The Sun Is Also a Star

by Nicola Yoon

[Sam@WLABB]

Once again, Yoon has crafted an interesting look at young love, fate, and well, immigration. This story focuses on Daniel, son of Korean immigrants, who is on his way to a Yale interview, and Natasha, an undocumented Jamaican immigrant, who is being deported. Their paths cross, and they share one day together, as Natasha races against the clock to find a way to stay in the US.

I loved the format of this book. Most of the chapters are Natasha's or Daniel's, but are interspersed with these vignettes focusing on different topics and minor characters in the story. At first, I did not understand, but all these small parts contributed to the whole. The story carries this basic thread of how a series of events can lead to some outcome. How one event can trigger another, and these small decisions can shape our lives.

I really loved both Natasha and Daniel. Daniel, the dreamer, who challenged the logical, scientific Natasha. Yoon did such beautiful job building these characters, and allowing us to get to know them. The author has a knack for taking fairly heavy topics, and being able to keep the overall feel light. This book deals with deportation and the immigrant experience, cultural expectations, stereotyping, racism, poverty/socioeconomic status, infidelity -- some really heavy topics, but the book never felt heavy, which I think is quite an accomplishment. I appreciate the way Yoon addressed these issues head on. She did not tiptoe around any of them, and it came across as honest to me.

On a personal note, I love a girl who can science. I loved all the geeky talk! As it is with every book set in NYC, I loved visiting my hometown. It was super special, since Natasha lived in the neighborhood I grew up in (Flatbush), and volunteered at the hospital I was born in.

I am a fan of this author, and highly recommend her work, if you like thoughtful contemporary YA romances. Oh, Nicola Yoon, you just know how to tug at my heartstrings and bring happy/sad tears to my eyes.