Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
Reviewed by Saige, Grade 10
Rating: 5/5
If you are looking for a book with romance, heartbreak, and betrayal, then Everything, Everything is for you! This beautifully crafted stand-alone novel is written by Nicola Yoon. It is sure to leave you wanting more.
Everything, Everything is a heartbreaking tale about a seventeen-year-old girl named Madeline Whitter. Diagnosed as a baby with SCID, (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, also known as Bubble Boy disease) Madeline has spent her entire life in isolation. Her only friends? Her nurse and her mother. She lives in a boring house, in her all-white room. Her dream? Visiting the ocean, specifically Hawaii. She is perfectly content with her way of living. Until one day a moving truck pulls in next door, and a boy, around her age, steps out. His name is Oliver. Over the next few weeks, Madeline will observe him from her window. She is fascinated by him and spends time analyzing him. One night, he catches her, and they lock eyes. From there, her whole life will change. Madeline embarks on a journey of heartbreak, rule-breaking and betrayal. As she goes on a journey to reach her dreams, she discovers some shocking secrets along the way. In the end, everything she’s ever known has changed.
I adore this book. First reading Everything, Everything a few years ago, I have since read it twelve times. Nicola Yoon did a spectacular job of creating likable and relatable characters. Madeline and Oliver are both loveable characters with conflicting personalities. Madeline is precise and thrives on routine. She is in love with reading and the ocean. Madeline dresses in only white. Oliver is a spontaneous person, who enjoys parkour and the colour black. Oliver hates the ocean. The characters are the most enjoyable part of the book. They are knowledgeable and opinionated. Madeline and Oliver clash with each other but make it work in a charming way. Watching the two interact was what made the book so enjoyable.
My favourite part of the book was the ending. Nicola Yoon leaves readers on a cliffhanger. Whilst many might be irritated by this, I thought it was the best part. Yoon leaves readers to imagine what happens next. I believe reading is not only about the story, but also how you can use your imagination. For example, imagining character appearances, plot appearances, etc. Leaving the ending partially up to the reader allows me to use my imagination to come up with multiple endings. The possibilities are endless.
Overall, if you are looking for a heartwarming story with a bit of drama then this book is for you! Not only was I hooked by the book, but I was also blown away! I would recommend this heartwarming story to anyone over the age of twelve. Happy reading!