I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Pages: 371

Intended Audience: Mature Teens

Genre: Real life drama

Notes for Parents: Contains coarse language, sexuality, mature themes.

The Back Cover

At first, Jude and her twin brother are NoahandJude: inseparable. Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and does all the talking for both of them.

Years later, they are barely speaking. Something has happened to change the twins in different yet equally devastating ways…but then Jude meets and intriguing, irresistible boy and a mysterious new mentor.

The early years are Noah’s to tell; the later years are Jude’s. But they each have only half the story, and if they can find their way back to one another, they’ll have a chance to remake their world.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This book was the winner of the 2015 Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. It also made several Top 10 lists and was named YA Book of the Year by Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, Boston Globe, New York Public Library, Chicago Public Library, and School Library Journal, to name a few.

What’s good?

Complex characters in alternating voices and times carry this candid exploration of emotional relationships. Young love, sibling rivalry, secrets, lies, and grief are cleverly interwoven themes in this story about a brother and sister – Noah and Jude: twins – who struggle to relate to each other, and to the people around them after a tragedy. Noah’s narrative, told when they were 13, is a rush of lyrical words while Jude’s narrative, told when they are 16, is a melancholy tale. Grandma Sweetwine’s Bible and Noah’s self-portraits add some humor and reflection that make this a poignant and passionate story.

Best Part: “I wanted to catch the unglued schizo way he looked before he got run over by misery…” (page 73)

What isn’t good?

The writing style can be difficult to get used to. The narratives are saturated with images that can be difficult to discern between the metaphorical and the literal. Especially with Noah, his thoughts are fidgety and complicated, often blurring the line between what’s in his mind and what’s really happening. The plot itself lacks substance, relying on misunderstandings, assumptions, jealousy, and all-around poor communication skills to create conflict and action. Oscar is a feeble stereotype.

Worst part: The overuse of the word “toilet-licking.”

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻☻ (3/5)

Long chapters and metaphor-soaked narratives make it a challenge to read. While I personally enjoyed the author’s style of writing, many will not. Regardless, this is an intricate, expressive drama about relationships and how they change and grow. Recommended.

Nelson, Jandy. I’ll Give You the Sun. New York: Speak, 2014.