Everything, Everything

Yoon, N. (2015). Everything, Everything. New York, NY: Random House.

Summary

Madeline Whittier cannot leave her house. She essentially is allergic to the outside. Her only company for the past 17 years of her life have been her mother, Carla her nurse, and the occasional tutor who passes inspection to be allowed in the house.  Madeline knows she is missing something but doesn't really know what it is because she doesn't know anything different. Then one day a new family moves next door, and they have a son Olly. A friendship thru text soon turns into a mutual crush which then turns into a romance. Carla arranges for secret meetings in the house. But they the 2 teens get caught and are forbidden to see each other. By now it's too late and they can't stand to be apart from each other.  The lovebirds runaway to Hawaii for a quick 2 days. Madeline wants to experience everything just everything and she wants to experience it with Olly.  Illness catches up to her and she is flown back to the mainland and strictly forbidden from talking to Olly. Her mother blames him for this sudden change in her normal dutiful daughter. Surprising news from a doctor in Hawaii turns Madeline's beliefs upside down. She was never ill but because she spent so long inside her immune system is underdeveloped and may become compromised if she goes out in the world now. Now Madeline must come to terms with either her mother lied to her or has her own illness where she believes Madeline is ill when she isn't. She also must figure out what she will do with her life now that she is 18 years old and can essentially enter the world if she wants to without her guardians permission.  Madeline ultimately makes the decision that she rather take risks with Olly than be safe inside not living.

Commentary

"He tastes like nothing I've ever experienced, like hope and possibility and the future." That's how Nicola shares with her readers her character's Madeline's first kiss. It's not her first kiss with Olly, its her first kiss ever. It's phrases like this that is the beauty of this book.  On one level it is a book about first love, something everyone can relate to. On the other hand it's a book about a girl who is experiencing everything for the first time. The line between curiosity because the experience is new and excitement because it is simply exciting is blurred for Madeline. Teens at this age are having crushes, broken hearts, and changing roles with parents.  Teens are keeping secrets and feeling guilty but find it necessary to continue doing what feels so good. Ms Yoon's novel is a wonderful book to relieve those feelings again. New and forbidden love is a theme than never changes.

Conncections

The Sun is Also A Star by Nicola Yoon

NPR interview of Nicola Yoon

Connections
Because love, sex, and rebellion against parental rules are common themes in YA literature, this book fits into the sect of the fiction genre perfectly. Madeline is a teen trying to deal the feelings of attraction to Olly while conforming to her mother's wishes.