Review: The Sun Is Also a Star

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Reviewed: The Sun Is Also A Star
Author: Nicola Yoon
Book Setting: 2016, New York, America
Genre: YA/Romance
Reviewer: Javelyn Bond
Other Books and Films Adapted, of Nicola Yoon: Everything, Everything (Book), Everything, Everything (Film), The Sun Is Also A Star (Film -2019)

PS: Is anyone excited for the upcoming film adaptation of this book? I am so excited, heck the actors are really matching up to the book characters, and Daniel (sigh) is so swoon-worthy! So guys do not forget about the film, coming in May 2019 (for all the US folks, boy they are lucky.) and keep your eyes peeled. Anyway, continuing on with the review.

Summary (Official): 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?

Characters (A Simple Outline):

The Kingsley Family:

Natasha: A Jamaican 17 year old. Believes in science, and logic. Absolutely denies anything that is not related to science. Is sarcastic, bold and and confident. Does not believe in love, does not take risks, believes science and logic are the solution to everything. The only child of Mr and Mrs Kingsley.

Mr Kingsley: Is father to Natasha Kingsley and husband to Mrs Kingsley. Believed in acting, wanted to be an actor. Is a dreamer. Does not believe in science or logic unlike his daughter. Believes life is rotten to him.

Mrs Kingsley: Is mother to Natasha Kingsley and wife to Mr Kingsley. Does not believe in dreams unlike her husband. Was a store manager. Is not fond of science unlike her daughter. Wants life to get better.

The Bae Family (God this is so hilarious, no offence to anyone):

Daniel: Is a dreamer. Does not believe in logic or a practical life. Is expected to be someone who is rich by his parents. Believes in love and writes poetry as a passion. Believes in coincidences and do-overs. A Korean-American 17 year old. Younger sibling to Charles Bae and 2nd son of Mr and Mrs Bae.

Charles: Is a carefree guy. Does not like logic or a practical life. Spends most of his time in and out of jail. Is a rebel, defies all expectations. Dislikes his family. Is racist and a crap bag. The firstborn son of Mr and Mrs Bae and older sibling to Daniel Bae. Is a Korean - American 20 something year old.

Mr Bae (Sigh, I imagine an older Daniel here, sorry for the swooning): Is the father to Daniel and Charles Bae. Husband to Mrs Bae. Is Korean born. Has high expectations of both sons. Runs a beauty care store for hair (hair that are similar to Natasha’s).

Mrs Bae (Imagining a future Natasha here, god my imagination): Is mother to Charles and Daniel Bae. Is wife to Mr Bae. Runs the beauty care store for hair alongside her husband. Is also Korean born. Also has high expectations for both sons. Loves to paint.



Other Characters:

Irene: Is a lonely guard at the Immigration Services. Always wanted to help other people in her similar situation. She is the reason for Natasha being late.

Lawyer (Immigration Services): Is the lawyer who is addressing Natasha Kingsley’s problem. Also has other dreams and inspirations for a life other than his usual life.

Security Guard (Rooftop of Restaurant): Is the security guard at the rooftop. He remembers his own favorite moments of his life, when he sees Natasha and Daniel and lets them enjoy themselves.

Waitress (At Restaurant): Does not like Natasha when she sees her for the first time and we see the reason why, when we we go back in her past. Serves Natasha and Daniel in the restaurant.

Universe: Is a very important character. Discusses all the characters involved, even the minor characters. Discusses all characters’ problems and makes us realize that other people have problems as well. And is of course involved in Natasha and Daniel’s romance.

My Opinion:

What I Liked: There was so much that you could connect with in the book. So many moral lessons, like never giving up, believing in yourself, risking for love, building your own future, not always dependent on the other person, thinking of other people as well, and people make mistakes. This novel is also realistic, romantic, heartfelt, easy to connect with characters, amazing plotline, cliffhangers (because we all love them at one point or other), and life lessons (mentioned above).

Daniel and Natasha are two, very different characters. Like polar opposites. As we see in the beginning, Natasha is one of those people who believes that logic and science are everything and that nothing else matters unless logic and science are behind while Daniel is a dreamer, goes against logic and science and is appreciative of life (even if life isn’t best for him). There are other tidbits thrown in as well, like the history of black hair care, daniel’s brother, natasha’s father, and other information which kind of makes sense as you need something to piece together with the chapter you read.

You also see the author include minor characters in, which is a very unusual step as most authors don’t really include the minor characters a lot in their books, but this was done fantastically as you understand the motive behind each character’s action. And the life lessons thrown in the pages of the book are wonderful as it makes the book interesting, realistic and very emotional (in a good way) for the reader to understand and accept as these are lessons known in the modern world but not applied a lot, again making the book realistic in that sense. Of course we also see the romance as Daniel tries to convince Natasha in every way possible that they are meant to be, which of course as a YA reader and as an adult or a teenager, making the heart swoon in every possible way and to dream of it as a possibility which I loved doing. I loved the cliff hangers as it gave a lot of suspense and a strange intensity which again you don’t really see a lot in YA novels (or it’s just me) but I loved it, got my heart racing as well (since I am such a couch potato but we digress). A lot of emotion tossing and of course a wonderful plotline of falling in love within 24 hours, obviously not done well in other novels, but in this one, it’s done fantastically again, making it a wonderful read.

What I Would Have Liked to See: No complaints here at all.

PS: Although some people were complaining of instant love in the novel. But let me explain, that it was supposed to be an instant connection because Natasha had only 24 hours until deportation so really she couldn’t spend weeks or months getting to know Daniel, she didn't have that much time, so it had to be instant attraction. So people really, you need to see what you are reading before you start complaining.

Rating: 5/5

Recommendation: Definitely recommend to people who love instant connections, 24 hour story, and a novel unique like minor character involvement (a lot), and information (to connect the dots).

It’s a fantastic read that lovers of YA will not complain about.

Thanks for reading.

-J.B

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