SUMMARY
The Sun Is Also a Star, by Nicola Yoon, follows two young souls whose paths cross in New York City on a single autumn day. Natasha Kingsley wakes before dawn, burdened by her family’s looming deportation to Jamaica. She’s spent months trying every legal avenue to stay, yet today feels different. Somewhere between exhaustion and hope, she boards a subway with her sister and parents, bracing for a life she never asked for.
Meanwhile, Daniel Bae oversleeps for the first time in months. He’s a first-generation Korean-American, the only member of his family who isn’t a doctor or a lawyer. While his parents push him toward Yale and medical school, Daniel secretly dreams of becoming a poet. Today their world collides—though neither expects more than a passing glance on the crowded streets.
Natasha’s mind races as she heads to the immigration office. She’s never felt more powerless. Numbers chase her thoughts: the hours left until her hearing, the miles she’s already traveled from home, the fleeting minutes before fate decides her future. When she bumps into Daniel on a busy corner, her carefully ordered world tilts off its axis.
Daniel apologizes, his eyes meeting hers for a heartbeat. She mutters “It’s fine,” and continues. But something in his gentle apology stirs curiosity in her—a crack in her resolve. She’s convinced that nothing can change their destiny, yet this stranger’s kindness makes her pause.
Fate, it seems, has more plans. By sheer chance, Daniel spots Natasha again when she’s about to cross against the light. He yanks her back as a car screeches past. Their hands touch for a second, and both feel an unexpected spark. Natasha pulls away, rigid with disbelief, but Daniel insists they sit and talk—just for five minutes.
He drags her into a nearby bodega, where they sip coffee that’s gone cold. Daniel’s earnest questions about her family and her life irritate her at first. She lashes out, confessing her fear and anger. He listens without judgment. Slowly, she lets him in. She tells him she’s an atheist, that she moves in facts and science, not dreams and omens.
Daniel counters with poetry. He reads lines he’s written, weaving in starlight and the rhythm of refugees. His words surprise her more than his compassion. She sees him not as the doctor-in-training her parents want, but as a fellow human who understands longing. They debate—science versus poetry, destiny versus free will—until they find a curious middle ground.
They decide to spend the afternoon together. Natasha wants to disprove his belief in fate; Daniel hopes to show that chance can change lives. First stop: a Jamaican patty shop where Natasha once found comfort in bitter moments. She orders for him, quirky and proud. As they eat, she shares stories of Jamaica’s blue skies and loud music. He shares memories of his father’s clinic and his mother’s prayers.
Next, they visit a record store to test her theory: can music alter one’s destiny? Daniel picks a random vinyl, letting the shop owner choose. It’s Bob Marley, the anthem of hope. Natasha feels a strange defiance bloom in her chest. She dances in the cramped aisle, forgetting deadlines and paperwork, if only for a song.
Their journey leads to a poetry reading in Harlem. Daniel’s nervous as he takes the stage, but he recites his work flawlessly. Natasha sits in the front row, astonished by how his voice trembles and soars. Tears prick her eyes when he finishes. For the first time, she wonders if there’s room in her heart for more than fear.
All the while, the clock ticks toward Natasha’s appointment at immigration. They rush uptown to find her lawyer’s office. Daniel holds her hand as they navigate traffic and subway stairs. She’s anxious, but his calm presence steadies her. They exchange shy smiles and soft reassurance.
Inside the office, chaos greets them. A sea of families waits, clutching folders and hope. Natasha’s heart pounds. Daniel stands by the door, refusing to leave. When her lawyer finally calls her name, she glances back. He nods, silent but firm. She steps forward, fortified by his belief in miracles.
After her hearing, Natasha returns to Daniel, her eyes bright despite the outcome still uncertain. She tells him it’s not over yet, but meeting him today was more meaningful than any verdict. They share a long look. Without words, they pledge to carry this day’s memory, no matter what tomorrow brings.
As dusk falls, Natasha’s family drives away to await their fate. Daniel races to catch the subway with her. At the last second, he leaps onto the train. They press together in the crowded car, foreheads touching. They promise to find each other again—across countries or continents, if needed.
Night settles over the city as Natasha stares out the window. She clutches Daniel’s unfinished poem. Even if she’s forced to leave this place, she knows that love and chance defy borders. And in one single day, the sun truly was also a star—shining light on what could be, if only we believe in the impossible.
DETAILED SUMMARY
Plot Summary
1. A Chance Encounter in the City
Natasha Kingsley moves through Manhattan with purpose. She’s an undocumented Jamaican immigrant facing imminent deportation. On her way to an emergency hearing, she remains calm yet fearful.
Daniel Bae rushes through Grand Central Station. He’s a Korean-American aspiring poet and skeptic of fate. He’s late for a college interview and worried his parents will notice.
Their paths collide at a sidewalk vendor’s cart. Daniel drops his papers; Natasha helps him gather them. In that moment, they lock eyes and share a breath of connection.
2. Midnight Conversations and Diverging Dreams
Natasha and Daniel decide to spend the day together. They wander the city’s less obvious corners. Each reveals personal hopes—Natasha wants security for her family, Daniel craves artistic freedom.
They stop at a Korean church basement for comfort and coffee. Daniel reads poetry to Natasha, who critiques each metaphor with honesty. Meanwhile, Natasha recounts scientific facts about identity and destiny.
As dawn nears, tension grows. Daniel fears he’s falling in love too fast. Natasha worries about her hearing and the fleeting nature of their bond.
3. Family Pressures and Cultural Crossroads
Daniel’s parents expect medical school acceptance. They misunderstand his poetry ambitions. He battles guilt and obligation as he conceals feelings for Natasha.
Natasha’s father stands firm: return to Jamaica or face ruin. He clashes with her mother’s softer pleas. Natasha feels torn between filial duty and her heart’s new desire.
Their families lay stakes on opposite ends. Each pair grapples with cultural expectations. The weight of heritage challenges their budding romance.
4. The Hearing and a Racing Heart
Natasha’s deportation hearing looms at dawn. She prepares facts, charts, and legal arguments. Fear seeps through every calculation.
Daniel arrives early with coffee and poems for luck. He delivers a reading in the corridor, heart pounding. Natasha smiles despite everything.
Inside the courtroom, Natasha pleads her case. Daniel listens from the gallery, silent and supportive. Outside, the city hums with unknowing life.
5. Moments of Doubt and Defiant Hope
After the hearing, uncertainty dominates. Natasha and Daniel await the judge’s decision. Each minute stretches like a lifetime.
Daniel sketches future scenes in his notebook—sea voyages, a small home, shared mornings. Natasha counters with statistical odds, reminding him of reality.
Yet they cling to hope. Against cultural fences and legal walls, they insist on possibility. Love becomes their quiet rebellion.
6. A Decision Under the Sun
The judge steps back into the courtroom. Natasha’s fate hangs in the balance. Daniel grips her hand, steadying her trembling.
The verdict spares Natasha for now; she can remain another year. Tears, relief, and new questions flood them both. They realize their time together may shorten but will carry meaning.
Under Central Park’s midmorning sun, they promise to fight—for love, identity, and a future they build across borders.
Characters
1. Natasha Kingsley (Protagonist)
“The universe will unfold as it should.”
Natasha studies science facts to control her world. She’s logical, determined, and hides fear behind reason. Facing deportation, she projects calm.
Yet her chance meeting with Daniel cracks her armor. She discovers empathy and hope in uncertainty. As her hearing approaches, she learns that numbers can’t measure the heart.
2. Daniel Bae (Protagonist)
“I don’t believe in fate—but what if today changes that?”
Daniel writes poems to capture fleeting moments. He’s playful, romantic, and questions everything. Under parental expectations, he resists becoming a doctor.
Natasha’s pragmatism both frustrates and inspires him. He learns that love doesn’t follow logic. Through their day together, he confronts his fears of failure.
3. Mr. Kingsley (Key Supporting Character)
“I built this life so you’d never go hungry. Don’t throw it away.”
Natasha’s father values security above all else. He fled hardship in Jamaica to protect his family. He demands that Natasha return home and save them from ruin.
He masks love with stern warnings. His rigidity stems from past loss and survival instinct. Natasha’s defiance forces him to reconsider what home truly means.
4. Mrs. Kingsley (Key Supporting Character)
“Sometimes love means letting go, even if it hurts.”
Natasha’s mother balances worry with compassion. She wants her daughter safe but yearns for her happiness. She listens when her husband cannot.
Her quiet strength shines in small gestures—a packed lunch, a whispered blessing. She embodies the tension between tradition and freedom that Natasha faces.
5. Mr. and Mrs. Bae (Supporting Characters)
“A degree means security. Without it, you risk everything.”
Daniel’s parents embody immigrant hopes and sacrifices. They urge academic success above all. They believe medicine promises stability and honor.
Unaware of his poetic dreams, they see art as frivolous. Their love is practical, rooted in duty and gratitude for America’s promise. Their expectations weigh heavily on Daniel’s heart.
Themes Analysis
1. Fate versus Choice
The novel questions whether destiny or personal decisions shape our lives. Natasha’s scientific view clashes with Daniel’s poetic faith. Each scene juxtaposes reason against belief.
Through their brief union, the story suggests that fate may open doors, but we choose whether to enter. Their day together becomes an experiment in free will. It asks: what if we dared to act on unknown outcomes?
2. Cultural Identity and Belonging
Natasha and Daniel grapple with heritage pressures. She fears losing her Jamaican roots; he resists the weight of Korean-American expectations. They share the immigrant struggle to belong.
Their families represent different survival strategies—pragmatism versus ambition. Love grows in the space between cultures, showing that identity can evolve. The novel celebrates hybridity as strength.
3. Love’s Transience and Power
A single day holds immense change for both protagonists. Daniel and Natasha prove that deep connection can defy time. Their love story finds growth even in brevity.
Yet the ending remains open-ended. Love doesn’t guarantee permanence, but it transforms perception. The novel honors love’s power to reshape hearts, even if only for a moment.
Key Plot Devices
1. Central Park Picnic
The spontaneous picnic in the park becomes a microcosm of their relationship. It blends nature, conversation, and poetry. Here, Natasha allows herself to dream beyond facts while Daniel confronts reality’s harsh edge.
This scene crystallizes their bond under the sun. It underscores themes of chance and choice. The park’s openness mirrors their emotional vulnerability and shared hope.
2. Deportation Hearing
Natasha’s hearing anchors the narrative’s tension. It represents systemic barriers and personal stakes. Every fact she presents contrasts with the unpredictability of human emotion.
This legal crossroads forces Natasha and Daniel to face mortality in practical terms. The hearing becomes a test of resilience and faith. It drives the plot toward its emotional climax.
3. Poetry Readings
Daniel’s impromptu poems serve as windows into his soul. Each verse responds to Natasha’s skepticism. Through his readings, they bridge their worlds—science and art.
Poetry becomes their secret language. It highlights the novel’s lyrical tone. The poems punctuate key moments, reinforcing the story’s theme that words can shape destiny.