I'll Give You the Sun follows Noah and Jude at two critical times in their lives: at ages 14 and 16. Those are years during which many young people grow into their adult (or adult-ish) identities, but for the Sweetwines, the stakes are even higher. Since the death of their mother, the brother-and-sister duo haven't felt like themselves.
Somehow Noah has morphed from a gay artist into a straight jock, and Jude has ditched her bikinis and her luscious locks in favor of baggy sweatshirts and a skullcap. Much of the story is about them finding a way to authentically reinhabit their old lives (and their old fashion choices).
Questions About Identity
- Why does Brian try to hide his identity as gay when he and Noah first become involved?
- Which characters have a "secret" identity? Name at least three.
- Why does Noah feel pressure to lie to his father about his relationship with Heather?
Chew on This
In the process of finding their authentic selves, Jude and Noah also find each other. Which is a big deal, in twin world.
In the world of the novel, secrets destroy the characters' sense of their own identities.