Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my Korean parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.
The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?
The Sun is also a Star is told from the alternating perspectives of these two characters, read by Bahni Turpin and Raymond Lee whose performances are nothing short of brilliant. During the course of a day in their lives, we learn how racism, prejudice and being the children of immigrants has shaped their fates. Several strangers cross paths with them and a kind of butterfly effect weaves through the narrative to create unexpected and fateful changes.
Natasha finds a lawyer who hopes to stay her deportation and Daniel blows off his interview for Yale so he can spend the day convincing her that they are fated to be lovers. They savor Korean food and Daniel sings to her at a Korean karaoke shop endearing himself to this listener. With each chapter you get to know their hopes and fears. You don’t want the recording to end because your heart will break if they are to be parted.
The message that one person or one moment can affect the future comes full circle at the incredibly unimagined and wonderful ending.
I can't imagine that reading this book would be as good as listening to their voices; it makes them live for you.
Click here to see how the cover was made https://youtu.be/SJkjaapoNkw
Tessa's Picks, 7-8th grade, Contemporary fiction, Issues fiction, People of color, Romance, Character driven