Everything, Everything, Nicola Yoon
Published September 1st 2015 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Hardcover, 320 pages
Source: ARC from ALA Midwinter Meeting
From Goodreads…
My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.
But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.
Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.
I finished this book in a day – definitely not a heavy read despite the description of disease and impending heartbreak. Madeline is allergic to basically everything. Thankfully her mother is a pediatrician and has the money to keep her house as safe as possible. So her home is a haven for her, but still a prison of sorts. I thought Madeline was a great character. She’s happy, she’s smart and feisty even though she’s trapped in her house to stay alive. It was great reading about a biracial heroine as well. Every book nerd loves more book references – I loved how much she reads and how Madeline applied The Little Prince to her life! I would have liked Olly to have been more developed, but I did like him for what he was.
This was a sweet romance (though steamier than I expected for YA!) and I was totally shocked in the end. I loved how Madeline and Olly fell for each over through the window and IM. I won’t say more because the ending should not be spoiled for readers! The less you know going in the better.
This book was made all the richer by the illustrations – and knowing that Nicola Yoon’s husband was the artist made them even cuter I thought! I am 100% in love with the cover – I would punch someone for a tote bag like Katie’s at Bookish Illuminations!
I thought this was a really sweet read – but from another perspective Disability in Kidlit has a really interesting post about whether Madeline’s story is a realistic portrayal of disability (spoiler warning!). This gave me a lot to think about in terms of how disability is written about in YA – this definitely put the ending in a different light for me. I still thought this was a pretty happy book, but that post made me think about how it could have been different or even more inclusive.
Thank you Delacorte Books for Young Readers for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
Gun In Act One 
This is pretty far outside my usual reading, but I’m pretty curious about it, both because of the subject and because so many people have been raving about it.
Definitely outside your usual! I did really enjoy it while reading but I am still working out my thoughts on the larger issues of disability.
I also thought it was a sweet book, until I started thinking more about it. I still think it’s good, and most teens will just breeze right through it and like it. But, that review at Disability in Kidlit is very thought-provoking, and really nails the things about it that were bothering me, but just hovering around the edges of my mind.
I do love the cover, and that tote bag is pretty nice! 🙂
I guess we can only hope after the breezing through the story people give more thought to the issue of disability. I think because it wraps up so quickly it seems like some readers are questioning how easily everything is “solved”.
It does wrap up quickly. Almost so quickly that you don’t have time to think about it…
I’m guessing, though, that a lot of teens will just take it at face value and move on to their next read. That’s what my daughter did when she read it (except that I asked her a few questions about it first – I tried not to be too leading). She’s only 14, though, so she’s still on the young side of the target age group.
I’m glad to here that you liked it! I haven’t read it yet but I got an ARC at BEA. I hope to get to it soon! Especially since so many people seem to like it 🙂 I’m intrigued that it has illustrations in it!
The illustrations are really adorable.
I usually don’t read YA and have been burned a couple times by it this year, but I keep hearing about this one. Might have to give it a shot at some point!
I thought this was a wonderful book. I blew through it too, like so many others. The thoughts on childhood disability are intriguing. I will definitely have to give it more thought…