I'll Give You the Sun - Jandy Nelson

I’ll Give You the Sun – Jandy Nelson

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson is an amazing book. I discovered this after viewing a book haul vlog on YouTube and decided I needed to give it a read for myself. This book is 371 pages long and I read it in a day...it was THAT good.

I never read Jandy Nelsons debut novel of The Sky is Everywhere, so I am new to her style of writing and have nothing to compare this story too. This novel is written beautifully and with the narration split between two people at different times in their life. It really is a credit to her style of writing to be able to bring it all together like that and keep us hooked.

I’ll Give You the Sun is a story focused on two twins, Noah and Jude. The story is told by a different twin at different stages of their life. Noah tells us his story at the age of 13/14 and Jude tells hers from the age of 16. We see two sides of a story, a very difficult, heartfelt, romantic and tragic story.

We meet Noah as an introverted and isolated young boy, lost in his world of art, a confused teenager, who isn’t sure what to feel and how to handle certain feelings and emotions he has. We learn that he is incredibly close to his twin Jude, but as with any sibling, their rivalry and jealousy is evident throughout. Wanting to prove himself and his worth at any stage, no matter what the cost is. Jude from Noah’s perspective is popular, pretty, and confident and everyone’s favourite. His jealousy is incredibly clear as she just draws in those around her. Noah is incredibly detailed, and uses a lot of metaphors throughout his narration, not only highlighting his artistic talent, but also keeping us aware of his young age, and the dramatics that becoming a teenager has as puberty take over.

When we flit to Jude’s perspective at the age of 16, it is clear to see a lot has happened in those two years and it has changed both twins. Jude is now introverted, cautious, incredibly superstitious and religious ‘bible thumping’ is what she uses to describe herself, and she is nothing like the girl we first met. Neither is Noah, who from Jude’s perspective is now the popular one, closed off and distant from her. The twin’s relationship hasn’t been the same since what happened two years ago and it is upsetting to see the differences and affect it has had on each of them. We learn more about Jude’s life, why she was the way she was at 13 and what has changed her. We see how Noah changed over the years from her eyes. We see all the trouble and pain the pair of them have gone through and how very much apart they both are from each other. But still told with a hint of humour, to add that bit of shade, light and dark within the novel.

Jandy is incredibly clever with her writing, we are constantly flitting between the two narrators at their different ages, and each segment is another piece of a puzzle that we are building. To understand what has happened, what has changed everything? You really are left trying to figure out what happened and it keeps you turning that page eager to learn more and uncover the mystery of why they have both become how they are.

I’ll Give You the Sun covers many sensitive topics, that I feel have been beautifully done. It is written in such a way that you feel each heartbreak, each word. To see the battle between the characters themselves as they struggle to work out what is going on. You feel each and every bit of it. I find the word struggle is the best way to look at this book, it focuses on two peoples struggles, and how opening themselves up, and meeting just that one person can really change all of that. Change everything they thought they believed and how a tangle of lies that have been weaved will eventually fall.

This book is sad, funny, romantic and so completely and beautifully written. I really don’t want to talk too much about it as you really have to read the book for yourself, but it truly is a great read, and if you like literary books then this really is one for you.

I will leave you with one quote that really meant a lot to me personally when I read it, and I think it sums up a lot about the feel of this book:

I give this book a 5 out of 5 star rating.