Tolog Review: I'll Give You the Sun

I'll Give You the Sun
by Jandy Nelson
reviewed by Ana Cristina Bailey

In Jandy Nelson’s contemporary fiction novel, I’ll Give You the Sun, she follows the life of teenage fraternal twins, Noah and Jude, on their journey into adolescence. Noah, a timid and artistic boy, and Jude, an intrepid girl whose personality is large enough for the both of them, are inseparable from their birth. However, a tragedy strikes their family and causes their relationship to suffer as they experience changes that transpire during adolescence. Noah and Jude, who were once parts of one whole, find themselves in a world with romance, jealousy, bullying, and duplicity. The once inseparable pair struggle to discover their true identity and attempt to distance themselves from merely being half of a whole. Moreover, the twins feel culpable for different aspects of an accident that turned their lives upside down, an accident that Noah and Jude believe defines them. Noah and Jude isolate themselves as a means to deal with their guilt, further damaging their relationship. Throughout the novel, the reader anxiously awaits for the twins to once again become whole-Noah and Jude.

Noah and Jude, the protagonists of the novel, seek to find a balance in their lives after losing touch with each other; their contrary personalities provide them with a balance. Despite the rift in their relationship, Noah and Jude continue to play their favorite game in which they split the world and trade the oceans, sun, moon, trees, and other parts of nature. They frequently divide the world unevenly and cause it to be imbalanced, similarly to the way that Noah and Jude feel imbalanced when they are apart. Furthermore, Noah longs to feel accepted by his father who is the epitome of masculinity in his eyes. Noah’s struggle with his sexuality further distances him from his father, so he puts on the facade of a typical teenage boy although he feels the exact opposite. On the other hand, Jude wishes for nothing more than for her mother to notice her. As Noah and Jude compete for their parent’s attention, their feelings toward each other become spiteful as they go out of their way to harm each other. Years after the accident turned their lives upside down, Jude meets a mentor who is connected to her in the most profound way although she does not realize it at the time. 

I’ll Give You the Sun alternates between the perspectives of Noah at age thirteen and Jude at age sixteen. By using two narrators, one who is more mature and the other who is more naive, the different opinions and views intrigue the reader and allow the reader to see both sides of the story. The different narration of these characters gives insight into the characters and their thoughts. For instance, Noah “paints in his head” and describes paintings that he would compose that accurately portray the situation at hand, displaying his love for art. However, Jude often has visions of her late grandmother who comes to her bearing wise advice, demonstrating her belief in afterlife. Furthermore, Nelson’s elaborate plot in which every character is related to another in a significant way urges the reader to ponder that every person comes into one’s life for a reason. The two different narrations, which are told in different points in time, enable the reader to make connections between the characters; Nelson’s use of foreshadow and flashback contribute to the feeling that all people are somehow linked together. Nelson’s writing technique aids in illustrating the novel in a thought-provoking manner. 

I would recommend this novel to those who appreciate coming-of-age stories. Noah and Jude experience a transformation throughout the novel, for they are taught a lesson in being open-minded and in relying on those who are in their life. Noah and Jude learn that nothing in the world is solely right or wrong, which helps them deal with their guilt. I would recommend I’ll Give You the Sun to people who enjoy intricate plots and plot twists, and those who appeal to cliffhangers will greatly appreciate Nelson’s use of foreshadowing. This novel is truly breathtaking, riveting, and emotional; it is a novel that I could not stop reading. It is especially captivating because of its relevance to teenagers in the world today. Young adults all over the world face similar problems to those of Noah and Jude, especially those regarding new relationships. In sum, I would recommend I’ll Give You the Sun to people who are eager to delve into the minds of Noah and Jude as they navigate through adolescence.