Title: Everything, Everything
Author: Nicola Yoon
First published September 1, 2015
312 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780553496642 (ISBN10: 0553496646)
Rating: 3.99
Overview
My life is limited to four walls, for I am cursed with a rare disease that makes me allergic to the world. My only companions are my mother and my nurse.
But everything changes when the cute guy next door moves in. His name is Jack and he has a smile that could light up the entire sky.
I can’t help but be drawn to him, and as we start to get to know each other, I realize that there is so much more to life than just my bubble. With Jack, I want everything, everything that the world has to offer.
But as our love grows, we both know that it’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.
About the Author
Nicola Yoon has achieved great success as a bestselling author, with her works Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star topping the charts. She has been recognized as a National Book Award finalist, a Michael L.
Printz Honor Book recipient, and a Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner. Her literary achievements have also been adapted into major motion pictures.
Nicola’s background includes growing up in Jamaica and Brooklyn and she currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, David Yoon, who is also a novelist, and their family.
Editoral Review
In her young adult novel Everything, Everything, Nicola Yoon delivers a heart-wrenching tale of love and sacrifice that is sure to capture readers of all ages. First published on September 1, 2015, Yoons debut novel explores themes of hope, loss, and the transformative power of love against seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
The novel centers around protagonist Madeline, a teenage girl who suffers from an extremely rare disease called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), which leaves her allergic to practically everything; as a result, she has spent her entire life inside her germ-free home. However, when new neighbors move in next door, Madelines life changes forever.
Through her interactions with her neighbor Olly, Madeline experiences a new sense of freedom and human connection, igniting a passion for life that is both beautiful and terrifying. As the pair become closer, Madeline is forced to confront the very real dangers of her condition, leading her to question how far she is willing to go to protect herself and those she loves.
In Everything, Everything, Yoon masterfully weaves together themes of young love, self-discovery, and the struggle for agency in the face of overwhelming adversity. Madeline and Olly are complex and relatable characters who manage to completely captivate the reader’s attention with their witty banter and growing bond.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is Yoons skillful use of imagery and prose. The authors writing is poetic and engaging, painting vivid pictures of Madelines world and creating a palpable sense of both longing and danger.
Additionally, the inclusion of illustrations and Madeline’s own creative work further adds to the books uniqueness. Despite its many strengths, Everything, Everything does have some shortcomings.
While the novel is generally well-paced, its plot occasionally feels overly predictable, and some readers may feel let down by the ending’s lack of resolution. Additionally, while Madeline and Olly are well-developed characters, some of the secondary characters are less fleshed out, contributing nearly nothing to the plot.
Ultimately, Everything, Everything is a touching and insightful novel that is highly recommended for fans of young adult, coming-of-age stories. With its compelling characters, emotional depth, and poignant themes, the novel is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers of all ages.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.