The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

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The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Natasha

Believes in science over religion - "We're put here to evolve and survive. That's it."(Yoon 194)

Hair is a big part of her identity - "It takes Natasha's hair three years to grow in fully. She doesn't do it to make a political statement. In fact, she liked having her hair straight. In the future, she may make it straight again. She does it because she wants to try something new. She does it simply because it looks beautiful." (Yoon 131)

A realist - "This is reality. In the norebang we could pretend, but not out here. It's one of the things I like the most about New York City. It deflects any attempts you make to lie to yourself." (Yoon 187) - "We have separate lives to lead, I can't leave my heart here when my life is there." (Yoon 304)

Symbolism

Natasha's Headphones: Mentioned numerous times in the beginning of the book. She always zones out when she wears them. This symbolizes her desire to shut the world out, hence her zoning out when she wears them. When Daniel breaks these headphones, there is a shift in her perspective on life. She starts moving forward instead of staying stuck in the same mindset. She was afraid of what would happen, but he was her wake up call.

"The super-pink headphones are back on, and she sways to her music again." (Yoon 60)

The Sun: We are all made of stars and there is something bigger than us controlling the things that are happening in our lives. This means change isn't scary and everything happens for a reason.

"Sure, but why not more poems about the sun? The sun is also a star, and it's our most important one." (Yoon 178)

The Play: The play "Raisin in The Sun" is what brought Natasha's dad to America. It made him have hope he could live the American dream. However, this play comes back later and takes away this "American dream". The play is about a black family who struggles to follow their dreams, which sounds a lot like our story. A common struggle in this book is people struggling to follow their dreams.

"That play sent me to America, and now it send me back to Jamaica." (Yoon 293)

About the book

"The Sun is Also a Star" is a book about a stubborn and smart girl named Natasha and a confused and creative boy named Daniel. The two meet in NYC and fall in love in one day. It's a story about fate, love, and the impact on the choices we make in our lives.

Connections

Connection to World: "And now a man who has probably spent no more than a week in Jamaica is telling me everything will be irie." (Yoon 121) Lack of understanding; this man hasn't spent much time in America, so he doesn't really know what life is like there. This is like people in wealthier countries not understanding what it's like for people in poorer countries. Source: Rozsa, Matthew, and Brian S. Lowery. “Rich people actually do have trouble understanding what it's like to be poor.” Salon.com, 18 May 2021, https://www.salon.com/2021/05/18/rich-people-actually-do-have-trouble-understanding-what-its-like-to-be-poor/. Accessed 18 June 2024.

Connection to text: "Hannah has always though of herself as living in a fairy tale where she;s not the star" (Yoon 116) This reminds me of an episode of Criminal Minds called "If The Shoe Fits" about a girl who thinks she's in a fairy tale and is the princess. However, in this book Hannah knows she isn't a star and isn't delusional to the point she's in a Criminal Minds episode.

Connection to self: "hair an African American history." (Yoon 124) Hair is a really big part of my culture aswell. Long dark hair is a beauty standard. In many South Asian religions, women are encouraged to cover it as a sign of respect. It can represent protection, strength, and wealth.

Conflict

Quotes:

"That play sent me to America, and now it's end me back to Jamaica." (Yoon 293)

"We're undocumented immigrants, and we're being deported tonight." (Yoon 50)

"There was a time when my father thought the world of me, and I really missed it right then. More than that, though? I missed the days when I thought the world of him, and thought he could do no wrong. I used to think that all it took to make him happy was us, his family. There are pictures of me from when I was wearing a My Dad Is The Coolest T-shirt. On it there was a father penguin holding hands, surrounded by icy blue hearts. I wish I still felt that way. Growing up and seeing your parents' flaws is like losing your religion. I don't believe in God anymore. I don't believe in my father either." (Yoon 216)

One of the story-lines in the book is Natasha's deportation. This is one of the central conflicts. From the begining of the book we see Natasha in offices trying to fight to stay in America. This is an example of character Vs. Society. Later on we find out that the reason for this deportation is because of a drunken mistake her father made. Natasha struggles with this sudden change and how she feels about her father. She used to be very close with him, but they've grown apart and he has said some hurtful things to her. She still loves him, but she struggles with her feelings (Character Vs. Self) and what she's going to do about him (Character Vs. Man)

Topic and Theme

Quotes

"We have separate lives to lead. I can't leave my heart here when my life is there." (Yoon 304)

"But how can you trust something that can end as suddenly as it begins?" (Yoon 58)

Change is not always wanted, but necessary to grow. Fear can stop us or push us forward, it depends on how we handle it.

Fear and change