Book Thoughts: Every You, Every Me

Title: Every You, Every Me
Author: David Levithan

I read this one around New Years, so it's been several months, and the impression that it has on me is still incredible. I'm a bit hazy on the details, but I remember it being emotionally very intense.

Evan's going crazy missing his best friend Ariel. And he might actually be going crazy: he keeps finding photographs aimed at him. The photos are actually in the book, which is really cool -- it's neat being able to see what it is that Evan's seeing.

Stylistically, David Levithan has created an interesting novel. Not just with the pictures, but with the text. Evan strikes through the words he changes his mind about saying, which gives readers an unusual (and powerful) view of what's actually going on in Evan's head versus what he's trying to make himself believe.

The other thing that really struck me about EYEM was the emotion. Evan's struggling with his own emotional and social difficulties, but he's also pressuring himself to manage Ariel's increasingly unstable tendencies. It was really intense seeing the way his emotions related to Ariel's. There's really no other way that I can describe it: emotionally intense. I had to put it down a couple of times just to come back to myself before I got lost in it entirely.

But wow, guys. Definitely read this one if you get the chance.

Book Thoughts: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

Title: Dash and Lily's Book of Dares
Author: Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

This is one of my favorite holiday novels. Dash and Lily both live in NYC at Christmastime... but other than that, their lives are entirely different. What brings them together is a small local bookshop and a red notebook.

As they pass the notebook back and forth, leaving each other dares and challenges and slowly learning more about each other -- and about themselves, as they go through ridiculous shenanigans they would otherwise never go near -- they develop a friendship that is beautiful to watch and affects these two completely opposite characters so incredibly.

The question is, will their friendship last when they meet in person?

Told in alternating POVs, this novel is adorable and sweet and clever and funny and everything that is good about the holiday season (whether you celebrate Christmas or not). Definitely read this one if you get a chance. You won't regret it.

Book Thoughts: Invisibility

Title: Invisibility
Author: Andrea Cremer & David Levithan

Wow. That's the first thing I have to say about this book. Wow.

Stephen has been invisible his whole life. It's part of a curse placed on his mother before he was born. No one - not even Stephen himself - has ever seen him.

And then Elizabeth moves in, and she sees him plain as day.

As they start to fall maybe-in-love, Stephen and Elizabeth (and Elizabeth's brother Laurie, who might just be the most fun character in the book because of all his snark) are plunged into a whole new world of cursecasting and spellseeking in a desperate attempt to unravel the curse on Stephen - before it kills one of them.

The emotion in this book is just incredible. Ever wished you could just be invisible? You won't anymore. It's kind of a haunting look at the downside of one of those go-to "superpowers," as well as what it means to really care about somebody.

The writing is beautiful, the characters are kick-butt, and the story - well, I couldn't put it down. Seriously, read this ASAP. This is a truly fantastic book.