The Sky is Everywhere (Grief, Musicans)

Book Title: The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Topic: Grief, Death, Musicians, Love Triangle

Thoughts: This is the second book that made me cry while reading it this year.  Our librarian recommended I read it because a student brought it in and told her how good of a book it was, so she thought I would like it too.  I admit, it did take me a couple of chapters to get into it, but once I had no distractions, I couldn't put it down.


A love-triangle:  Lennie, the main character, is pulled between two guys: Toby and Joe.

Lennie has always seemed to be a shadow to her older sister Bailey.  After Bailey dies from an arrhythmia, Lennie and Bailey's boyfriend Toby try to help each other deal with Bailey's death, but the more they try to keep Bailey's memory alive, the closer they become to each other--much to the dismay of Lennie.  She thinks it is gross that she has kissed her dead sister's boyfriend.

When Lennie is with Joe she feels guilty for not thinking of her dead sister, but when she is with Toby she focuses on her dead sister and feels guilty for what Toby and her do.  

Of course, as an English teacher, I like all the references to different books and lovers from other classical novels that I know you students do not read any more, so I don't know if you will understand the depth of the trauma Lennie feels.  

Memories, love, family, and the sky are everywhere around us so give this book a chance to encircle you.