Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Setting
The most specific indication that the story takes place in the present day is the New York Times article about 36 questions that make people fall in love. It's a real article, published in January...
Narrator Point of View
"Smorgasbord" may not technically be a certified descriptor for an author's narrative technique, but there's really no other way to describe this book. Natasha and Daniel's chapters are each narrat...
Genre
Sometimes YA novels get a bad rap from literary aficionados who assume every book in the genre is full of sparkling vampires, post-apocalyptic adolescent heroines, and/or raging teen hormones. Howe...
What's Up With the Title?
The title is a nod to this post-makeout banter between Natasha and Daniel (321): "You poets are obsessed with the stars. Falling stars. Shooting stars. Dying stars." "Stars are important," I say, l...
What's Up With the Epigraph?
It does no harm to the romance of the sunset to know a little about it. —Pale Blue Dot, Carl SaganDo I dareDisturb the universe?In a minute there is timeFor decisions and revisions which a minute...
What's Up With the Ending?
After becoming fully invested in Natasha and Daniel's epic, whirlwind, "meant to be" love story, it's low-key devastating to watch as Natasha ends up being deported after all. With a literal ocean...
Tough-o-Meter
We're pretty sure Nicola Yoon has mastered the page-turner with this book. The chapters are so short—the longest chapter might be eight pages—and the plot is so compelling that it's almost impo...