Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Amazon

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Screenwise Verdict

This is YA romance done right—it has the swoon-worthy meet-cute and emotional connection teens crave, but it's wrapped around real stakes. The deportation storyline isn't just backdrop; it's the engine that makes everything matter.

Nicola Yoon (who wrote Everything, Everything) knows how to write teens who sound like actual teens, not 35-year-olds in hoodies. Natasha's pragmatism and Daniel's romanticism create genuine tension, and the alternating perspectives keep things moving. The 'Universe' interludes could feel gimmicky but mostly work as philosophical breathing room.

The National Book Award finalist nod tells you this isn't fluff—it's literature that happens to be about teenagers. Immigration, cultural identity, parental expectations, and the question of fate versus choice all get real treatment. At the same time, it's still a love story, which means some readers will roll their eyes at the 'one perfect day' conceit.

For families navigating conversations about immigration, this is gold. For teens who want romance that respects their intelligence, it delivers. Just know the emotional weight is real—this isn't a beach read.

Age Fit

Best for ages 12-14 and up. The reading level is accessible (HL570L), but the emotional maturity needed to process deportation, family separation, and cultural identity makes this solidly YA territory. Teens who enjoy contemporary romance with substance will connect; it's less suited for tweens who aren't ready for heavier themes.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

78

A contemporary YA romance that centers on genuine emotional connection and family dynamics. Natasha and Daniel's relationship develops through meaningful conversation over a single day, emphasizing intellectual and emotional compatibility over physical attraction. The story tackles serious themes like deportation, family expectations, and cultural identity with sensitivity. Some mild language and romantic content, but overall models healthy relationship development and empathy across cultural divides.

Imaginative

72

Nicola Yoon employs an interesting narrative structure with alternating perspectives between Natasha (science-minded) and Daniel (poetic dreamer), plus interludes from 'The Universe' that explore fate versus free will. The conceit of two teens falling in love in a single day while one faces deportation is compelling, though the romance genre itself follows familiar beats. The philosophical questions about destiny and choice invite reflection, but it's not groundbreaking territory for YA lit.

Safe

85

Common Sense Media rates this 14+, noting mentions of sex and romance but nothing explicit. Web search confirms 'cussing' as a content note but at mild levels typical for contemporary YA. The deportation storyline is emotionally heavy but handled with care. No graphic violence, substance abuse, or shocking content. The mature themes (immigration, family pressure, identity) are age-appropriate for the teen audience and presented thoughtfully rather than exploitatively.

Enriching

80

A #1 NYT bestseller and National Book Award finalist that tackles immigration, cultural identity, parental expectations, and the immigrant experience with nuance. Readers encounter two distinct perspectives—a pragmatic Jamaican-American girl facing deportation and a Korean-American boy pressured into medical school. The book invites empathy across cultures and explores meaningful questions about fate, choice, and what we owe our families versus ourselves. Strong character development and emotional intelligence make this more than just a romance.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

National Book Award finalist that treats teen readers like they can handle complex themes—immigration, identity, family obligation
Dual perspectives (science-minded realist vs. romantic dreamer) create interesting tension and show how different people process the same experience
The ticking clock of deportation gives real urgency to what could otherwise be just another meet-cute
Nicola Yoon writes diverse characters authentically—Jamaican-American and Korean-American teens navigating cultural expectations
Strong 4.5-star Amazon rating and massive teen readership means it connects with its audience

⚠

What to Watch For

The deportation storyline is emotionally heavy—family separation anxiety is real and present throughout
Some mild language and romantic content (kissing, discussion of sex but nothing explicit) appropriate for 14+ but maybe not middle schoolers
The 'love at first sight in one day' premise requires some suspension of disbelief, though the book interrogates this itself
Themes of parental pressure and cultural expectations might hit close to home for some families

Conversation Starters

"Do you think Natasha and Daniel would have connected if they'd met under normal circumstances, not with deportation looming?"
"The book asks whether we control our destiny or if fate does—what do you think? Can both be true?"
"Daniel feels pressure to become a doctor instead of pursuing poetry. Have you ever felt like you had to choose between what you want and what others expect?"
"How would you spend your last 12 hours in a place if you knew you were leaving forever?"

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