Anne Arundel County Public Library discussion

Hello everyone and welcome to the discussion. This month we will be reading Every Day by David Levithan. My name is Michelle and I will be the moderator on this read.

Every Day is considered a Young Adult novel but don’t let that stop you from reading it even if you don’t classify yourself a “young adult”. This is the story of “A”. Each day “A” wakes up in a different body.

“Every day I am someone else. I am myself-I know I am myself-but I am also someone else.”

This is the way it has always been and “A” has come to terms with it over the last 16 years following a set of rules-never get attached and don’t interfere. After all, tomorrow “A” will be in another life.

One day is different. “A” becomes Justin for one day and meets Rhiannon and the old rules no longer matter. “A” wants more than this one day.

I want to start the discussion by asking if you are reading this book or listening to it? Do you think it makes a difference?
Every Day

I listened to Every Day last summer. Since then, I've listened to about a dozen books but I just can't seem to get into audio books. I'm now back to paper and ebooks. My mind wanders too much when I listen to a book, and it is harder to go back and find where I was in an audiobook. Heaven forbid if I fall asleep listening in bed... it'll take forever to find where I was.

I originally read the book, (in one day I might add), and really liked it. I am currently listening to it as an audio book. I love both the physical reading, as well as audio books. I personally don't think it makes a difference, weather you read it or listen to it. But I might not be the best judge of it, I have been known to jump back and forth between reading and listening to the same book.

Mindy wrote: "I listened to Every Day last summer. Since then, I've listened to about a dozen books but I just can't seem to get into audio books. I'm now back to paper and ebooks. My mind wanders too much wh..."

Hi Mindy. My wanders too. It has to be a really great narrator to hold my attention otherwise I am constantly having to go back and listen again.
Every Day is a really interesting audio though since A doesn't identify as male or female.

Casey wrote: "I originally read the book, (in one day I might add), and really liked it. I am currently listening to it as an audio book. I love both the physical reading, as well as audio books. I personally..."

I often "read" a book in both audio formats and print usually because I don't have enough free time to just sit and read. Holding a print copy is still my preference though. Thanks for joining the conversation.

Which "body" did you find most interesting, disturbing, made you think? I have a few.

AACPL wrote: "Which "body" did you find most interesting, disturbing, made you think? I have a few."

I think I liked the bodies who challenged A the most. The ones who caused a choice that went against what normally occurred. The ones who caused A to second guess and be/ do/ want something. I loved A's stepping up and speaking for those who couldn't speak for themselves like the girl who had a DEADLINE. And of course Vic...and Alexander...

I've got to start by saying I really, really liked the book. It's a great book for "young adults" in the way that it (hopefully) gets them thinking about life, how different people have different perspectives, the importance of seeing things from another person's point of view, and perhaps most importantly, doing the right thing. It struck me as incredible that at age 16, A had the ethic of "not doing anything that would mess up the life of the person whose body he was in." He could have caused immeasurable harm and never been held accountable, but he chose to not do that.

I'm not involved with the public schools in any way, but would love to see more books like this included on summer reading lists instead of some of the dreadful outdated ones my kids had to read years ago. This particular book, for instance, could engender remarkable discussions.

Thanks for picking this! I had never heard of it, and therefore probably would never have had the joy of reading it.

Merry wrote: "I've got to start by saying I really, really liked the book. It's a great book for "young adults" in the way that it (hopefully) gets them thinking about life, how different people have different p..."

Thank you so much for sharing and participating in the discussion. I agree with you that this book should be on a summer reading list. I think it provides a valuable insight into the worlds of teens as individuals. It's so easy for all of us to lump teens into one confused and overwhelmed community. I think David Levithan did a remarkable job of giving voice to many different perspectives of 16 year olds. I also appreciated how he accounted for A's heightened sense of ethics. It's a great reminder to all of us that we need to step out ourselves and take a walk in another's shoes.

Monica wrote: "AACPL wrote: "Which "body" did you find most interesting, disturbing, made you think? I have a few."

I think I liked the bodies who challenged A the most. The ones who caused a choice that went ag..."

Monica wrote: "AACPL wrote: "Which "body" did you find most interesting, disturbing, made you think? I have a few."

I think I liked the bodies who challenged A the most. The ones who caused a choice that went ag..."

Kelsea stuck with me too. Day 5998, the long day alone being tormented by the body haunted me. I saw addiction like never before.

David Levithan does some really interesting things with gender in this book. Did you see A has male or female?

AACPL wrote: "Hello everyone and welcome to the discussion. This month we will be reading Every Day by David Levithan. My name is Michelle and I will be the moderator on this read. ..."

AACPL wrote: "Hello everyone and welcome to the discussion. This month we will be reading Every Day by David Levithan. My name is Michelle and I will be the moderator on this read. ..."

I read the book...twice. I am not a fan of audio books because my mind wanders and I generally am not into the voice of the reader.

Wow- I guess I just "assumed" A was a male because of his relationship with Rhiannon. But in thinking about it, that means I "assumed" the relationship was heterosexual. That's a lot of assuming. Did anyone have a different perspective?

I always saw A as a male, first off because the first day we met A, A was currently inhabiting a male's body in the form of Rhiannon's boyfriend, as well as A's relationship with Rhiannon. Maybe if A had woken up the first time in a girl's body, then I would have perceived A as a girl. It's pretty interesting to think about.

1) I read it. I don't think that in this case it would have mattered if I listened vs. reading. Except that it is easier for me to read faster which was good because this was a quick read and a story I didn't want to put down.

2) I found three of bodies "A" was in disturbing. 1. The addict. 2. The suicidal girl 3. The obese boy. I really feel as if the author captured what it must be really like to be these people and then what it would feel like if we suddenly jumped into them. For example: if I was the obese boy my limbs might not feel heavy to me because I am used to them, however to someone using my body for the first time they would feel that way.

3) I feel that "A" was male. I think I felt like he was practical and lead by facts, rules, logic, sort of Spock-like if you will. Those traits I see more in males, as females while practical are lead more by our emotions. For example when "A" was the suicidal girl he struggled with his moral side to tell someone and get her help and his rule based side that said he should not interfere.

4) One thing I wondered is how "A" got to be so wise beyond his years. How did he get such a strong moral compass? Was it his unique childhood of never having the same family and being raised by so many? Or was he just created that way? It seems that Rev. Poole was of the same creation as "A", but it appears that he chose a different path. How was "A" able to adopt the belief that he should not interfere with these bodies, that he was just a guest, while Rev. Poole appears to have done the opposite?

5)I would never have read this book if it had not been a AACPL book club read. Not because I didn't think it wasn't interesting once I read the description but because it never would have been on my radar. I agree that it should be encourage for teens to read this to help them really see all the different types of people out there. Thanks for picking it!!

Thanks to all for the comments and participation. I'm so glad that you all seem to be enjoying the read. I too felt that A was male. I think that was mainly because of the relationship with Riannon. The book cover shows a male falling through the sky on the front cover. When I took a closer look at the full cover there is also a female body, but I didn't notice it until I really looked. We all bring our own bias to any book we read and that would also include our perspective on romantic relationships. Riannon also reacted differently to A when he was in a female body. I think she saw him as male.

Amber, I love the questions you posted to the discussion. I think A's moral compass was a combination of all that you mentioned-no parents, so many life experiences and perspectives, and A's inborn character traits. It begs the question nurture or nature?

A few new questions for the group...
When A was Marc for the day, he attended the funeral of Marc's grandfather. What do you think about A's reaction and his fear about dying without having anyone behind to remember the life A had?

Reverend Poole brought a sinister feeling to the book. What do you think about how he controlled the bodies in contrast to how A did? Do you think A will contact him later?

And Nathan-do you think he was able to move forward after speaking with A? Could you?

Good questions...

1) I felt bad for A when he realized that there will be no one to mourn him when he's gone, as no one really knows he exists now. That must be a horrible feeling. A's reaction was understandable.

2) I liked how A realized that his occupation of a body meant that the other person was in limbo somewhere. I feel that his realization of that fact allowed him to determine that he didn't want to be like Poole and control a body for longer. I do think that as Poole is the only one who knows A (aside from Rhiannon) that he will try and contact him again, but probably not for a long time.

3) At first I didn't think Nathan would be able to move forward, but after the last meeting with Poole and A I know think that he could. Like all "traumatic" events a person has to want move forward. I think because A's actions to escape Poole put Poole in a bad light that Nathan will now detach himself from Poole and move on. I think I would want to move on simply to feel like myself again, it wouldn't be easy, but stewing over something you cannot change does not solve anything.

I haven't finished the book yet, but I am loving the conversation and the book. GREAT choice!

In reading Every Day, I really enjoyed the way the author makes the reader think about their own bias' when thinking about relationships. I read the first part of the book, and listened to the second half. In the audiobook, the reader was female... Interesting choice...

Carolyn wrote: "In reading Every Day, I really enjoyed the way the author makes the reader think about their own bias' when thinking about relationships. I read the first part of the book, and listened to the seco..."

I really liked the reader on the audiobook. I found that her voice fit A well and the more I listened the less I even heard her as female.

Wow! I completely lost track of the days. I missed that tomorrow we start a new book, Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, tomorrow. Great book by the way.

So one final question on Every Day. What did you think of the ending?

Thank you to all that added to our discussion. "See" you next month.
~Michelle