Book Review: Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Paperback, 277 pages

Published March 22nd 2011 by Speak 

Read: January 28-29, 2012

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lennie plays second clarinet in the school orchestra and has always happily been second fiddle to her charismatic older sister, Bailey. Then Bailey dies suddenly, and Lennie is left at sea without her anchor. Overcome by emotion, Lennie soon finds herself torn between two boys: Bailey's boyfriend, Toby, and Joe, the charming and musically gifted new boy in town. While Toby can't see her without seeing Bailey and Joe sees her only for herself, each offers Lennie something she desperately needs. But ultimately, it's up to Lennie to find her own way toward what she really needs-without Bailey. A remarkable debut novel perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Francesca Lia Block.

My Thoughts:

Unfreakingbelievably GOOD. Whew! What a great story. The prose and lyric of the novel was just spectacular. The poems, the music, I can feel them beating in my heart and coursing through my veins. I don’t know how Jandy Nelson did it, but she did. The love, oh the love that was depicted between Lennie and Joe is the kind of love we all want, what I want. First love that is meant to last forever. But just like any other human love, it’s not perfect, and changes, acceptance and forgiveness are vital. The grief. God, the grief was unlike the sorrow I felt and experienced when my father died last year. As my friend said, there’s diversity in how we react to the loss. Lennie, who just recently loss her sister (Bailey) deals with misery in a very unusual yet understandable way. Toby, Bailey’s boyfriend, is the only one who she can feel she can share her grief with, the one who understands. She even refuses to talk it with her Gram. Then there’s a new boy, Joe. A musician, and a perfect epitome of all smileys. He’s like a light to her darkness. The story doesn’t revolve on Lennie’s love life though, it touches lots of subjects. Family. Abandonment. Despair. Lies. Lust. Discovery. Selfishness. Forgiveness. And a lot of awakenings. It’s like Lennie first felt a lot of things when her sister passed away.

The Sky is Everywhere is a perfect partner to read when you’re vulnerable, but anytime suits okay too. (haha). Grief might be one of it’s major subjects, but it was comically written. I died, I cried, and I fell in love with this book. Read, read, read it! :)

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