I'll Give You the Sun, by: Jandy Nelson

       At first, Jude and her twin brother Noah, are inseparable. Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude wears red-red lipstick, 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 an 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 only find their way back to one another, they’ll have a chance to remake their world. 

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My Rating: ​★★★★★

       I picked this book out in a bookstore some years ago, thinking that the blurb sounded good. When I went to read it, I figured out very quickly that my reading level wasn’t quite ready for Noah’s extensive use of metaphors and his active imagination. I stopped short, reading only 30 pages, and I promised myself that I would get back to it soon. After about four years of sitting on my TBR, I have finally finished it, and (dare I say) I think it’s one of my all-time favorites.
       This story was one of the most intelligent contemporary books that I have ever read. It’s told through Noah and Jude’s alternating viewpoints, but the kicker is that it is also narrated in two different times of their lives. We see through Noah’s eyes when the twins are thirteen and fourteen, and we get Jude’s perspective at sixteen. The connection between these points is that even though the stories are three years apart, there is parallel conflict in each twin’s life at different times. (Enough on that though. #Spoilers.)
       In this novel, the characters made the tale. Noah and Jude were unique and complicated individuals. Throughout the story, we got to know them both on such an intimate level; it felt like they were real. Their problems became my own, and when situations wouldn’t turn out in their favor, my heart would physically hurt. I have read quite a few books at the ripe old age of sixteen, and when a book makes me feel something on both that kind of level, I know it’s a special one.
       One of my favorite side elements of this book was the importance of art in the family’s lives. I’m very passionate about art, specifically drawing and digital mediums, so to see that sort of enthusiasm reflected into text was unbelievable. If Jandy Nelson isn’t also an artist, I’d be surprised; she captures that passion about expressiveness and creativity perfectly. Even if you aren’t crazy about art, Jandy makes it easy for you to feel Noah and Jude’s passion nonetheless.
       I’m so glad I picked this book back up. If you haven’t gotten around to this book (like I hadn’t hahaha), I strongly urge that you do. It’s well worth the read.

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       Have you read I’ll Give You the Sun? Are you planning on reading it in the future? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to let me know what I should read next?

Your in-house artist,
Ashton

Maybe some people are just meant to be in the same story.

― Jandy Nelson, I'll Give You the Sun