The Sun Is Also a Star (novel)
 | |
| Author | Nicola Yoon |
|---|---|
| Audio read by | Bahni Turpin |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Illegal immigration, Deportation |
| Genre | Young adult fiction |
| Set in | New York City |
| Published | 2016 |
| Publisher | Delacorte Books |
Publication date | November 1, 2016 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardback, paperback), e-book, audiobook |
| Pages | 384 |
| ISBN | 9780553496680 |
The Sun Is Also a Star is a young adult novel by American author Nicola Yoon, published November 1, 2016, by Delacorte Press. The book follows two characters, one of whom is about to be deported, and explores “the ways in which we are all connected and the ways in which people across all walks of life have much more in common than they think they do.”[1]
The book is a #1 New York Times best seller[2] and won Yoon the John Steptoe New Talent Award.[3]
In 2019, Warner Brothers adapted The Sun Is Also a Star into a film.[1]
Plot
[edit]The Sun Is Also a Star follows two teenagers in New York City, Natasha Kingsley and Daniel Bae. Natasha is an illegal immigrant from Jamaica living in Brooklyn who learns that her family will be deported. Daniel is the son of Korean immigrants living in Harlem. Daniel is a poet resisting his parents' dream of him becoming a doctor, and Natasha is science-minded.
Natasha seeks help from an immigration lawyer, who tells her he has an appointment later in the day, then visits a record store, where she meets Daniel, who is in the city before a college admissions interview. The two teenagers spend the next several hours together, during which time they frequently discuss love and destiny, concepts they have differing opinions on.
When the time arrives, they head to their respective appointments, where they learn both of them were slotted to meet the same person.
Reception
[edit]The Sun Is Also A Star is a #1 New York Times best seller.[2] Both the book[4] and audiobook[5] are Junior Library Guild selections.
The book received starred reviews from Booklist,[6] The Horn Book,[4] Kirkus,[2] Publishers Weekly,[7] School Library Journal,[8] and Shelf Awareness,[9] as well as a positive review from The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.[10]
Publishers Weekly called the book "[a] moving and suspenseful portrayal of a fleeting relationship."[7] Writing for Shelf Awareness, Karin Snelson wrote, "The Sun Is Also a Star--an exhilarating, hopeful novel exploring identity, family, the love of science and the science of love, dark matter and interconnectedness--is about seeing and being seen and the possibility of love... and it shines."[9]
The audiobook, narrated by Bahni Turpin (Natasha), Raymond Lee (Daniel), and Dominic Hoffman (narrator), received a starred review from School Library Journal, who noted, "The narrators do a stellar job of conveying the characters' individual and interwoven journeys."[8] Booklist provided a positive review, calling it "[a] rewarding adaptation of a memorable novel."[11]
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,[12] Buzzfeed,[13] the Chicago Public Library,[14] Kirkus,[2] the Los Angeles Public Library,[15] the New York Public Library,[16] Publishers Weekly[17] named The Sun Is Also a Star one of the best young adult novels of 2016. The Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature included it in their list of the best multicultural books of the year.[18]
| Year | Award/Honor | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Booklist's Best Romance Fiction for Youth | Top 10 | [19] |
| Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth | Selection | [20] | |
| Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction | Nominee | [21] | |
| National Book Award for Young People's Literature | Finalist | [2] | |
| The New York Times Notable Children's Books | Selection | [22] | |
| 2017 | Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award | Finalist | [23] |
| Indies Choice Book Awards' Young Adult Book of the Year | Honor | [24] | |
| John Steptoe New Talent Award for Author | Winner | [3][25] | |
| Michael L. Printz Award | Honor | [26] | |
| Walter Dean Myers Award | Honor | [27] | |
| YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults | Top 10 | [28][29] | |
| 2018 | ALA Teen's Top Ten | Top 10 | [30] |
| YALSA Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults | Selection | [31] |
Film adaptation
[edit]In 2019, Warner Brothers adapted The Sun Is Also a Star into a film directed by Ry Russo-Young and written by Tracy Oliver.[1] The film starred Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton.[1][32] The author, "contributed ideas, script notes, and general input on the film."[1]
After the film's trailer was released in February 2019, three months before the film's release, book sales increased 50 percent.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Burnett |, Matia (2019-05-02). "Movie Alert: 'The Sun Is Also a Star'". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ a b c d e "The Sun is Also a Star". Kirkus Reviews. 2016-08-02. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
- ^ a b "Coretta Scott King Award Winners: 2017". Booklist. 2017-01-23. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
- ^ a b "The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ "The Sun Is Also a Star (Audiobook) by Nicola Yoon". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ Booth, Heather (August 2016). "The Sun Is Also A Star". Booklist. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
- ^ a b "Children's Book Review: The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon. Delacorte, $18.99 (384p) ISBN 978-0-553-49668-0". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ a b Raklovits, Amanda (2017-04-01). "The Sun Is Also a Star". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ a b Snelson, Karin (2016-11-01). "The Sun Is Also a Star". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ Coats, Karen (2016). "The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 70 (2): 103. doi:10.1353/bcc.2016.0848. ISSN 1558-6766.
- ^ Booth, Heather (2017-02-01). "The Sun Is Also a Star". Booklist. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
- ^ "2016 Blue Ribbons". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ Penn, Farrah (2016-11-26). "19 Of The Best YA Books Of 2016". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ ChiPubLib_Teens. "Best Teen Fiction of 2016". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ "Best of 2016: Teen". Los Angeles Public Library. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ "Best Books for Teens 2016" (PDF). New York Public Library. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
- ^ "Best Books 2016 Publishers Weekly". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ "Best Books 2016". Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ Hunter, Sarah (2015-09-16). "Top 10 Romance Fiction for Youth: 2016". Booklist. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
- ^ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2016". Booklist. 2017-01-17. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
- ^ "The Sun Is Also a Star". Goodreads. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
- ^ "Notable Children's Books of 2016". The New York Times. 2016-11-23. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ "The Walden Award". ALAN. 2021-07-30. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ Hawkins, Rosemary (2017-05-10). "2017 Indies Choice and E.B. White Read-Aloud Award Winners Announced". the American Booksellers Association. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ "The Sun Is Also a Star | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. January 23, 2017. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ "Michael L. Printz Winners and Honor Books". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2007-03-15. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ SLJ (2017-01-20). ""March: Book Three" Named Winner of the 2017 Walter Award". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
- ^ "Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2017". Booklist. 2017-03-17. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
- ^ "2017 Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2017-01-25. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ "The Sun is Also a Star | Teen's Top Ten". American Library Association. 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ "The Sun is Also a Star | Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". American Library Association. December 3, 2018. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ Falcone, Dana Rose (2019-02-06). "Riverdale's Charles Melton Woos Yara Shahidi in First The Sun Is Also a Star Trailer". People. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
====
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The Sun is also a Star Paperback – 31 October 2016
by Nicola Yoon (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 12,147
The New York Times and internationally bestselling love story from Nicola Yoon, author of Everything, Everything - now a film starring Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson, in cinemas this summer
*Now a major film starring Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton*
The New York Times bestselling love story from Nicola Yoon, author of Everything, Everything.
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?
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Reading age
12 - 17 years
Print length
384 pages
Language
English
Product description
Review
Moving and suspenseful ― Publishers Weekly Published On: 2016-10-28
Lyrical and sweeping, full of hope, heartbreak, fate. . . and the universal beating of the human heart ― Booklist Published On: 2016-10-28
Profound . . . both deeply moving and satisfying ― Kirkus Published On: 2016-10-28
Book Description
The New York Times and internationally bestselling love story from Nicola Yoon, author of Everything, Everything - now a film starring Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson, in cinemas this summer
About the Author
Nicola Yoon is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers The Sun Is Also a Star and Everything, Everything, both of which have been turned into major motion pictures. She grew up in Jamaica and Brooklyn and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, novelist David Yoon, and their daughter. She's also a hopeless romantic who firmly believes that you can fall in love in an instant and that it can last forever.
Follow Nicola Yoon on Instagram and Tumblr and @NicolaYoon on Twitter.
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Product details
ASIN : 0552574244
Publisher : CORGI CHILDREN; 1st edition (31 October 2016)
Language : English
Paperback : 384 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780552574242
ISBN-13 : 978-0552574242
Reading age : 12 - 17 years
Dimensions : 2.31 x 12.9 x 19.8 cmBest Sellers Rank: 10,660 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)1 in Young Adult Nonfiction on Prejudice
2 in Fiction About Emigration & Immigration for Young Adults
2 in Fiction About Multigenerational Families for Young AdultsCustomer Reviews:
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 12,147
About the author
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Nicola Yoon
Nicola Yoon is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything, The Sun Is Also a Star, Instructions for Dancing, and co-author of Blackout. She is a National Book Award finalist, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book recipient and a Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner. Two of her novels have been made into major motion pictures. Nicola grew up in Jamaica and Brooklyn, and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, novelist David Yoon, and their daughter, both of whom she loves beyond all reason. You can find her at www.NicolaYoon.com and @NicolaYoon on Twitter/Instagram
Customer reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
LilleyLoohLah
5.0 out of 5 stars Full of creativity and passionReviewed in Australia on 4 November 2016
If you only read one book this year, I would highly recommend this be the one.
Well, after reading and loving Everything, Everything, I had to get my hands on Nicola Yoon's next book, and, I've got to say I wasn't expecting it to be nearly as good as her debut book, which did in fact blow me away. During the first few chapters of The Sun Is Also A Star, I was feeling a little disappointed, the story is told in multiple POV and goes backwards and forwards, and any which way, which to begin with had me thinking it could be too much. But, as I got deeper and deeper into the story, the past, the future, the here and now, the plot all began to fit together perfectly and I began to see the book for what it is. A complete and utter work of art, a beautiful story of what if's, what could be's, science and destiny. The universe has a plan for all of us. That I believed before reading this book, the book only reinforced my belief. A story following two 17 year olds, Natasha, an undocumented immigrant from Jamaica, and Daniel, a Korean boy born in America, both are different in every way imaginable, one a believer of science, the other a believer of destiny and true love. Can they both be right? They meet in what is possibly Natasha's final day in America, and it would appear that fate/destiny want them to be together. During the day we meet many people who are all involved in a catalyst of events that determine how the young couple's future will pan out. I cannot praise the author enough for her writing, her creativity and her passion. I laughed, I cried, I dreamt of a happy ever after. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley via the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
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Nen & Jen
5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.Reviewed in Australia on 6 September 2019
This was such a sweet, hopeful and romantic read. I couldn’t put it down! I’m not usually one to read YA contemporary as they can tend to have a lot of angst (understandable when you’re writing teenaged-aged characters) but this one was the pleasant exception. I mean, there definitely was SOME angst, but not enough to put me off the book thankfully!
The story covered a day in the life of Natasha, an illegal immigrant in the United States who was born in Jamaica. The book doesn’t just follow any day though. It’s the day her family is being deported. It’s also the day she falls in love. The premise of this book caught my attention initially (along with the stunningly bright cover) although I did have a slight skepticism about the notion of falling in love in one day. I shouldn’t have worried though, the author managed to give me all the FEELS while managing to develop the characters over (mostly) one day. This is definitely a book worth reading!
CHARACTERS
Natasha – The firm believer that life is not about passion, but rather science. A skeptic of fate, destiny and following your dreams, Natasha was the realist in the story. She wasn’t pessimistic but rather preferred to see life in black and white. She saw everything in cold-hard facts. This was slowly worn down by Daniel’s endless enthusiasm for following his dreams. I much preferred reading her POV when she had softened up a bit and wasn’t as cynical.
Daniel – Was easily my favourite character in this book. He was such an earnest, optimistic and romantic guy. He was the quintessential artistic soul, with a dash of saint-like patience and sincerity that pulled on my heart strings. His initial enthusiasm for life caught me off guard and was a bit awkward to read – the guy was dedicated even when most people would be embarrassed. But this soon wore me down. The infectious nature of it was appealing to read about. Who can resist such a kind, persistent soul?
What I really adored about this book (and made me rate it five stars) was the concept of fate. I loved to read chapters from POV of other characters in the story to see how their actions had a ripple effect over the lives of multiple people. It was interesting to read about and made me contemplate how my own actions influence others.
Additionally, I loved the spotlight this book placed on immigration. The life of an illegal immigrant is very hard for many people to grasp, without experiencing it themselves, and I think this book helped people become just a little bit more aware of the daily struggles they face. Additionally, as a second generation immigrant I found myself relating to Daniel’s experience as a Korean-American. It’s hard to merge the two cultures from your parents and environment into a hybrid-culture that works for you. I liked the perspectives from multiple members of Daniels family. We really got to see how each person had created their own balance (or lack thereof) between the two.
Overall, I rated this book 5-Stars for the FEELS, Daniel being an utter sweetheart and Irene’s storyline. They got me right in the SAP centre of my heart and clung on tight. I also adored the ending. It wasn’t what I had expected but left me happy nevertheless.
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lovefromsophiexx
4.0 out of 5 stars Mixed EmotionsReviewed in Australia on 22 January 2017
Book: The sun is also a Star
Author: Nicola Yoon
Rating: 4/5
Characters:
• Natasha: A Jamaican born illegal immigrant living in New York with a passion for science. The book follows Natasha on her final day in America after her father revealed to the police that they were living in America illegally. Natasha wants to stay in America, it’s her whole life and she will try and do everything she can to stay there. Natasha is literal and doesn’t believe in love at first sight, or maybe love at all.
• Daniel: An American born Korean who is struggling with finding a balance between expectations and dreams. Daniels parents want him to go to Yale and become a Medical Doctor; Daniel wants to be a poet. Daniel is a romantic; he wants everything in his life to be like his poetry.
Overall:
Like Everything, Everything, The Sun is also a Star gave me mixed feelings which is mainly due to the unbelievable nature of the stories that she produces. In Everything, Everything I found her portrayal of SCID to be limited and unrealistic, if my immunology course is anything to go by. Whilst in The Sun is also a Star I found the sheer amount of coincidences pulling them together t o make it highly unbelievable.
However, It wasn’t all bad, I just needed to get that off my chest. The story does highlight some important debates that are currently in the limelight, most importantly illegal immigration and refugee rights. I feel Yoon embodied the hope and anticipation of a better life that most refugees exude perfectly in Natasha. Natasha, a passionate budding scientist, illustrates the success of immigration, especially in terms of giving back to those that gave them an opportunity to have a better life. Daniel’s character also has an important story, one of finding your own path and pursuing your own dreams, something that has become very important to me in the last few years.
Whilst the overshadowing romance story was a little too cute or “fluffy” for me I enjoyed the characters immensely and thought that their stories are important. Nicola Yoon’s writing is great but I’m just waiting for a storyline that appeals to me.
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Aranza Garmendia
5.0 out of 5 stars Buen libroReviewed in Mexico on 19 November 2024
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TarmaSM
5.0 out of 5 stars MagicalReviewed in Canada on 13 August 2021
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This story was beautiful, touching and hopeful in all the best ways. The style of writing was unique and kept me gripped in the moments each character experienced. Perfect amount of detail while keeping a quick pace.
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Kristel Greer
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written with incredible characters. I highly recommend it.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 November 2022
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Natasha is an intelligent young woman whose belief in science is absolute. Her dream is to go to college and have a career in a practical and fact-based field. She doesn’t have time for love, fantasy, destiny or fate but as she has only 12 hours left in New York City/America before she and her family are deported back to Jamaica, Natasha might have to rely on any help the universe might offer her. She tries to make a last-ditch attempt to stay in the country but what she doesn’t bank on in her last hours is bumping into a quirky, cute boy and falling for him hard.
Daniel has always been the responsible one. The second son of a Korean family who loves him but has made him live in the shadow of his more successful older brother. He worked hard and strove to make his parents proud. When his brother Charlie messes up his previously impressive life by getting kicked out of college, their parents shift their focus onto him. They expect great things including him getting early acceptance at Yale and studying to be a doctor. Neither idea appeals to Daniel as he would rather write poetry about life and love. On his way to his college interview, he meets Natasha and he is determined to prove to her that love truly exists no matter what it takes.
With time running out for them to have the future that they dream of, will the universe interfere and send them down a different path together or are they fated to keep the hand they were dealt while being separated in the process?
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I loved the setup for this story. Daniel and Natasha are complete opposites but somehow the fact that their lives are shaped both by their families and societal circumstance gives them a common bond. Daniel's sweetness softens Natasha's hard outlook on life while Natasha's pragmatic and strongminded spirit inspires Daniel to stand up for himself. They complement and empower each other as they fall in love. It was a complicated and emotional story that kept me gripped until the very last line. Beautifully written with incredible characters. I highly recommend it.
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Henri B Neto
5.0 out of 5 stars A day for a lifetimeReviewed in Brazil on 22 November 2020
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When I saw people commenting that The Sun Is Also A Star was better than Everything and Everything, I confess that I didn't believe much. I mean, Nicolla Yoon's first book had already given me so many things and feelings, that my brain thought, “It must be as good as... But not better.” The point is, well, it's been a few hours since I finished Sol - and I have to cheer my arm: people were right.
Despite having a simpler plot than the present in her debut book, Nicolla Yoon builds a true universe to tell the 'casual' encounter (or would it be the work of fate?) by Natasha and Daniel. While they are incredibly different, they both have similar subtleties. And while she's methodical and realistic, he's passionate and passionate. Together, in one day, it is as if they lived a lifetime - and in the simplest and most casual way possible, and perhaps it was precisely this detail that totally hooked me.
And I noticed the initials the same, Mrs. Yoon. Oh, I noticed!
I enjoyed seeing both of them together and meeting them both. This is a story about immigrants in the United States, and the author does not disappoint by setting up social, cultural, and political parallels in the form of these two families - one that settled legally and the other illegally, on the eve of deportation. Each family has its weight for this meeting to take place, but not only will they, as a myriad of characters, emerge to connect the story of Natasha and Daniel.
Speaking of characters, just as I loved the couple, many came up to mess with my brios. I hated Daniel's brother with all my might. I was angry at Natasha's father. However, a main character affected me the most. Especially because of everything he does and what happens to him. Yes, I realized that the author used it as a critique of privilege, but even though I understood the message, I was not happy that he did well - after the stage he makes in the lives of so many people in the name of his selfishness.
Anyway, this book broke my heart - in the good and in the bad sense. As the end drew closer, I just cried more. I wasn't prepared for the emotions that this story would evoke in me, and even though I anticipated the end halfway through, I didn't prepare for it. So when you're told that Sun is more impactful than Everything, believe this. Maybe this will prepare you for the roller coaster you're going to board.
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Clarissa
5.0 out of 5 stars IT GOES FURTHERReviewed in Spain on 2 June 2019
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I read it in one day and it completely hooked me. If you are or have been an immigrant or know someone, you should read it. It goes far beyond a simple love novel
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====
The Sun Is Also a Star
Nicola Yoon
3.96
342,273 ratings33,218 reviews
Goodreads Choice AwardNominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2016)
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?
Genres
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344 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2016
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Nicola Yoon is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star. She is a National Book Award finalist, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book recipient and a Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner. Both her novels have been made into major motion pictures. Nicola grew up in Jamaica and Brooklyn, and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, novelist David Yoon, and their family.
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November 6, 2016
The universe stops and waits for us.
She opens her palm and she’s going to take my hand. She’s supposed to take my hand. We’re meant to walk through this world together. I see it in her eyes. We are meant to be.
2 1/2 stars. I tried. I'm sorry, but I tried. I just couldn't love this like I wanted to.
My problem with Yoon's Everything, Everything was the twist. That awful twist. But her style was enjoyable and easy to read, so I was eager to give her books another shot. I was honestly ready to love The Sun Is Also a Star. I even recently met Nicola Yoon at a book signing and she is so sweet and hilarious, and I found out that this book is based on her own life as a Jamaican immigrant married to a Korean-American. I came away a little bit in love with her.
But I just couldn't love this book. There were some good things about it, but it's primarily for people who are far more romantic than I am. For those ready to be convinced that love at first sight really does exist, or those who already believe it. And I don't.
Call me cynical, call me cold-hearted, but I don't believe in just knowing and love at first sight. I just don't believe that's love. Love is knowing someone's flaws, habits and pet peeves; having to deal with their grumbling after a bad day; the weird quirks that only surface after several months of being together; living with their morning breath and farts. It's not that gushy, obsessive, in-the-moment feeling. That's a crush. And sure, they can hurt, but you'll get over them. It's not destiny.
The Sun Is Also a Star tries to make a scientific case for instalove, and I'm just not buying. It's about Natasha - a Jamaican immigrant, science nerd and skeptic - and Daniel, a Korean-American poet rebelling against his family's desire for him to be a doctor. The book opens when Natasha faces deportation that very evening, but an encounter with Daniel changes the course of her day, as he sets out to use science to make Natasha fall in love with him.
Daniel is, quite literally, obsessed with Natasha from the very moment he sees her. He believes seeing her is a sign and proceeds to follow her into a music store. After knowing her for just a few hours, he becomes convinced they are "meant to be" and that she will change his life.
But something about Natasha makes me think my life could be extraordinary.
Even Natasha's delightful cynicism quickly falters under Daniel's enthusiasm:
Observable Fact: I don’t believe in magic.
Observable Fact: We are magic.
If you are the kind of person who gets caught up in whirlwind romances, then you will probably enjoy this book very much. But me? I just rolled my eyes so much and never got a sense of the chemistry between Natasha and Daniel.
There were some things I enjoyed, though. The story alternates between Natasha and Daniel's perspectives, but it is also peppered with the perspectives of random characters who come and go throughout the novel. Some of these are really touching; heartbreaking even. I really liked the suggestion that everyone around us has a story; they have their own lives and problems to deal with.
And I thought the immigration aspects were well done and realistic. Natasha's whole life has been built in America, but she's being forced to leave because of her father's mistake. When one takes a closer look at immigration, it's an inherently-flawed and cruel system, and really, it's all about luck - isn't it? Where you happen to be born on the planet is all luck and chance. As Natasha notes:
If people who were actually born here had to prove they were worthy enough to live in America, this would be a much less populated country.
But these things weren't enough to carry a book that is first and foremost a romance. The romance itself has to be one you fall in love with. I really wish I could tell you I loved it, but I guess I'm not enough of a hopeless romantic for Ms. Yoon.
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Within the first 20 pages of THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR, I knew I was reading something special, and within the first 50, I knew this was going to be one of my favorite books of 2016. Natasha and Daniel are funny, flawed, fully-developed characters who feel as familiar as old friends. Their love story is anything but simple, and you will root for them until the very last page. Nicola intersperses their story with beautifully wrought and deeply considered musings on other characters, physics, history, betrayal and family. In doing so, she gave me one of my favorite paragraphs ever:
"And what about the lovers who spend hours staring into each other's eyes? Is it a display of trust? 'I will let you in close and trust you not to hurt me while I'm in this vulnerable position.' And if trust is one of the foundations of love, perhaps the staring is a way to build or reinforce it. Or maybe it's simpler than that.
A simple search for connection
To see.
To be seen. "
Highly, highly recommend.
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March 30, 2022
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Jesse (JesseTheReader)
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December 18, 2016
This was really great! I can't say why I docked a star, because it's spoilery, but I'll have a video review up soon going over my thoughts & what not.
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Elle (ellexamines)
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January 15, 2021
This is a book about how the smallest gestures can form the biggest pictures, how the smallest actions can change the course of a life. How seeing a girl can change your life. How falling in love with your secretary can change the course of someone’s life forever. How swerving in a car can get two teens together. How calling a security officer can save her life.
It sort of tore my heart into a million pieces.
Fuck, okay. I don’t know how to explain how much I feel about this book.
“You were expecting something...”
More poetic,” she says.
“Are you kidding? Most poems are about sex.”
She's skeptical. “Do you have actual data to back that up? I wanna see some numbers.”
“Scientist!” I accuse.
“Poet!” she retorts.
Let's start here. Before I lose all my credibility: yes, this book is about instalove, and yes, I ended up absolutely loving the relationship. I will say two things. First, that they don’t really fall in love - they see the possibility that they could.
And personally, I think seeing the possibility of a future is a very real thing.
There’s a Japanese phrase that I like: koi no yokan. It doesn’t mean love at first sight. It’s closer to love at second sight. It’s the feeling when you meet someone that you’re going to fall in love with them. Maybe you don’t love them right away, but it’s inevitable that you will.
And second… it’s written really well. Their relationship is just... so soft? It's sweet, in that way first love is, and it's supportive, in that way good love is. And they call each other out on their shit.
Because you don't love me, Daniel. You're just looking for someone to save you. Save yourself.
I will also fully admit that I didn’t really connect with Natasha and Daniel’s relationship in the first hundred pages - not until I connected with their characters. But holy shit, towards the end? There is a REASON I sobbed REAL TEARS while reading this book. You know I’m discerning about my romantic couples and I have chosen well.
But... the romance is not all this book is about.
The real focus of the book, instead, is on the issues faced by immigrants. On one hand, we have Natasha, a science girl, complete icon, and illegal immigrant from Jamaica who is being deported at the end of the day after her father has been picked up. On the other hand, we have Daniel, a child of South Korean immigrants whose family wants him to become a doctor but who wants his own life as poet.
There’s just… oh my god, there’s so much here?
If people who were actually born here had to prove they were worthy enough to live in America, this would be a much less populated country.
What is happening to Natasha is horrible, and Yoon does not shy away from its horror. Natasha has lived here, in America, her whole life. She has been picked up due to a mistake made by her father. It is not her fault she has been picked up. It is not her fault she illegally immigrated in the first place. She cannot change it. And yet here she is, being forced to uproot her whole life for another’s mistake. There is something so honest about how this is written, about the way Natasha’s pain is conveyed here.
But that’s not all. There is a discussion here about the social stigma against “bad hair” - i.e. black hair - and how that is perpetrated by black hair care places, like the one owned by Daniel’s parents. There is honest discussion of the contrast between emotions and science, whether you can quantify fate or put a box around love. There is honest discussion of parent-child relationships, in many flavors; of evil, of fate, of suicide.
And the characters. Okay, I’m going to say something weird and reference high school English: Natasha and Daniel form perfect narrative foils to each other. They each have super distinct voices and personalities. Also, apparently this is an unpopular opinion [what can I say? stanning underrated lady characters is my brand] but I love Natasha so much I might start crying!! The way she is written is just… she conveys so many emotions I have felt in my past, even though we’re in totally different situations. There’s honestly a lot of talent in making the audience relate on such a personal level to a character I share no situation in common with.
Listen, I know I’ve said a lot, but I don’t think I have said enough. This book deeply affected me. I don’t think I have ever read a book crying so hard I couldn’t turn pages. I can tell you to please, please read this - even if you think you won't like it. Literally, this was my first note about this book:
me, performing self sabotage by reading a romantic contemporary when I know I dislike romantic contemporary? it’s more likely than you think
[do you remember what a fetus I was just a mere month ago, thinking I would hate this book... who was she....]
The Sun Is Also a Star was such a fantastic read and I know it will stay with me forever - I’m getting chills just thinking about it, and I have a feeling I always will. I just remember finishing this book and wanting to cry because I love human beings, and even when the world is unfair, it gives us what we deserve in the end.
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February 16, 2019
WhY dId YoU rEaD tHiS iF yOu KnOw YoU dOn'T lIkE rOmAnCe?!
I wasn’t sure I wanted to read more from Nicola Yoon, after Everything Everything. I had liked the main character, the writing was fine but the romance and the twist were straight up awful.
I still went into this book with an open mind plus I needed to read it before the movie comes out May 17, 2019! I don't like romance in books but I have no issues with it in movies. I should specify that I don't like insta love because there are romance books I do enjoy but this is absolutely an insta love romance.
I liked the first 40%. It was a cute YA Contemporary/Romance but then it became too much for me. At 70% I had straight up indigestion with all that cheesiness. What can I say, I'm lactose intolerant!
I struggled to finish it but I'll be watching the movie for sure!
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Riley
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February 11, 2017
This book is incredibly beautiful in so many ways that I can't even begin to explain right now
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Emma Giordano
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March 21, 2017
I really really loved this book!!! It was an entirely unique story with a powerful message. Definitely a read I would recommend to e v e r y o n e .
Originally, I had issues getting into the book. The narration is 100% individual as not only do we have Natasha & Daniel's perspective, but we have mini chapters from a wide variety of characters. We have character's share stories from the past, side characters who are only in one scene, characters we will never hear from again, even very arbitrary things like "eyes" "hair" and "fate" all sharing little anecdotes. I'm normally the type of reader to say "Just give me my protagonist's POV, I do not care for anything else" and that's really how the novel started out for me. I really resented these additional chapters as I felt they did not hold significant influence, but I was very wrong. I eventually fell in love with the storytelling, really appreciating the insight we get into how Daniel & Natasha's story changes peoples lives in so many ways. Although I had trouble adjusting, it was totally worth it and really well executed.
I was also a little weary because "a story of two people who fall in love in one day"? Literally the highest form on insta-love in YA to date. But honestly, it did not feel this way at all. There is something about the way this novel is written that allows their relationship to develop so deeply in such a short period of time without being ridiculous. Is it unrealistic at some points? Absolutely. But I think that plays into smaller bits more like certain topics of conversation or behaviors, not the overall story. I think Daniel & Natasha's story was very well written and entirely special.
Natasha & Daniel complimented each other very well. Natasha is independent, confident in her mindset, and totally practical. Daniel is a quirky, very open-minded, and a total dreamer. There is something about their personalities that are polar opposites that bounce off each other in a perfect balance. Even the way they somewhat clash at times feel very true and natural. They have a fiery dynamic full of chemistry and I absolutely loved them together.
It was also very intersting to see the fusion of these two cultures: Jamaican and South Korean. Their ethnicity plays a huge role in the story, and it all came across very authentically. I think it was especially intersting to see two different stories of children who respond differently to parents who grew up in different countries. The combination of these two cultures created an interesting dynamic in itself.
My favorite thing about this story was the ending (which is especially intersting because it's not directly from Natasha or Daniels' POV, which really shows how my feelings turned around.) It's definitely one of those endings that leaves at a point for growth, for development, and for hope. It made me bawl, partially from happiness, partially from relief. It definitely brought the story together in a way that stayed true to the unique nature of the entire book.
I definitely loved The Sun Is Also A Star. I've had this book for almost a year and I have no idea why it took me so long to pick it up, but I'm so happy I did. I absolutely devoured this read and would highly highly recommend it!!
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June 5, 2020
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On a "perfect" fall day, seventeen-year-old Natasha Kingsley and her family are twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Tasha decides to take a long shot and visit the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to hopefully convince someone to let her stay, to not pay for her father's mistake.
“To be clear: I don’t believe in fate. But I’m desperate.”
She's desperate to stay with her friends, her home, her livelihood for the past ten years. Despite the fact that she doesn't believe in miracles, Natasha was still hoping for one—she doesn't want her future to be erased.
And you could really feel her pain through the words. Moving away is never easy, but when you don’t even have a say in it, that’s a whole new world of pain and sorrow that Nicola Yoon perfectly transcribes in this book.
“How long before her friends forget about her? How long before she picks up a Jamaican accent? How long before she forgets that she was ever in America?”
The Sun Is Also a Star has a switching narrative between two main characters, which made the story flow easily.
Side note: I liked that when a side character was mentioned in one chapter, they got to have a history page in the next one.
Our second narrator, Daniel Jae Ho Bae, is an aspiring poet who writes in his Moleskine notebook—poems about heartbreak, even though he’s never had his heart broken... yet.
Because of his upcoming alumni admission interview with Yale, Daniel’s parents let him have the day off from school. But staying at home, where his mother bombards him with questions, is not an option. So, on his Final Day of Childhood, he opts to go out, where he encounters Natasha having a moment with her music.
Tasha was on her way to meet with Attorney Fitzgerald to help with her case, while Daniel was on his way to cut of his short ponytail by his favorite barber.
Coincidence? I think not.
And we all know what follows after...
description
This review will contain *mild spoilers* from here on.
I was expecting to be annoyed with the insta-love because the main premise is that they fall for one another in less than twelve hours, and for the main part I was... because after knowing her for 10 minutes (maybe even less), Daniel begins to imagine himself with Tasha in old age.
But this book deals with such a plethora of heavy subjects such as loneliness, heartbreaks, first loves, race, loyalty, suicide... that insta-love was the least of my worries (...but still problematic).
Daniel even kind of called himself out on falling in love so quickly.
“There’s a Japanese phrase that I like: koi no yokan. It doesn’t mean love at first sight. It’s closer to love at second sight. It’s the feeling when you meet someone that you’re going to fall in love with them. Maybe you don’t love them right away, but it’s inevitable that you will.”
And he’s pretty sure that, though, he’s experiencing it on their second encounter… Natasha is not.
(He's right.)
Of course, since Tasha cannot ignore the lovey-dovey looks he throws at her, she tells him the one line that always makes me crack up:
“Red Tie,” I say.
“Daniel,” he insists.
“Don’t fall in love with me, Daniel.”
I always find the last line hysterical because of Meredith from The Office.
description
Literally cry-laughing over this.
Nevertheless, when Natasha informs him that she doesn't believe in love (don't worry, she's not a cynic. "She’s a realist"... aka what every cynic ever said), Daniel tries to make her fall in love scientifically (using The 36 Questions That Lead to Love).
Observable fact: You know you've hit rock-bottom of desperation when you try to make a stranger fall in love with you like that... Yay, science.
They don’t have time to answer all thirty-six since Tasha has an appointment and then she has to go home, so they argue over which questions to choose.
“We're trying to fit a lifetime into a day.”
And I was looking everywhere to find the perfect thing to convey my feelings about their insta-lovey situation, and I finally found it:
description
description
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Thank you, Universe.
Another Observable fact: I feel like I would've loved this book a few years back when I was just as cynical as Natasha. But reading about her crushing every dream of Daniel's managed to drain all of my energy.
description
But on a more positive note, when the focus shifted to the issues I mentioned at the start of this review, I got educated in the most honest and accepting way, so thank you, Nicola Yoon, for that.
And also on a completely unrelated note, I would love to see Daniel and Natasha's norebang (karaoke) singing skills on the big screen.
I 100% condone his choice to sing "Take a Chance On Me" by ABBA. And I'm still laughing about his commentary on Natasha’s singing:
“Her singing is earnest and heartfelt and completely awful.
It’s not good.
At all.
I’m pretty sure she’s tone-deaf. Any note she does hit is purely coincidental.”
The nerve!!!
And finally, after this part comes the moment I've been waiting for:
“Most poems I’ve seen are about love or sex or the stars. You poets are obsessed with stars. Falling stars. Shooting stars. Dying stars.”
“Stars are important,” I say, laughing.
“Sure, but why not more poems about the sun? The sun is also a star, and it’s our most important one. That alone should be worth a poem or two.”
I live for those crucial moments when titles are mentioned in the storyline.
description
And then we get to know what's going to happen to Tasha's deportations situation, which after reading Everything, Everything, I was pretty sure the end-game was self-explanatory. But for once in my life, I had anticipated the wrong ending (...in a way).
Overall, I would say that The Sun Is Also a Star wasn't what I was expecting, for better or for worse.
I wasn't anticipating this book to be so heavily focused on the romance but rather on coming-of-age in ones most defining time.
But the book did deal with a lot of other crucial subjects in the most honest way, and I'm incredibly grateful for that.
So to quote Tasha, "the trouble with getting your hopes too far up is: it’s a long way down."
P.S. I hate Jeremy Fitzgerald.
description
ARC kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
3.5/5 stars
*Note: I'm an Amazon Affiliate. If you're interested in buying The Sun Is Also a Star, just click on the image below to go through my link. I'll make a small commission!*
This review and more can be found on my blog.
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Preview
The Sun Is Also a Star
By: Nicola Yoon
Narrated by: Bahni Turpin, Raymond Lee, Dominic Hoffman
Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 01-11-2016
Language: English
Publisher: Listening Library
4.3 out of 5 stars4.3 (60 ratings)
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Publisher's Summary
The number one New York Times best seller and National Book Award Finalist from the best-selling author of Everything Everything will have you falling in love with Natasha and Daniel as they fall in love with each other.
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 12 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?
©2016 Nicola Yoon (P)2016 Listening Library
DestinyEmotions & FeelingsRomanceYoung Adult
Editorial reviews
Editors Select, November 2016 - I was on maternity leave over the summer when I received an early copy of The Sun Is Also a Star. Thankfully my mom was around that day to watch the baby, because I couldn’t put it down. Not only is Nicola Yoon answering the call for more diversity in YA literature, she is also creating compelling, honest, and memorable characters in her fiction. The Sun Is Also a Star, which is a finalist for the National Book Award, is told from the alternating perspectives of two teenagers - one a Korean American boy who is on the "doctor tract" despite his proclivity for poetry; the other a Jamaican girl who is desperately trying to save her family from their imminent deportation. Over a single day, we watch how fate weaves its way into their lives. I recently got to listen to the audiobook, narrated by Bahni Turpin, Raymond Lee, and Dominic Hoffman - whose performances ensure Yoon’s work will soon become essential listening. Katie, Audible Editor
Critic Reviews
"Beautifully crafted." (People Magazine)
"A book that is very much about the many factors that affect falling in love, as much as it is about the very act itself...fans of Yoon’s first novel, Everything Everything, will find much to love - if not, more - in what is easily an even stronger follow up." (Entertainment Weekly)
"Transcends the limits of YA as a human story about falling in love and seeking out our futures." (POPSUGAR)
What listeners say about The Sun Is Also a StarAverage Customer Ratings
Overall 4.5 out of 5 stars4.3 out of 5.0
5 Stars
35
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Performance 4.5 out of 5 stars4.4 out of 5.0
5 Stars
36
4 Stars
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3 Stars
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Story 4.5 out of 5 stars4.3 out of 5.0
5 Stars
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3 out of 5 stars
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3 out of 5 stars
Jenan
08-04-2020
it was good but boring
struggled to finish. I enjoyed the narration but the book would get really boring
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Michelle
02-06-2017
Bit slow paced, beautiful and heart-wrenching.
Loved listening to this book.
Bit slow paced at times but I really loved it!
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5 out of 5 stars
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Jess G
14-08-2017
IM IN LOVE WITH THIS
I'm a HUGE fan of the book so of course I like the audio book, however the voice was unexpected ahah.
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Anonymous User
14-10-2024
Beautiful story of concept of connection, love, disappoint, dysfunction and spirituality
I loved the bits of where we learn about each character and there back story and being able to understand all characters perspectives of not only the main character but also the Irine. It just makes it whole. I also love the informative parts connecting concepts sound connection, history, regret and really resonates with the audience while teaching. I also love the battle between science and spiritual faith. And the learning of connections. It was just such a wholesome love story and learn a lot. I could go on on what I like because it was so beautifully written and just connecting everyone back together just vulnerable and just amazing.
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