by Nicola Yoon
Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2015. 320 pages. Young Adult
Ever since she was diagnosed with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, or "bubble baby" disease, eighteen-year-old Madeline Whittier hasn't been able to leave her house. Her world's made up of two people: Her physician mother, and her nurse, Carla. Quite literally allergic to everything, Maddy's days are full of tutors who instruct her via Skype, books (lots and lots of books, no matter how much you've read, Maddy's read more than you), and Fonetik Skabbl games with her mother.
It's not until a new family moves in next door--bringing Olly into Maddy's world, a boy seemingly made of kinetic energy--that Maddy has her first encounter with someone outside her very insular life. Through a series of jokes involving an indestructible Bundt cake, Olly manages to get Maddy's email address. Emails lead to late-night IM chats, which lead to Maddy persuading Carla to let Olly into the airtight house (secretly, of course) . . . which leads Maddy to question everything about her existence, including the validity of a life lived in a bubble, without risk or without love.
Everything, Everything has been one of the most buzzed-about young adult books of 2015, and deservedly so; it's not often I pick up a book with the intention to read the first few pages, only to find myself turning the last one hours later. Despite the trials she faces, Maddy is a relentlessly optimistic, witty, and intelligent narrator, and her love for literature is apparent from the first page. Her relationship with her mother and nurse, Carla, are warm and believable, as is the gentle development of her relationship with Olly. I especially appreciated the subtle parallels Yoon drew between Maddy and space travel/astronauts, highlighting Maddy's alienation and separation from the rest of the world.
The artwork and mixed-media presentation of IM chats, emails, plane tickets, and other miscellany make this a great read for reluctant readers, too. Also of note: Maddy is biracial, half Japanese and half African-American, and Yoon handles (and celebrates) Maddy's heritage beautifully on the page. A must-read for YA contemporary fiction fans.
CA
2 comments:
I really liked this book! It's one that I keep thinking about. What would your life be like if you were allergic to everything? What would you be willing to risk in order to live life on your own terms? I'm anxious to read more from Nicola Yoon, luckily I don't have to wait long since her new book THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR comes out on November 1, 2016!
This book was a fascinating look at what it is like to live in a bubble. Maddy lives in complete isolation because she is sick, allergic to the world. Only her mom, who is a doctor, and her nurse Rosa are there to keep her company. That is, until a cute boy moves in next door. Maddy is drawn to Ollie in ways she has never experienced before. Her growing feelings for him and her desperate desire to get out of her house and see the world change her peaceful, sterile existence. Will Maddy make the seemingly ultimate sacrifice in order to be with Ollie, or will she stay in her safe existence?
I found myself really drawn to Maddy. I have some crazy allergies and people joke that I should live in a bubble. This book gives some emotional insight into that kind of existence. The relationship between Maddy and Ollie is cute, but this book is ultimately about finding out who you are and what you want to do with your life. It is about insane courage and taking risks. With the release of the movie last year, this book has come back on my radar and I am glad that I finally got a chance to read it.
Post a Comment