The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Megan | Biotechnology High School, Grade 9

Rating: *****

"The Sun is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon is set in New York City and follows Natasha Kingsley and Daniel Bae, two teenagers whose stories intertwine despite their extremely different life circumstances. Natasha comes from a family of illegal immigrants from Jamaica who were about to be deported the next day. She has a practical and scientific mindset, refusing to believe in true love or fate. On the other hand, Daniel’s Korean family is pressuring him to attend medical school at Yale, although his true passion lies in poetry. Unlike Natasha, Daniel is a dreamer who believes in destiny and true love. This novel takes place in the span of only one day, the day before Natasha’s deportation and day of Daniel’s Yale interview. While Natasha is determined to hinder her family’s deportation and Daniel is questioning his future, the two coincidentally cross paths. Due to their unusual circumstances, they only have less than 24 hours to get to know each other and fall in love. "The Sun Is Also A Star" is a sentimental story of hope, fate, dreams, and most importantly, love.

This novel is so eye-opening and fascinating because of its inclusion of the butterfly effect. Yoon shows the reader that one small action can change everything. Even minor characters, such as a train conductor and a security guard, have their own backstories and motivations that govern their actions. Notably, one of the chapters, which was written from the perspective of Natasha’s father, was formatted like a play because he was an actor. These details, although small, are extremely unique and add so much depth and character to the story. All in all, if you are looking for a heartfelt yet thought-provoking romance novel, then this book would be perfect for you.

Marissa | Holmdel High School, Grade 10

Rating: *****

The book I am reviewing is The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon. The story follows two teenagers, Natasha and Daniel, with their two different lifestyles in New York City. Natasha is trying to stop her family from being deported to Jamaica, and Daniel is preparing for an important college interview. Natasha is scientific and logical, but Daniel is artistic and a dreamer. The two are totally different but end up spontaneously meeting and and spending the day together. Daniel tries to see if he and Natasha can fall in love over the course of a single day, despite the obstacles driving them apart, and along the way they exchange ideas and perspectives on the world.

I’d recommend this book because it opens your eyes to different perspectives and personality types. Natasha and Daniel are complete opposites when it comes to their background, demeanor, and mindset, but in meeting one another they are able to establish common ground and realize that they have more in common than they think. It’s a fun and engaging read with a whirlwind plot line and relatable, lovable characters.

Mindy | Communications High School, Grade 10

Rating: ****

Natasha Kingsley learned of her family’s deportation with only 24 hours left in the U.S. As she fights against her family’s fate she meets Daniel Bae, an extreme romantic. As a logical thinker, Natasha fights against her growing feelings for Daniel even as fate seems to push them even closer together.

I surprisingly enjoyed this book. As a pragmatist myself, I’m not typically a fan of romance novels where the two fall in love right away. However, the writing and pacing in this book just make it very believable. The characters were also written well and I appreciated the different motivations both had. I did genuinely care for both characters.

The romance itself was pretty well-written. The characters did feel like they cared a lot about each other. For someone that doesn’t particularly believe in fate this book really did make me believe in it a little bit more. The writing was also done well and it addressed deep topics in a genuinely compelling way.

Overall, I thought this was a solid book. The romance was done in a very interesting way and both of the characters were done really well. I also appreciated the fact that the girl was a pragmatist and the guy was romantic, a trope not often seen. This book was really well done and I would definitely recommend it.