The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon Full Review

Maybe love IS real. This book is a solid 9.5/10. Maybe it's even a full 10/10. Overall, I want to send my heartfelt thanks for Nicola Yoon for writing such a beautiful piece of artwork. This book touched my soul in a way many books haven't. On top of that, it has an incredible way of touching on sensitive topics, such as deportation of Dreamers while balancing a carefree tone with a more intense tone. Lastly, the characters support the heart of the story and keep the message true.

I can't decide who I love more: Daniel or Natasha. Daniel is a Korean-American whose parents emigrated to the Unites States when they were young. He loves karaoke, and he believes in true love. He also is one of the most compassionate and emotional characters I've ever read a book about. He also decided early on that he would get Natasha to fall in love him - it was endearing and pretty immediately, his determination caught my attention. Most readers would either love or hate him - there isn't any in between. (Most would love him, I'm sure. Unless you don't believe in love, like Natasha.) Speaking of, I found Natasha fascinating before I really fell in love with her character. She seemed rather cynical and scientific. Although she was absolutely set on getting the deportation order revoked, she refused to let Daniel into her head or her heart at first. However, if I was in her unique situation I would respond similarly. (HUGE spoiler, but who doesn't see it coming?) Fortunately, she does fall in love with him and tells him so at the end of the novel - if it had ended any other way, I would have been devastated.

Overall, their relationship turned me, a normal albeit bookish teenage girl, into an absolute hopeless romantic. Their interactions, from the initial 'meet-cute' where Daniel saves her life, to their imminent goodbye, makes me wish I was living a storybook life. It probably seems insensitive that I'm ignoring Natasha's citizenship situation, but I'll get to that later. To go back to their relationship, I want to applaud Daniel for never giving up. Throughout their single day together, Daniel keeps Natasha entertained, and even though they (of course) have a couple difficult conversations, Daniel is clearly falling in love. Some may argue that he fell in love in the coffee shop, their first date of many in that one day, but I think was just intrigued and then decided he was going to make himself fall in love.

I'm trying to explain why I'm so drawn to their relationship, but it's nearly impossible. The best way to say this is the also the simplest: read it. Daniel's small mannerisms, Natasha's stubbornness, and their compassion all make for a great character experience.

As for the heavier topics discussed: it made me cry. Full-on sob with empathy for Natasha, for Daniel, the family and friends and loved ones who are affected by immigration laws every day. My opinion on politics isn't important and doesn't have a huge place in this blog; it's about books. However, it's impossible to not feel the resonation of immigration laws and the courts. Natasha's parents brought her to the United States illegally when she was four. Her brother was a legal citizen of the United States; however, he was deported back to Jamaica with his family. This day that Yoon wrote about is Natasha's last-ditch attempt at at getting the deportation order reversed. I'm no expert on immigration laws, but Natasha brought up a good point: if all Americans who were born here had to prove they helped the country in some way, how many 'natural' citizens would America have? Before my words are taken out of context, I simply want to point out how thought-provoking this novel is.

Last but certainly not least, I would like to share my appreciation for the interesting style the novel is written in. The differing points of view, the poetic style of prose that some of the chapters are written in, and the lyrical syntax are all contributions to the magical feel of the story.

I don't give perfect reviews, because there's no perfect books. However, if I think of what I would change about this book, I can't think of anything: not plot, not setting, not writing style, not characters, not content. So, I'm going to give this a tentative 9.8/10.