When 12 hours feel timeless

After the massive success of Nicola Yoon's debut novel “Everything Everything”, she gifts her fans a young adult romance that is not a sappy story of love winning in the end. Rather, it is that rare kind of a romantic chronicle that sheds light on family and fate in the process. Though I used to bear a firm disinclination towards YA romance, this book was enough to change my opinion.

Natasha is a 17 year old Jamaican undocumented immigrant trying to forestall her family's deportation from The United States. Daniel, of the same age, comes from a Korean-American family, fighting against his family's typical expectations of him attending an Ivy League school. While Natasha frequents her advocate's office and Daniel roams around NYC to attend his interview with a Yale alumnus, a science junkie (Natasha) and a poetry enthusiast (Daniel) encounter each other through an odd turn of events. The story focuses on the quick yet trustworthy bond they develop during only 12 hours of time in New York City while they find solace in sharing their own sets of woes. When it comes to Daniel, he loves writing poetry, and he is finding it tough to cope up with his family's higher expectations. And for Natasha, it's a fear that constantly bugs her of losing her “American'' identity in which she has been comfortable most of her life. While Yoon writes from the perspectives of the two pivotal characters, she does the same with the side characters that packs a strong and emotional punch. And this unique style is what makes Yoon a favorite author of many. The book further boasts many educational, historic facts, and the concept of universe deciding their fate simply adds to the beauty. To be honest, I was blown by how the story glorified the exactness of timing and place begetting something wonderful.

Though I found the concept of instant love highly flawed in reference to reality, I would strongly recommend it, given this is that one unique YA romance everyone should read. Also, the fantastic imagery that the ending creates is something you cannot miss out.

The writer is a grade 11 student of Birshreshtha Noor Mohammad Public College.