LGBQT, I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, review by Paula Kerns

"Quick, make a wish.  Take a (second or third or fourth)chance.  Remake the world."(Jansen)

Wow, this book is gem!  It is definitely one of my favorite books.
 Jandy Nelson immerses us into the love lives, heartbreaks and heart repair journeys of adolescent twins Noah and Jude.  The story begins when they're thirteen and is narrated by them separately chapter by chapter progressing until they are sixteen.  Noah is coming to terms with being gay and his fear of his father's rejection, rejection of his love interest and the bullying of peers.  He channels his frustration and isolation into sketches and painting.  Noah's struggles are particularly painful as he feels like an outsider who will never be loved for who he is by anyone except his mom.  Jude feels rejected by her mom and acts out in ways she regrets.  The story is a beautiful mosaic of the mysteries of love, secrets kept  and the universal desire to fit in and be loved for who we are.  The wisdom woven throughout this book, particularly the last three chapters, call for me to reread it.  I definitely see this as a great resource for the LGBQT community, especially adolescents, but it also applies to everyone as it explores love's complexities and how interconnected we are as human beings.  I was moved by Jandy Nelson message of remaking ourselves from heart break and loss and remaking our world in the process.  I enjoyed the depth and beauty of her writing that I am moved to read her first novel, The Sky is Everywhere.