Reason for Reading:
- I’ve heard a lot about David Levithan’s writing and wanted to experience this story (the premise looked incredible).
Summary from GoodReads:
Every morning, A wakes in a different person’s body, a different person’s life. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.
My Review:
Imagine living in a world where you are free from sex, gender, sexuality, identity, and experience absolutely no repercussions for your actions. Now, with that thought in mind, ask yourself: “What would I do?”
The answer for A is clear through this brilliant, beautiful, heart-aching story written by David Levithan. In Every Day, A wakes up in a new body – able to access memories, actions, and every day occurrences, but unable to create any lasting bonds for him/herself. Then, one day, a girl named Rhiannon walks into A’s life.
The premise behind this story is mind-blowing. The idea of jumping from body to body, experiencing life through the eyes of such a diverse group of characters – but not only seeing that, but also how it can affect an individual. I found myself constantly wanting to know more of A – why A ticked the way s/he did, why s/he acted with the thoughts of others in mind. And, in the process, I fell for this 16 year old spirit who, through the events in his/her lifetime, had an older soul than I could have imagined as a 16 year old.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect for an ending for this book, and I don’t want to spoil the ending – but I will say that it worked. That I reached the end and I cried. I cried because I wanted to see the world A did, I cried because I wanted to be surrounded by others who saw the world that way.
I’ve just returned from a week away with people who acted with integrity, where all races, ethnicities, religions, background, etc came together and listened and talked openly with one another in a place devoted to learning about leadership. It was, for one week, an isolated world that showed me what things could be like if each of us lived in the others shoes. The timing of reading this book was perfect for me because I was primed to accept it. Not only that, this book proves what I passionately believe: that reading opens the mind and teaches people how to not only accept, but respect each other, not for decisions made, but because we are all human, each and every one of us.
Don’t just take my word for it! Check out what these bloggers say!
Red Headed Book Child| Reading Writing Breathing | Sweet Tidbits
- The publisher provided this review copy via NetGalley.
- Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers
- Release Date: 8/28/2012
