The next book that I read from Nicola Yoon was “The Sun is Also a Star,” which was also adapted into a movie starring Charles Melton (“Riverdale”) and Yara Shahidi (“Black-ish” and “Grown-ish”). Everyone seems to have their own strong opinion on it, and I think it gives the reader a more nuanced argument beyond a “yes” or “no” answer, because like most things, the answer is somewhere in the middle, if there’s even an answer at all. The main question Yoon poses throughout the book is, “Is life without risk really living?” Obviously, different characters have different thoughts about this idea and these thoughts are always changing and shifting as they move through the story. Oliver was more of a boy-next-door trope (literally), but he paired well with Maddy’s character and this was her story, not his, so Yoon could get away with making him a bit more underdeveloped as a character. Even though Maddy is under extreme circumstances, Yoon makes her relatable and reachable to the reader, especially when it comes to wanting more participation in the world and the tendency to focus on what we are and aren’t limited to. Even though she is content being inside, she longs to be an active part of the world and experience it for herself, but it’s obvious she’s hidden that part of herself away to save herself disappointment. I loved the character of Maddy (and not just because we share a name). This may seem like am obvious presence, but Yoon has a talent for putting her own twist on things and making her characters seem totally original. She’s more or less content with this she’s never known anything else until a new family moves in next door and the teenage son, Oliver, catches her eye. Due to her illness, she is unable to leave her house, so her life is confined to her caretaker and her mother-if anyone else came into contact with her she could die. This story follows 18-year-old Madeline Whittier, who has been sick her entire life. The first book of hers that I read was “Everything, Everything,” which came out in 2015 and has since been adopted into a movie starring Amandla Stenberg (“The Hunger Games” and “The Hate U Give”) and Nick Robinson (“Love, Simon”). She grew up in Jamaica and Brooklyn, and now lives in Los Angeles with her husband David Yoon (who co-authored the first book I talk about), and her daughter. Printz Award winner and Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner. Yoon is a National Book Award finalist, Michael L. For the last book showcasing black authors during Black History Month, I chose to look at Nicola Yoon, who has written two of my favorite young adult (YA) books.

Everything everything book series