Bailey was the star. She dazzled everyone, but now she's dead. Lennie, Bailey's sister and best friend, suddenly finds herself smack in the middle of a drama that rivals even the most dramatic stories Bailey shared with her.

Two boys. One who makes Lennie forget of her grief, the other who seems to be the only one who understands.

I found myself rooting for Lennie again and again, even when she did some pretty stupid things. The poetry she wrote was absolutely fabulous and probably my favorite part of the novel. She's so talented. A great poet and an incredibly gifted clarinetest, although she doesn't see herself that way.

And Joe. Joe was so awesome. I love one of Lennie's observations of him when she first meets him.

The guy looks unabashedly jack-o'-lantern happy which couldn't be more foreign to the sullen demeanor most of us strove to perfect. (From an ARC. May differ from final version.)

To me, that's very easy to picture in my mind. It's like a moth to a light. You can't help but be attracted.

Not to say that Toby and Lennie together wasn't absolutely intriguing. While Joe and Lennie's relationship makes Lennie seemingly forget about the grief that haunts her, allowing her to be happy, at least for a little while, Toby really does understand, and their relationship often comes across as darker and more seductive. Still, I definitely knew who I was rooting for!

The supporting cast of characters were great, as well. I think Uncle Big was my favorite character, after the three mentioned above. So odd and different. Sarah, "the most enthusiastic cynical person on the planet," was a pretty great friend to Lennie, and I loved her.

The Sky Is Everywhere* is a great debut novel, and I can't wait for more books by Jandy Nelson!

*amazon affiliate link

Posted by Melanie at 8:00 AM    

Labels: book review, debut author, Jandy Nelson