I'll Give You the Sun

I'll Give You the Sun

By Jandy Nelson

5 ratings 6 reviews 10 followers
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 9 - 12Grades 3 - 5n/a4.9109680
The New York Times Bestselling story of first love, family, loss, and betrayal for fans of John Green, Jenny Offill, Emma Straub, and Rainbow Rowell

“We were all heading for each other on a collision course, no matter what. Maybe some people are just meant to be in the same story.”


At first, Jude and her twin brother are NoahandJude; inseparable. Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude wears red-red lipstick, cliff-dives, and does all the talking for both of them.

Years later, they are barely speaking. Something has happened to change the twins in different yet equally devastating ways . . . but then Jude meets an intriguing, irresistible boy and a mysterious new mentor.

The early years are Noah’s to tell; the later years are Jude’s. But they each have only half the story, and if they can only find their way back to one another, they’ll have a chance to remake their world.

This radiant, award-winning novel from the acclaimed author of The Sky Is Everywhere will leave you breathless and teary and laughing—often all at once.

Printz Award Winner
Stonewall Honor Book


"A wild, beautiful, and profoundly moving novel. Jandy Nelson’s writing is so electric, so alive, her pages practically glow in the dark." —Ransom Riggs, New York Times bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and Hollow City

"Jandy Nelson is a rare, explosive talent, and one of the best writers working today. Her prose is vivid, breathtaking, and drenched in passion, and her stories remind me why words can change the world." —Tahereh Mafi, New York Times bestselling author of the Shatter Me series.

"I love this book. Jandy Nelson is my new writing hero. Read this book. She'll be your favorite author as well." —Holly Goldberg Sloan, New York Times bestselling author of Counting by 7s

"Jandy Nelson’s writing is poetic and mesmerizing. More importantly, Nelson weaves a novel that seeps into your bones like fire on a cold day . . . I’ll Give You the Sun is a novel that promises a story like nothing else and then delivers it.” —Garret Freymann-Weyr, author of Printz Honor book, My Heartbeat

"This is a stunning, artfully woven story. My heart burst open at the blazing, unforgettable end. Magnificent." —Nova Ren Suma, author of Imaginary Girls and 17 & Gone

"An extraordinary book! I've never read anything like it. Lyrical-unique-passionate-magical-tragic-hopeful—Nelson's characters will fly off the page and into your heart." —Nancy Garden, author of Annie on my Mind
Publisher: Speak
ISBN-13: 9780142425763
ISBN-10: 0142425761
Published on 10/27/2015
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 400

Book Reviews (5)

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This book is amazing. I can't get over the diversity and I love this book this book is really cool.

I absolutely LOVED this book, it is one of my all-time favorites. I read ALL the time, and so I've seen plenty of good books. I would read this over and over again. I suggest this to other people, it is such an inspiring and eyeopening book. I love it so so so much.

In short, this book leaves you with enough thoughts about life, morality, betrayal, and family, to last you a lifetime. Noah and Jude are the closest twins you'll ever meet: they're each other's best friends, have their own inside jokes, original games, and know each other better than anyone. Noah has always been less social than Jude, an outsider, an outcast, spending his time with his sketchbook and paints. Jude, on the other hand, has always fit in at school, making friends, cliff-diving, and wearing red lipstick. Once it's time to enter high school, however, jealousy and competition get the best of them, demolishing all the closeness that made up their relationship. They lose people, meet people, and fall in love, on the path back to how it once was. Nelson managed to write this all so elegantly through alternating perspectives told from twins' eyes (rather than a couple's), and during alternating times. Jude's story is told from when they're 16. Noah's is from when they're 13-14. How Nelson made this work so beautifully?-- I have no idea.

It was both a sad and amazing book.

What made this book amazing to you? :)