Recently Read: I'll Give You the Sun

Author: Jandy Nelson
Genre: Young Adult- Contemporary
Status: Standalone
Publication Date: 2014
Page Count: 371
Rating: 100/5 (no joke!)

I'll Give you the Sun by Jandy Nelson is the Printz Award winner for 2014.

This book is about Noah and Jude, twins who used to be so close they were almost the same person, but now they barely even speak. The events that caused the divide between the siblings are unfolded from Noah and Jude's perspective, from the past and the present. 

Okay, I'm just going to say I LOVED THIS BOOK. For real. I knew it was going to be good, but I had no idea it was going to be this good.

Nelson's writing is phenomenal. Every sentence is beautifully crafted and moving. Both Noah and Jude are artists, and this book truly breaths art and what art means to those who create it. I loved the constant flow of art that was in this novel. After I create something, I always feel so refreshed and this book gave me that same feeling. 

Reading from Noah's perspective was a really great experience. It was fascinating to be in the head of someone who loved and felt so deeply at such a young age, and I loved how he was always creating art in his head; he truly sees the world as a piece of art. His perspective was really unique from anything else I have read and I never wanted to leave his head.

This book has so many interesting and though provoking concepts within it. Noah and Jude's twin connection was so cool to read about. I have always found twins to be fascinating and their connection is almost other-worldly. Now I don't have a twin, but I do have a younger brother that I am extremely close too, so seeing this brother-sister connection was a little emotional for me because I always get emotional about brother-sister connections and this one was so strong and absolutely essential for both Noah and Jude. I also loved the concept of "Revolutionaries" and "Blow-ins" that Noah uses to describe himself and his mother. I also loved how fate and the universe were so important in this novel that they almost became characters in themselves. This book touches on every topic imaginable: family issues, sexual orientation, sexual pressure, ghosts, love, hate, etc. etc. But even though all these topics are dealt with, you never feel overwhelmed because they are all such a natural part of the story and the characters.  

I understand 100% why this was the Printz Award Winner for 2014. This book is beautiful and moving and as soon as I finished it, I wanted to pick it up and reread it. I have decided to add this to my list of books I want to reread every year because I think it will be even better the second time around. I will be picking up Jandy Nelson's first novel The Sky is Everywhere very soon. I love her writing.       

Have you read this one? Did you love it as much as I did? What about Nelson's first novel?