The Sun is Also a Star Review

 The Sun is Also a Star

Author: Nicola Yoon

Publisher: Delacorte

Synopsis:

    Twelve hours before seventeen-year-old Natasha is set to be deported back to Jamaica after 9 years of living with her family in the US under an expired tourist visa, Natasha decides that she can't go through with it. She seeks out a lawyer's help in reversing the deportation. 

    Daniel, also seventeen, is at the same time going to a Yale interview. He doesn't want to go to Yale at all; the only reason he is going to this interview is because his parents, who immigrated from South Korea before Daniel was born, feel that this is what's best for him. 

    By chance (or was it fate?) Daniel and Natasha meet. They both know a relationship wouldn't last -- Daniel's parents won't let him date girls that are not Korean, and at the end of the day, Natasha will be deported. But they find themselves falling in love. Will this doomed relationship last? Or will it be as fleeting as the one day they have together?

My thoughts:

    Overall, I enjoyed The Sun is Also a Star very much. The author switched perspective between the two main characters (Natasha and Daniel) and also used small separate sections to give background information on the characters' histories, or information about other side characters, or just information in general (for example one section header is Hair: An African American History, because this topic is relevant to the book, however it is not crucial, and I liked that the author decided to add extra information about things like that. Even though it was a realistic fiction book, I still learned a lot, not just from the informational sections but also about the cultures that Natasha and Daniel come from. 

    I also liked how the author had the characters come from diverse backgrounds and have diverse lifestyles. It made me think a lot about how sometimes I feel that a lot of teen books have one culture incorporated into it, and I like seeing characters that are not all the same. 

    I think this book was geared towards teens about 13-16, although younger and older people can definitely read this book, although if a kid is reading this book, they should be aware that there is some swearing and mature themes and ideas discussed. 

    In conclusion, I think that if you are a teen who enjoys reading diverse books, realistic fiction, or books with romance in them, this book is for you!

    Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

    Have you read this book? If so, what did you think? If not, would you?