The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

For fans of Everything, Everything, this is an entirely different book--yet, it is just as entirely engrossing. Natasha (Tasha) is an undocumented immigrant from Jamaica, living with her family in New York City. Daniel is a first-generation American, born to parents who emigrated from South Korea for a better life. By chance, or perhaps arranged by the Fates, Tasha and Daniel meet on Tasha’s last day in America--she is on her way to see a lawyer to fight deportation orders, and Daniel is headed to an interview for Yale and a future he neither planned or wanted. The writing is exquisite, Tasha and Daniel are absolutely endearing, and this book solidifies Yoon as one of my very favorite authors. Read it--I dare you to not love it. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy stories about relationships, tough choices, family, and the paths we choose in life as well as finding out where these paths will eventually lead us.

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Artists and those who appreciate art will fall in love with this book--the author's description and use of metaphor is nothing short of stunning. Her talent makes me both appreciative and extremely envious. The book tells the story of twins Jude and Noah, who are so close when the story opens that they are known as JudeandNoah. However, in the span of three years, tragedy and misunderstanding build an unfathomable wall between the two siblings. The story skillfully alternates point of view and time periods between Jude and Noah, and the years when they are 13 and 16 years old. I recommend this book to sophisticated readers who have knowledge or appreciation of art/artists, and who enjoy reading about relationships--both within a family and with the people in life whom we are destined to meet, and as a result, feel like family.