Book Review - Everything, Everything

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

Everything, Everything is a young adult novel set in Los Angeles, USA. It tells the story of a 18-year old girl, Maddy, who has Severe Combined Immunodeficiency. That means she is allergic to the world. She hasn’t left her house in eighteen years. She spends the whole time inside her house with her mother and her nurse Carla. One day, some new neighbours move into the house next door. Olly, the boy from next door and Maddy fall in love and the book tells the story about this love and the way two teenagers can get together despite a difficult situation.

The book is written from the perspective of Maddy. She is an open-minded, thoughtful and positive character which does not lose her vitality even though she can not leave her house. Her knowledge about the world is limited to the descriptions in books and is based on movies. She has a lot of fantasies and her own way to deal with her sickness.

Olly who lives next door is an energetic and sports loving teenager who is always moving. He has his own way to see the world like Maddy. He wants to make her happy and he is trying to find a way to deal with her sickness. Furthermore, there are two other important characters in the story who are important for the plot. First, there is Maddy's mother who helps and supports her in her and Carla the nurse who is Maddy's only real friend.

I was really fascinated by the writing style of Nicola Yoon. She describes Maddy's thoughts and feelings very vividly, compellingly and full of emotion. While reading the book you really feel you are with the characters and Nicola Yoon creates an amazing atmosphere and tells the reader how much life matters and how important it is to appreciate it. In addition, the plot is interesting and easy to understand. You will be transported into a world full of love, differences and hard decisions.