Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of I'll Give You the Sun. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Twins Noah and Jude Sweetwine, who stopped speaking after their mother's death, finally tell each other the secrets they have been hiding about the art school applications and about their mother's last days. They forgive each other, Noah gets together with Brian, Jude with Oscar, and the twins create art together again.
Quick facts
– Book: I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
– First published: 2014
– Type: A young adult novel
– Tone of the ending: Joyful and healing
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
The story alternates between Noah at thirteen and Jude at sixteen. Noah is an artist in love with his neighbour Brian. Jude is a surfer and daredevil. Their mother, Dianna, an art historian, is killed in a car crash shortly after telling the twins she plans to divorce their father.
What Happens at the End of I'll Give You the Sun
At sixteen, Jude, who is at the art school while Noah is not, tries to make a stone sculpture to repair things with her mother's ghost. She asks to study with the reclusive sculptor Guillermo Garcia and meets Oscar, a charming English photographer. She discovers that her mother was in love with Guillermo and was planning to marry him. Noah, meanwhile, has given up art and is pretending to be normal after Brian left. The twins finally talk, and each confesses a secret about the art school applications that changed the other's life, as well as what they each did and said in the days before their mother's crash. Each has been carrying guilt that the other never knew about. They forgive each other. Noah reconnects with Brian, Jude chooses Oscar, and the twins, with Guillermo, finish a sculpture together, choosing to share the world again.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- The twins forgive each other.
- Their mother's secret is revealed.
- Both twins find love.
- Art heals them.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Noah Sweetwine | Reunites with Brian |
| Jude Sweetwine | With Oscar |
| Guillermo Garcia | Their mother's love |
| Dianna Sweetwine | Died in a crash |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows grief and the power of honesty.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers love the poetic, imaginative writing, especially Noah's chapters, where he describes people as paintings. The split timeline makes the final reveals hit harder.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Grief. The twins grieve.
Art. Art heals.
Twins. The twins' bond.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of I'll Give You the Sun as joyful and healing. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Jandy Nelson to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are joyful and healing will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Jandy Nelson closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading I'll Give You the Sun with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about grief, and do you agree with Jandy Nelson's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as joyful and healing, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces grief and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Jandy Nelson leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in I'll Give You the Sun often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of I'll Give You the Sun earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of I'll Give You the Sun on Amazon
Books to Read After I'll Give You the Sun
- The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Related: I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of I'll Give You the Sun?
Twins Noah and Jude Sweetwine, who stopped speaking after their mother's death, finally tell each other the secrets they have been hiding about the art school applications and about their mother's last days. They forgive each other, Noah gets together with Brian, Jude with Oscar, and the twins create art together again.
Is the ending of I'll Give You the Sun happy or sad?
Most readers call it joyful and healing.
What does the ending of I'll Give You the Sun mean?
The ending shows grief and the power of honesty.
Who wrote I'll Give You the Sun and when was it published?
I'll Give You the Sun was written by Jandy Nelson and first published in 2014.
Is I'll Give You the Sun worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy young adult novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Jandy Nelson prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read I'll Give You the Sun before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.