Heart touching: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

The Sky is Everywhere

by Jandy Nelson

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

Release Date: March 22, 2011

Publisher: Speak

Source: Bought/Own Copy

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Author's Blog

SYNOPSIS

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.

REVIEW

The Sky is Everywhere tells a beautiful story about moving on and finding one’s true self. Lennie used to live behind her sister’s shadows, never making decisions on her own. That’s until her sister suddenly died. Now that her sister’s gone, Lennie is forced to take the spotlight and lead her own life. Along the way, not only does she struggle to cope up with her sister’s death, but also between two boys—one who makes her remember and the other one who makes her forget.

This book. How do I even? I didn't really expect this book to have such a huge impact on me because it’s suggested for fans of Sarah Dessen, and, clearly, I’m not a huge fan of hers. I read this book last month, but I still remember every single bit of it. I read it in just one day. Actually, I read a few pages before that, but I stopped reading it for reasons I can’t seem to remember.  A few days after that did I only read the book for real and damn, I couldn't put it down.

Lennie Walker.  I absolutely loved Lennie’s character. She’s named after the famous John Lennon. She plays the clarinet and she’s also a bookworm and a band geek. She and her sister, Bailey, were very close, so it was really hard for her to live without her sister alongside her. Throughout the book, she struggled and made some bad decisions Yes, it made me want to knock some sense to her, but I didn't do it, not because she’s fictional, but because I understood her.

Toby Shaw. a.k.a. Bailey’s boyfriend who Lennie kissed or who kissed Lennie. Either way, they kissed. Honestly, I thought he was a jerk base from the synopsis because why would you share a kiss with the sister of your dead ex-girlfriend? But when he appeared in the book, my opinion of him turned 360.  He’s a nice guy, seriously. You’ll see why he did it once you read the book.

Joe Fontaine. If I loved Lennie, well, I loved loved Joe Fontaine. What can I say? I was instantly drawn to him from the beginning.  How can I not? He’s a musical genius who just got back from France. He’s a very enthusiastic person. He has long eyelashes. Bat. Bat. Bat. For Lennie, he’s like a breath of fresh air because unlike Toby, he makes her forget about her sorrows and grieves. In short, he’s the perfect book-friend.

If you're looking for a powerful read, then I highly suggest you read The Sky is Everywhere. It's the kind of story that leaves a mark on you whether you like it or not.

                                                                                                                 

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