated into herself, ruled by superstition, while Noah is now the "normal"one who plays sports and has lots of friends. And something has happened between each part of the story that changed both of their lives irrevocably. Each twin tells their half of the story until the full arc is revealed and they can find their way back to each other.

Everything about this book is wonderful and magical and you should immediately procure a copy and read it all in one sitting. The end.

Ok, if you want, here are a few more details. The story is about family and secrets and art and romance. There are actually a few romances in here and they are all great stories. You should know that this book contains the most amazing kissing scene ever.

The way it was structured is actually quite brilliant. Noah tells his side of the part of the story that took place a few years ago, and Jude tells her side of the current story. So, they each have half of the story, (and we too only have part of the story, though different parts) and to get it all, they basically need to get back together. I'm not explaining that well at all, but trust me when I say it works.

This is going to sound a little weird coming from me, who is incredibly rational, but I liked all the superstitions that Jude was obsessed with from her grandmother's book of wisdom. Jude lived by these rules. Like "To avoid serious illness, keep an onion in your pocket." And "If a boy gives a girl an orange, her love for him will multiply." There's also a lot of destiny and fate and other things I don't believe in, and yet it all worked really, really well for me in this novel. I can't explain it. (Though, as I said before, this book is magical.)

There's also a talking parrot who only knows how to say "Where the hell is Ralph?" and a reclusive artist who makes giant stone sculptures of people, and death-defying leaps from ocean cliffs, and an adorable British alcoholic.

Have I mentioned the tragedy? There is a very huge, heartbreaking tragedy at the center of this novel and its incredible sadness somehow makes the happy parts all the happier. You will feel all of the feelings.

I literally can't think of anything negative about this book, which makes it hard to review but easy to recommend. (I've already got one library patron excited to read it!) Those who like authors such as John Green and Rainbow Rowell will probably also love I'll Give You the Sun. I think the best review of this book was also the first one I saw, when another librarian said that the cover was an accurate representation of how she felt the whole time she was reading it. I couldn't agree more.