Book Review: The Sun Is Also a Star (Nicola Yoon)

Three stories collide, making you wonder how it will end: that of Natasha the cynical scientist, Daniel the romantic poet, and the Universe, made up of particles, philosophies and is still unpredictable.

Natasha is twelve hours from being deported to Jamaica from New York City, and as always, her fate falls entirely onto her shoulders. Her ideals and outlook on life are not characteristic of a typical young adult but one who has had to take on too much responsibility within their family, leaving her anxious and pessimistic. Because of her impending future, she does not have the time nor the belief that love is a reality.

Daniel is bright and on track to go to Harvard. His family emigrated from South Korea when Daniel was born to give his brother and him the chance to succeed academically. Daniel aspires to be a poet, but he knows his family will never understand. He is scheduled for his first interview for Harvard, and on his way, he believes fate has brought him to Natasha.

Fate versus free will, science versus philosophy, emotions versus love all encompass the struggles these teenagers must face along with a twelve hour deadline before Natasha is deported.

The philosophy in "The Sun is Also a Star" is ridiculous. Natasha and Daniel's story of falling in love in a single day is possible, and their classic romantic vs scientist banter is cute, but predictable. Natasha has decided to become a stat analysis because she took a job aptitude test, and Daniel wants to be a poet because he dreams of it. Natasha believes that everything happens in a series of events, just like the universe was created, and Daniel sees everything has a reason because of God and his destiny for Daniel. Natasha says that everything in the universe is held together by an unexplained black mass by scientists, Daniel says it's love. "BLEH," I say aloud along with Natasha.

On Nicola Yoon’s website, she says that it is her dream to have more diversity in books, and The Sun is Also a Star is bold when it comes to diversity. With Daniel being an emigrant form South Korea, and Natasha being from Jamaica, they have to talk to parents and people in the public that have formed prejudices.

Despite my avid appreciation of Yoon's positive depiction of immigrants living in the country (illegal or not), I was very disappointed with the unbearable, uncontrollable fate aspect of the book. For a book filled with philosophy, biology, and chemistry, it all is summed up with a deep feel-good destiny theme that overly romanticizes relationships.

I read The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon (ISBN 0553496689) on Overdrive (a free app through your local library), but you can purchase the book on Amazon for $14.53 here.