I’ll Give You The Sun — Book Review

Colourful writing with an excellent conclusion and great characters.

Complicated, sweet and satisfying are three words I’d use to describe I’ll give you the sun by Jandy Nelson. This contemporary novel is aimed squarely at Teens and Young Adults and is an interesting take on the coming of age experience.

Just like its cover, I’ll give you the sun is full of colour. The book follows the lives of twins Noah and Jude and describes their relationship with each other but also the hardships they face on their own.

Noah tells us about the early years when things were still going well. Noah’s thoughts are very electric and colourful. Kind of like the cover. His thought process is strange and he uses unusual metaphores to express how he’s feeling.

Jude tells us about the later years after a certain climactic event. She is enrolled in CSA a prestigious arts school but she feels like she doesn’t deserve to be there as Noah the most creative of the two was not admitted. *Warning Spoilers* Everything Jude makes from clay breaks and Jude is convinced that it is her mother punishing her for being at CSA while Noah isn’t. Jude also talks to thee ghost of her dead grandmother and follows strange habits and superstitions.

To bring joy back to a grieving family, sprinkle three tablespoons of crushed eggshells over every meal.

The two story-lines remain separate until the end where they come together in one of the most satisfying endings I've had the privilege to read. The conclusion ties up the novel so well. It is almost bittersweet having to say goodbye to the characters of Noah and Jude and moving on to other books.

Jandy Nelson’s writing is very interesting, in a good way. I was not a big fan of reading Noah’s colourful and sometimes strange and confusing thoughts but the style grew on me and I ended up quite liking it. Jude is easier to read but both characters are very complex and rounded.

All in all this is an excellent contemporary novels and I think Young Adults and teenagers who are looking for a good non-standard coming of age story will find that in I’ll Give you the sun.

I can definitely recommend this book and I hope that if and when you read it you’ll enjoy it.

Koen