The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon Published by Delacorte Press in November 2016
Format: ebook
Source: Library
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Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.
Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.
The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?
Arguably, The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon is a must-read. It took me longer than it should have to read it, but I’m glad I finally did. The variety of perspectives presented in the story wrapped with a sweet romance left me entertained and with a new view of the struggles some minority groups face.
The Sun is Also a Star follows two teens. Natasha is a logical thinking, black, illegal immigrant about to be deported to Jamacia with her family. Daniel is a romantic, Korean American and the son of immigrants that has a college interview for Yale (“second best school”) with his parent’s expectations weighing on his shoulders, which may not be what he wants out of life. The story spans a single day and takes the pair all over NYC as they attempt to solve their problems and possibly fall in love.
I enjoyed the varying perspectives and the “history of” anecdotes from secondary characters and relevant topics like black hair care. It gave me a glimpse into many perspectives not only of the main characters but their parents, a depressed security guard, and an attorney. All of these perspectives helped to shape the story and was very thought-provoking. The Sun is Also a Star had an entertaining story and made me think about my life in America and the unknown struggles others are experiencing as well.
My only issue with The Sun is Also a Star was the storytelling style. Personally, I find reading stories with short chapters and constantly changing perspectives difficult to read. It takes me longer to get immersed in the story. So despite the fast-paced nature that short chapters give to a story, I did feel like it took me longer to read The Sun is Also a Star.
I highly recommend The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon to everyone. Even if YA contemporary romance isn’t your cup of tea, I suggest giving it a try. Perhaps it will shed some light on some different perspectives on life in America and the American Dream.
If you read The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, what were your thoughts about the book?
