I'll Give You the Sun – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

I'll Give You the Sun

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2015

84%

WISE Score

4.6

Amazon

Lyrical, gut-wrenching YA about fractured twins piecing together what tore them apart—with art, first love, and devastating secrets.

I'll Give You the Sun

book

2015

84%

WISE Score

4.6

Amazon

Lyrical, gut-wrenching YA about fractured twins piecing together what tore them apart—with art, first love, and devastating secrets.

4.6

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the kind of YA novel that reminds you the category can produce genuine literature. Nelson's prose is either going to feel like a revelation or a bit much—there's no middle ground—but when it works, it really works.

The story is emotionally brutal in the best way: a parent dies, twins fracture, secrets fester, and the slow reveal of what happened between Noah's chapters (age 13-14) and Jude's (age 16) is genuinely gripping. The LGBTQ+ representation is thoughtful and central without being the entire point, which is exactly how it should be.

Yes, there's mature content—some sexual situations, drinking, and a lot of emotional devastation—but it's handled with care and artistry. This isn't gratuitous; it's real life for many teens. If your 14-year-old is a reader who can handle emotional intensity and appreciates beautiful writing, this is a gift. If they prefer straightforward prose and lighter fare, maybe not.

Age Fit

Best for mature 14+ through adults. The emotional sophistication and mature content (death, sexuality, family dysfunction) make this too heavy for middle schoolers, but it's genuinely brilliant for older teens and the kind of YA that adults devour too.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A deeply emotional story about sibling relationships, grief, first love, and family fracture that handles complex themes with care. The book models vulnerability, forgiveness, and the messy work of repairing broken relationships. It's emotionally intense—dealing with loss, betrayal, and identity—but never gratuitous. The tone is poetic and earnest, sometimes almost overwhelmingly so, but it captures the genuine messiness of teen emotions without being chaotic or toxic.

Imaginative

Nelson's prose is wildly inventive—Noah's chapters are told through the lens of an artist who sees the world in color and metaphor, while Jude's voice is equally distinctive and vivid. The dual timeline structure (Noah at 13-14, Jude at 16) creates a puzzle-box narrative that invites readers to piece together what happened. The writing itself is a creative explosion, full of magical realism touches, art references, and language that feels fresh and original. This is a book that makes you see the world differently.

Safe

This is a YA novel with mature themes that teens should expect going in. Contains: a parent's sudden death (off-page but emotionally devastating), exploration of sexuality (Noah's gay relationship, some sexual content that's present but not graphic), underage drinking, family dysfunction, and intense emotional distress. The 'sexy stuff' mentioned in reviews is there but handled with more poetry than explicitness. The Lexile level (HL740L) indicates high-interest, lower reading level, but the emotional content is sophisticated. Most sources recommend 13-14+, which feels right—this isn't going to blindside a teen reader, but it's not for middle schoolers.

Enriching

A Printz Award winner and Stonewall Honor book that offers genuine insight into grief, identity, artistic expression, and the complexity of family love. The LGBTQ+ representation is organic and central to the story. The book explores how perspective shapes truth, how secrets corrode relationships, and how art can be both salvation and escape. It builds empathy through its dual narration—you see how the same events devastate both twins differently. The artistic references and the portrayal of the creative process add layers of cultural enrichment. This is a book that stays with you.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely original prose that reads like poetry meets magical realism—Nelson's writing is spectacular
Honest, organic LGBTQ+ representation woven into a universal story about family and identity
The dual timeline structure creates a satisfying narrative puzzle that rewards careful reading
Explores grief, betrayal, and forgiveness with emotional depth that doesn't talk down to teens
Won the Printz Award for a reason—this is literary YA that adults love too

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What to Watch For

A parent dies suddenly (off-page but central to the plot)—this will hit hard if your teen is dealing with loss
Sexual content is present but poetic rather than explicit—still, know your 14-year-old
The writing style is dense and metaphor-heavy; some readers find it too much, others think it's genius
Emotionally intense throughout—characters are in real pain for much of the book

Conversation Starters

"Noah and Jude each have only half the story—have you ever realized you misunderstood something big because you didn't have all the information?"
"Art is how Noah processes the world—what's your version of that? Music? Writing? Sports?"
"The twins keep huge secrets from each other. When is keeping a secret protective vs. when does it become destructive?"
"How did your perspective on what happened change as you switched between Noah's and Jude's chapters?"

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