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If I could have everyone in the world read a book - it would be this one.
[bc:I'll Give You the Sun|20820994|I'll Give You the Sun|Jandy Nelson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1496659336s/20820994.jpg|11409817]
[b:I'll Give You the Sun|20820994|I'll Give You the Sun|Jandy Nelson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1496659336s/20820994.jpg|11409817] is told in a dual perspective narration that alters between Jude, at age 16, and her twin brother, Noah, at age 13. NoahandJude as narrators are unreliable in the best way. A lot has happened and changed in the three years between narrations, and piecing their story together like a puzzle as it progresses is a game of intrigue for the reader. The shifting perspectives allow for the reader to glean multiple sides of the story and this technique illustrates the complexity of sibling relationships, life, and the way our experiences shape who we are.
As a coming-of-age story, the novel deals with young adult issues surrounding love, loss, family, sexuality, and identity. The characters handle these issues in different ways, as everyone expresses themselves differently, with varied outcomes (no spoilers!). They lead to conflict and character growth, both of which propel the complexity of the novel.
[a:Jandy Nelson|2982266|Jandy Nelson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1429737179p2/2982266.jpg]'s vibrant, beautiful prose jumps off of the page. She writes in stunning lyrical metaphors, such as the way that Noah rates Jude’s eyerolls on the Richter scale. Nelson paints (no pun intended, this novel is riddled with art) the setting vividly. Reading “I’ll Give You The Sun” is a sensory and emotional experience.
"I'll Give You The Sun" leaves my heart and my head in a whirlwind tornado and I'm grateful for it. Worth the read, and the reread, and I know I'm going to pick it up a thousand times more. I might start again from the beginning right now...
[bc:I'll Give You the Sun|20820994|I'll Give You the Sun|Jandy Nelson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1496659336s/20820994.jpg|11409817]
[b:I'll Give You the Sun|20820994|I'll Give You the Sun|Jandy Nelson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1496659336s/20820994.jpg|11409817] is told in a dual perspective narration that alters between Jude, at age 16, and her twin brother, Noah, at age 13. NoahandJude as narrators are unreliable in the best way. A lot has happened and changed in the three years between narrations, and piecing their story together like a puzzle as it progresses is a game of intrigue for the reader. The shifting perspectives allow for the reader to glean multiple sides of the story and this technique illustrates the complexity of sibling relationships, life, and the way our experiences shape who we are.
As a coming-of-age story, the novel deals with young adult issues surrounding love, loss, family, sexuality, and identity. The characters handle these issues in different ways, as everyone expresses themselves differently, with varied outcomes (no spoilers!). They lead to conflict and character growth, both of which propel the complexity of the novel.
[a:Jandy Nelson|2982266|Jandy Nelson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1429737179p2/2982266.jpg]'s vibrant, beautiful prose jumps off of the page. She writes in stunning lyrical metaphors, such as the way that Noah rates Jude’s eyerolls on the Richter scale. Nelson paints (no pun intended, this novel is riddled with art) the setting vividly. Reading “I’ll Give You The Sun” is a sensory and emotional experience.
"I'll Give You The Sun" leaves my heart and my head in a whirlwind tornado and I'm grateful for it. Worth the read, and the reread, and I know I'm going to pick it up a thousand times more. I might start again from the beginning right now...
I sat down and read this book cover to cover. Ruta Sepetys writes prose that makes this story beautifully compelling. I devoured it like deliciously ripe fruit.
Set in East Prussia towards the end of WWII, [b:Salt to the Sea|25614492|Salt to the Sea|Ruta Sepetys|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1437084512s/25614492.jpg|27126244] is a fictional retelling of true historical events. It follows the journey of the (fictional) protagonists to the warship The Wilhelm Gustloff. Sepetys did her research on this particular event (the end of the novel recognizes the survivors, relatives, historians, and sources Sepetys worked with to compose the factual background of this novel). Salt to the Sea alternated between four perspectives of young people from different backgrounds fluidly, each character developed a distinct voice. (And I felt that they all WORKED with this particular narrative). Sepetys's decision to tell the story of WWII and the Gustloff through young voices added a dimension of truth and relatability to the novel that may intrigue young readers to further explore historical events (which is what it did to me - I'll come back to this point later).
Sepetys writes:
If historical novels stir your interest, pursue the facts, history, memoirs, and personal testimonies available. These are the shoulders that historical fiction sits upon. When the survivors are gone we must not let the truth disappear with them. Please give them a voice.
In a school curriculum, I think this would be a novel could be incorporated into a World History, European History, or WWII History unit - you could either take a look at excerpts from this book (but keep in mind, it is historical fiction) or include it as an independent reading companion text to aspects of wartime curriculum. A novel like this can enrich student experience while promoting multiple, and likely new, perspectives especially that it is told through young voices. The text of this novel isn't as dense as a true historical account might be but, could aid in student's understanding of life during this time. This novel is not a front line, action-packed WWII story. The core of this story is through the relationships the characters develop with each other and their environment based on their background, race, religion, gender, and class-status during the divisive climate of WWII. However, there are still suspenseful moments and wartime atrocities present. Sepetys evokes empathy in the reader through this novel through plot and characterization. You could look at this novel through a Marxist, feminist, or reader-response criticism.
All four protagonists are young adults, and the themes of young adult fiction (love, loss, family complications) are escalated and complicated because of the time period this novel takes place. For the teenage/YA readers, the novel's appeal lies in the unique voices and perspectives of the four protagonists. While the characters' circumstances and lives may be drastically different from that of the reader, the teen/YA relatability component is still present. I would still consider this to be a YA novel, but I can easily see this book appealing to an adult audience, too.
As an added bonus - There is a map included in the front of the hardcover edition which is extremely beneficial to understanding the setting and plot of the story (but not entirely necessary if omitted).
As I mentioned earlier, I am so thankful that Sepetys chose to tell the story of the Gustloff through young characters, and I want to further research this particular tragedy because this is a side of WWII I was not familiar with prior to reading this novel. I can not properly articulate how much I enjoyed this novel. It is poignant and tragic and heart-wrenching and gripping in all of the best possible ways.
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I tried to be very articulate with this but I'm really over here like: UGH WHAT HOW BEAUTIFUL I LOVE WORDS AND HOW DID SEPETYS SWITCH NARRATION SO FLUIDLY AND WHY ARE BOOKS SO MAGICAL!?!!?!!???
Set in East Prussia towards the end of WWII, [b:Salt to the Sea|25614492|Salt to the Sea|Ruta Sepetys|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1437084512s/25614492.jpg|27126244] is a fictional retelling of true historical events. It follows the journey of the (fictional) protagonists to the warship The Wilhelm Gustloff. Sepetys did her research on this particular event (the end of the novel recognizes the survivors, relatives, historians, and sources Sepetys worked with to compose the factual background of this novel). Salt to the Sea alternated between four perspectives of young people from different backgrounds fluidly, each character developed a distinct voice. (And I felt that they all WORKED with this particular narrative). Sepetys's decision to tell the story of WWII and the Gustloff through young voices added a dimension of truth and relatability to the novel that may intrigue young readers to further explore historical events (which is what it did to me - I'll come back to this point later).
Sepetys writes:
If historical novels stir your interest, pursue the facts, history, memoirs, and personal testimonies available. These are the shoulders that historical fiction sits upon. When the survivors are gone we must not let the truth disappear with them. Please give them a voice.
In a school curriculum, I think this would be a novel could be incorporated into a World History, European History, or WWII History unit - you could either take a look at excerpts from this book (but keep in mind, it is historical fiction) or include it as an independent reading companion text to aspects of wartime curriculum. A novel like this can enrich student experience while promoting multiple, and likely new, perspectives especially that it is told through young voices. The text of this novel isn't as dense as a true historical account might be but, could aid in student's understanding of life during this time. This novel is not a front line, action-packed WWII story. The core of this story is through the relationships the characters develop with each other and their environment based on their background, race, religion, gender, and class-status during the divisive climate of WWII. However, there are still suspenseful moments and wartime atrocities present. Sepetys evokes empathy in the reader through this novel through plot and characterization. You could look at this novel through a Marxist, feminist, or reader-response criticism.
All four protagonists are young adults, and the themes of young adult fiction (love, loss, family complications) are escalated and complicated because of the time period this novel takes place. For the teenage/YA readers, the novel's appeal lies in the unique voices and perspectives of the four protagonists. While the characters' circumstances and lives may be drastically different from that of the reader, the teen/YA relatability component is still present. I would still consider this to be a YA novel, but I can easily see this book appealing to an adult audience, too.
As an added bonus - There is a map included in the front of the hardcover edition which is extremely beneficial to understanding the setting and plot of the story (but not entirely necessary if omitted).
As I mentioned earlier, I am so thankful that Sepetys chose to tell the story of the Gustloff through young characters, and I want to further research this particular tragedy because this is a side of WWII I was not familiar with prior to reading this novel. I can not properly articulate how much I enjoyed this novel. It is poignant and tragic and heart-wrenching and gripping in all of the best possible ways.
-----------
I tried to be very articulate with this but I'm really over here like: UGH WHAT HOW BEAUTIFUL I LOVE WORDS AND HOW DID SEPETYS SWITCH NARRATION SO FLUIDLY AND WHY ARE BOOKS SO MAGICAL!?!!?!!???
3.5 stars. Love the premise, as a book lover and an avid independent bookstore cheerleader, I grew to love A.J. Fikry. However, Zevin's writing style never clicks with me the way I always hope it will. She is skilled at her craft, just not to my personal tastes. So, take my review with a grain of salt.