Because who can afford books in this economy?

Friday, May 21, 2010

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Title: The Sky Is Everywhere
Author: Jandy Nelson
Published: March 2010
Source: The Library
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey
dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey’s boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie’s own. Joe is the new boy in
town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they’re the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can’t collide without the whole wide world exploding.

This remarkable debut is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block. Just as much a celebration of love as it is a portrait of loss, Lennie’s struggle to sort her own melody out of the noise around her is always honest, often hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable. 
Death seems to pop up a lot in YA lit lately. In my experience those books are some of the best, because it seems that grief takes the reader to a whole new level of emotional connection. The Sky Is Everywhere is a perfect example. I'm an only child. I don't have a sister who's also a best friend. Yet throughout this book I could clearly feel and understand Lennie's grief, something that was very heartbreaking.

I don't even know where to begin about the characters. They were all so unique and all of them had such personality. They just jumped off of the page. Being in Lennie's head wasn't always easy, but it wouldn't have been right any other way. Even though she made mistakes, I always rooted for her, and I always hoped that she would redeem herself.

The plot isn't something that jumps out at you, and it's not meant to be. It's the journey of a mourning girl who comes to accept what happened to her sister and also to discover who she is. The pacing is great, the breakthroughs come at the right times, and the heartbreak is so perfectly placed. Can you tell that I'm gushing yet?

The romance is so perfect. Lennie is torn between two guys. The one that she knows that she should stay away from but is drawn to, and the one who makes her smile again. She's drawn to her sister's boyfriend, who understands her grief, feels the same pain. But the other one makes her forget, helps her heal. Which to choose? You'll have to read to know how it all plays out.
I loved this book. It was so perfect that I can't think of one thing that I would change about it. Go read it!

Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 50/50 A+
Cover/Title Comments: The cover and the title are both perfect. This is definitely one of my favorite covers this year. 

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9 comments:

  1. I've noticed that too - Death is a popular topic in YA these days! Anyways, this book sounds amazing. It's great that the characters feel so real and work well together.

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  2. I agree with you about the cover! Such a great one. I'll add this to my TBR pile.

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  3. I'm looking forward to reading this, though I think I might cry!

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  4. I agree with everything you said- I LOVED this book, so glad you did, too :)

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  5. Glad you enjoyed this book as well! I'm gunna link to you review from mine :D

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  6. Fantastic review! I'm glad you enjoyed it, :)

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  7. Ohmygosh, you loved it!
    I did too! I really thought your review hit dead on to what I felt. Thanks for sharing.
    Love, Hannah

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  8. Great review! I agree, this is an A+ book for sure!

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  9. ahh...just posted in your IMM to tell you that I hope you love this one, but now I see that you do! :) I definitely 100% agree with you.

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Your comments make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, keep them coming!

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