I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

I'll Give You the Sun is the story of twins Noah and Jude. Half of the story is told from Noah's perspective when the twins are 13 and the other half is told from Jude's perspective at 16. In alternating sections the reader learns how Noah and Jude went from inseparable to not speaking. The book opens with Noah's story, and he is 13 and artistically gifted, but socially awkward and falling in love with the boy next door (while trying not to let anyone know he is). Jude on the other hand is able to talk enough for both of them and seems to be the girl all the boys are interested in. However, when Jude's story starts at 16 she has become socially closed off and is on a self prescribed boy boycott and Noah  has transformed into a jock. While each of their stories are interesting it is the mystery of what happened to cause such a shift, the lies that were told to both hurt and protect each other, is what really kept me turning the pages (especially as the boiling point nears). Full of artistic imagery ("Jude bars bright blue fluorescent barf all over the table, but I'm the only who notices"(p13)), Nelson tells a thoughtful story about family, secrets and lies, betrayal, and love.

Lisa