The Sun is Also a Star
by Nicola Yoon
Praise and Awards
Per Yoon's website.
- National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalist
- Michael L Printz Honor book
- Walter Honor book
- Coretta Scott King New Talent Award
- New York Times- Notable CHildren's Book of 2016
- Amazon Top 20 Best Book of the Year 2016
- Amazon Best Book of the Year Young Adult 2016
- New York Times- Book Review
- Entertainment Weekly, Top 10 Best Books of 2016
- Entertainment Weekly- Grade A Review
- Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2016
- Horn Fanfare Best Books of 2016
- Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 2016
- New York Public Library’s Best 50 Books for Teens 2016
- Booklist- Starred Review
- Kirkus Reviews- Starred Review
- Publisher's Weekly- Starred Review
- Shelf Awareness- Starred Review
- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review
- The Horn Book, Starred Review
- #1 Indie Next Winter 2016
Summary
The
novel is told in multiple perspectives as well as in the past, present,
and future. Goon ads in random but educational commentary about some of
the ideas that she mentioned in the book, the stages of love,
scientific queries, and even information on locations.
The
Kingsley family immigrated from Jamaica when Natasha was only eight
years old. Now a senior in high school, the eldest daughter and the rest
of the family are being deported by the end of the day. Samuel, her
father, is an aspiring actor and who first insisted on coming to
America. Samuel spent two years in America prior to his family coming
over, but he never received any auditions that made him any money.
Tasha's mother is hard on her father because of his consistent failure.
The family of four, including nine-year-old Peter who was born in
America, lives in a one bedroom apartment in barely gets by. Because
Samuel had one audition that worked out, he proceeded to go out that
evening, get drunk, drive home, and then we are in a police car.
Probably because of his drunken status, he spilled all the information
about being in a legal immigrant and was immediately arrested.
The
Bae family also consist of four family members. Mom and dad met in
Korea, married, and immediately moved to America where both of their
boys were born. Charles, the older brother, was recently kicked out of
Harvard for failing. At 19 years old he is considered the golden child
by his parents but an asshole by his brother. Daniel is 17 years old and
applying to Yale because his parents want him to have the American
dream fulfilled. Daniel's parents own a black beauty supply store in
Koreatown, but they want their sons to do better and become doctors.
The
entire novel takes place in one day in the city of New York. Daniel is
riding the subway, on the way to his interview with a Yale alumni, when
he has an odd experience with the conductor asking the riders to find a
sign from God. Frustrated with life and the fact that he has to go to
this interview, Daniel begins searching for a sign from God and is
immediately given one in the form of a T-shirt. Tasha is wearing a shirt
that translates into a sign, and Daniel chooses to follow her after a
second sign appears. The two have a small exchange inside of the record
store, but they immediately go different ways when Tasha is obviously in
no mood to talk to Daniel.
Tasha
is on her way to talk to a lawyer about reversing the deportation
issue. Because she was late, the attorney would not except her, but
another attorney took her in and gave her a name for a man who is well
known in the deportation area of the law. On the way, Tasha is almost
hit by a man who had been drinking and thinking of his deceased
daughter, when Daniel pulled her away from the road and saved her life.
This is the start of their day that felt like a lifetime. On the way,
Tasha is almost hit by a man who had been drinking and thinking of his
deceased daughter, when Daniel pulled her away from the road and saved
her life. This is the start of their day that felt like a lifetime.
Daniel
believes Tasha to be the most beautiful girl around in insist that he
can get her to fall in love with him. They get coffee and spent two
hours together before Tasha has to go to her appointment, leaving Daniel
to reschedule his interview. While drinking coffee the two talked about
love at first sight, scientific ideas, and begin to take questions from
a scientific study on love. When Tasha's appointment is over, Daniel is
waiting for her and they continue to communicate.
Daniel
takes Tasha to her father's store so that he can drop off an item from
his mom. Tasha soon realizes that Daniel's parents are as racist as hers
and the thought of an interracial couple is out of the question. After
an awkward exchange, Daniel takes Tasha around Koreatown into his
favorite Korean restaurant. The two become closer and closer and begin
to open up more to each other, but Tasha has yet to tell Daniel that she
is being deported this evening. Throughout the day, Daniel tries to get
her to fall in love with him, but Tasha continuously pushes him away
with him not knowing the consequences of what is to come.
After
lunch at the Korean restaurant, Daniel takes Tasha to norebang, Korean
karaoke, and they have their first intimate kiss. It's at this point in
time that Tasha realizes that she really is falling for Daniel. Though
all good things come to an end, the two of them get into a heated
discussion when Daniels finds out that Tasha is being deported. The
lovesick poet, Daniel, and the scientific-based reasoning girl, Tasha,
separate with Tasha going to the museum and Daniel going back to his
father's store to find out why Charlie hates him so much. Daniel and
Charlie end up in a fistfight, and Daniel realizes that he needs to see
Tasha more than he needed to before. While this is all occurring, Tasha
meets with the attorney, Jeremy Fitzgerald, Who thinks that he can help
her get the deportation revoked. Instead of going to the court case like
he was supposed to, Fitzgerald goes to a hotel room with his secretary,
Hannah Winter, because he is having an affair with her.
Daniel
finally re-scheduled his interview and is surprised to see Tasha's file
on top of his desk. After figuring out that he is her lawyer,
Fitzgerald informs him that he was on able to make things happen, never
mentioning the missing court date. Daniel rushes down to inform Tasha,
who was waiting for him outside, and Tasha is distraught knowing that
she's going to have to leave America, the only place she feels like she
is truly home. The two decide to share an intimate moment on top of the
building, not wanting the day to end. Daniel tells Tasha he loves her.
Daniel
insists on taking Tasha home and spending every last moment they can
together. Daniel meets her parents who do not approve of him, but let
him stay and take her to the airport via taxi. Tasha finally stands up
to her father in front of Daniels and let him know how disappointed she
is of him and the way that he has treated his family over the years,
neglecting them for his dreams in auditions and leaving the rest of the
family in the dust.
Tasha
boards the plane in the two kept their promise of communication for as
long as possible, but it was halted when life got in the way. The both
of them always remembered that day and the fun they had, but they
eventually had to put the memory aside and move on with their lives.
Tasha's mother passes and her father moves away while Daniels parents
move back to South Korea for half of the year and Charlie cut off all
contact from the family. It seems the book will end on a sad note with
the readers realizing that maybe the stars really do not align, destiny
is not true, and fate can never happen. Everything is meant to happen is
repeated multiple times in the book, but the reader doesn’t realize
what it really means until the epilogue is read.
10
years ago, Tasha left the original attorney a voicemail about how
Irene, the security guard who fondled her cell phone and made her late
to the appointment, actually made her day perfect despite ending up
being deported. That evening, before the attorney had told Irene about
the voicemail, she had planned to commit suicide. Because of the
wonderful feeling that Tasha left her with, Irene never committed
suicide and became a flight attendant, knowing how sad of a job it could
be.
While
on the plane, Irene notices a woman that looks just like Tasha and
approaches her with the intention to thank her for saving her life.
Unbeknownst to Tasha, Daniel was sitting a few rows over. Tasha and
Irene have a moment of remembering each other before Daniel turns around
and the two were reconnected. Everything happens for a reason.
Book Trailer
Soon
to be a major motion picture (thank the high heavens!!!), I was able to
find mainly movie trailers made by professionals. I found a lovely
student made video here. Penguin Press also created this video, a heartfelt dedication of the love life of Daniel and Natasha.
I also found a really interesting video over the creation of the book cover with voice annotations.
Theme
Immigration,
Deportation, Love, Fate, Destiny, Family, Poverty, Young Love, Coming
of Age, Friendships, College, Growing Up, The "Real" World, Civil
Rights, Cultural Appropriation, and Acceptance.
Similar Themed Books
The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord, This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills, and Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven.
Other Books by Nicola Yoon
Yoon has written only one other book, Everything, Everything.
Teaching Ideas
Discuss the differences between American life, Korean life, and Jamaican life.
- How are the three similar and different?
- What are some cultural norms in each country that would be "odd" to another country?
- Daniel takes Natasha to a Korean restaurant.
- Research popular foods in the area and have students bring the recipe of the one they think would be their favorite.
- Research
the cities/areas mentioned: South Korea, New York City, NY, Kingston,
and Montego Bay. How are they similar and different? Population?
Culture? Size? Etc.
Per Yoon's website.
- National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalist
- Michael L Printz Honor book
- Walter Honor book
- Coretta Scott King New Talent Award
- New York Times- Notable CHildren's Book of 2016
- Amazon Top 20 Best Book of the Year 2016
- Amazon Best Book of the Year Young Adult 2016
- New York Times- Book Review
- Entertainment Weekly, Top 10 Best Books of 2016
- Entertainment Weekly- Grade A Review
- Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2016
- Horn Fanfare Best Books of 2016
- Publisher's Weekly Best Books of 2016
- New York Public Library’s Best 50 Books for Teens 2016
- Booklist- Starred Review
- Kirkus Reviews- Starred Review
- Publisher's Weekly- Starred Review
- Shelf Awareness- Starred Review
- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review
- The Horn Book, Starred Review
- #1 Indie Next Winter 2016
Summary
The
novel is told in multiple perspectives as well as in the past, present,
and future. Goon ads in random but educational commentary about some of
the ideas that she mentioned in the book, the stages of love,
scientific queries, and even information on locations.
The
Kingsley family immigrated from Jamaica when Natasha was only eight
years old. Now a senior in high school, the eldest daughter and the rest
of the family are being deported by the end of the day. Samuel, her
father, is an aspiring actor and who first insisted on coming to
America. Samuel spent two years in America prior to his family coming
over, but he never received any auditions that made him any money.
Tasha's mother is hard on her father because of his consistent failure.
The family of four, including nine-year-old Peter who was born in
America, lives in a one bedroom apartment in barely gets by. Because
Samuel had one audition that worked out, he proceeded to go out that
evening, get drunk, drive home, and then we are in a police car.
Probably because of his drunken status, he spilled all the information
about being in a legal immigrant and was immediately arrested.
The
Bae family also consist of four family members. Mom and dad met in
Korea, married, and immediately moved to America where both of their
boys were born. Charles, the older brother, was recently kicked out of
Harvard for failing. At 19 years old he is considered the golden child
by his parents but an asshole by his brother. Daniel is 17 years old and
applying to Yale because his parents want him to have the American
dream fulfilled. Daniel's parents own a black beauty supply store in
Koreatown, but they want their sons to do better and become doctors.
The
entire novel takes place in one day in the city of New York. Daniel is
riding the subway, on the way to his interview with a Yale alumni, when
he has an odd experience with the conductor asking the riders to find a
sign from God. Frustrated with life and the fact that he has to go to
this interview, Daniel begins searching for a sign from God and is
immediately given one in the form of a T-shirt. Tasha is wearing a shirt
that translates into a sign, and Daniel chooses to follow her after a
second sign appears. The two have a small exchange inside of the record
store, but they immediately go different ways when Tasha is obviously in
no mood to talk to Daniel.
Tasha
is on her way to talk to a lawyer about reversing the deportation
issue. Because she was late, the attorney would not except her, but
another attorney took her in and gave her a name for a man who is well
known in the deportation area of the law. On the way, Tasha is almost
hit by a man who had been drinking and thinking of his deceased
daughter, when Daniel pulled her away from the road and saved her life.
This is the start of their day that felt like a lifetime. On the way,
Tasha is almost hit by a man who had been drinking and thinking of his
deceased daughter, when Daniel pulled her away from the road and saved
her life. This is the start of their day that felt like a lifetime.
Daniel
believes Tasha to be the most beautiful girl around in insist that he
can get her to fall in love with him. They get coffee and spent two
hours together before Tasha has to go to her appointment, leaving Daniel
to reschedule his interview. While drinking coffee the two talked about
love at first sight, scientific ideas, and begin to take questions from
a scientific study on love. When Tasha's appointment is over, Daniel is
waiting for her and they continue to communicate.
Daniel
takes Tasha to her father's store so that he can drop off an item from
his mom. Tasha soon realizes that Daniel's parents are as racist as hers
and the thought of an interracial couple is out of the question. After
an awkward exchange, Daniel takes Tasha around Koreatown into his
favorite Korean restaurant. The two become closer and closer and begin
to open up more to each other, but Tasha has yet to tell Daniel that she
is being deported this evening. Throughout the day, Daniel tries to get
her to fall in love with him, but Tasha continuously pushes him away
with him not knowing the consequences of what is to come.
After
lunch at the Korean restaurant, Daniel takes Tasha to norebang, Korean
karaoke, and they have their first intimate kiss. It's at this point in
time that Tasha realizes that she really is falling for Daniel. Though
all good things come to an end, the two of them get into a heated
discussion when Daniels finds out that Tasha is being deported. The
lovesick poet, Daniel, and the scientific-based reasoning girl, Tasha,
separate with Tasha going to the museum and Daniel going back to his
father's store to find out why Charlie hates him so much. Daniel and
Charlie end up in a fistfight, and Daniel realizes that he needs to see
Tasha more than he needed to before. While this is all occurring, Tasha
meets with the attorney, Jeremy Fitzgerald, Who thinks that he can help
her get the deportation revoked. Instead of going to the court case like
he was supposed to, Fitzgerald goes to a hotel room with his secretary,
Hannah Winter, because he is having an affair with her.
Daniel
finally re-scheduled his interview and is surprised to see Tasha's file
on top of his desk. After figuring out that he is her lawyer,
Fitzgerald informs him that he was on able to make things happen, never
mentioning the missing court date. Daniel rushes down to inform Tasha,
who was waiting for him outside, and Tasha is distraught knowing that
she's going to have to leave America, the only place she feels like she
is truly home. The two decide to share an intimate moment on top of the
building, not wanting the day to end. Daniel tells Tasha he loves her.
Daniel
insists on taking Tasha home and spending every last moment they can
together. Daniel meets her parents who do not approve of him, but let
him stay and take her to the airport via taxi. Tasha finally stands up
to her father in front of Daniels and let him know how disappointed she
is of him and the way that he has treated his family over the years,
neglecting them for his dreams in auditions and leaving the rest of the
family in the dust.
Tasha
boards the plane in the two kept their promise of communication for as
long as possible, but it was halted when life got in the way. The both
of them always remembered that day and the fun they had, but they
eventually had to put the memory aside and move on with their lives.
Tasha's mother passes and her father moves away while Daniels parents
move back to South Korea for half of the year and Charlie cut off all
contact from the family. It seems the book will end on a sad note with
the readers realizing that maybe the stars really do not align, destiny
is not true, and fate can never happen. Everything is meant to happen is
repeated multiple times in the book, but the reader doesn’t realize
what it really means until the epilogue is read.
10
years ago, Tasha left the original attorney a voicemail about how
Irene, the security guard who fondled her cell phone and made her late
to the appointment, actually made her day perfect despite ending up
being deported. That evening, before the attorney had told Irene about
the voicemail, she had planned to commit suicide. Because of the
wonderful feeling that Tasha left her with, Irene never committed
suicide and became a flight attendant, knowing how sad of a job it could
be.
While
on the plane, Irene notices a woman that looks just like Tasha and
approaches her with the intention to thank her for saving her life.
Unbeknownst to Tasha, Daniel was sitting a few rows over. Tasha and
Irene have a moment of remembering each other before Daniel turns around
and the two were reconnected. Everything happens for a reason.
Soon
to be a major motion picture (thank the high heavens!!!), I was able to
find mainly movie trailers made by professionals. I found a lovely
student made video here. Penguin Press also created this video, a heartfelt dedication of the love life of Daniel and Natasha.
I also found a really interesting video over the creation of the book cover with voice annotations.
Immigration,
Deportation, Love, Fate, Destiny, Family, Poverty, Young Love, Coming
of Age, Friendships, College, Growing Up, The "Real" World, Civil
Rights, Cultural Appropriation, and Acceptance.
The Names They Gave Us by Emery Lord, This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills, and Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven.
Yoon has written only one other book, Everything, Everything.
Discuss the differences between American life, Korean life, and Jamaican life.
- How are the three similar and different?
- What are some cultural norms in each country that would be "odd" to another country?
- Daniel takes Natasha to a Korean restaurant.
- Research popular foods in the area and have students bring the recipe of the one they think would be their favorite.
- Research the cities/areas mentioned: South Korea, New York City, NY, Kingston, and Montego Bay. How are they similar and different? Population? Culture? Size? Etc.
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