Nicola Yoon’s The Sun Is Also a Star details the relationship between teenagers Natasha Kingsley—a Jamaican American faced with the threat of deportation, and Daniel Bae—a Korean American struggling to live up to his parents’ expectations. Natasha hopes to stay in the United States; she spends her final day in New York City seeking legal help to avoid deportation. The two meet in New York, and Daniel decides to miss out on a potentially life changing interview to spend the day with Natasha. Despite Natasha only having one day, the two form a deep connection that changes the course of their lives—whether they are together or apart. The novel’s conclusion reveals the fate of the two teenagers after their time together ends; both obtain hopeful and new perspectives about their own lives and the lives of those around them, specifically how to live with intent and balance.
I would recommend this novel in an instant; it is real, and it is moving beyond words. Yoon writes with a powerful and inspiring tone that can be felt while reading and long after finishing The Sun Is Also a Star.