Sixteen-year-old Elijah is completely mellow and his 23-year-old brother Danny is completely not, so it’s no wonder they can barely tolerate ...
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reviews
May 27, 2011
Sarah
rated it: 
Levithan does it again. Are We There Yet? is a brilliant and beautiful story about two brothers who don't really get a long. In a lot of ways, this reminded me of the relationship between my sister and I (though we get along much, much better than Danny and Elijah). The story, told in alternating points of view (Elijah in one chapter, Danny in the next), explores the relationship between the two brothers as seen through the eyes of both boys as well as an mildly omniscient narrator. The boys are
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Aug 04, 2011
Lauren
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First of all, I'm surprised by my own reaction to this book. Usually, I am completely against any books that includes drug use but does not condemn it. In Are We There Yet?, one of the main characters smokes pot in a sort of neutral way--- this habit is neither encouraged nor discouraged. Since I am stubbornly against any drug use whatsoever, I was surprised that this didn't severely lower my enjoyment of the book. Because I enjoyed it very much.
This book was also sort of unusual for me becau
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Mar 02, 2011
Beth
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story of two semi-estranged brothers on a forced trip "alone together" in Italy. Yes, your expectation is "they will learn to appreciate each other" but Levithan approaches that sideways, typical of his quirky atypicalness. I appreciated the less-stereotypical-than-you-think-at-first characters, the offbeat travelogue of Italy seen through both brothers' experiences, and the
realistic, engaging sibling dynamics both in the brothers More...
Feb 23, 2010
stephanie
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i don't have brothers, but this book resonates. i've never been to italy, but i feel like i understand. i don't have parents that would resort to "trickery" (actually, maybe i do) but some how this book felt like home.
"Travel is no longer a pursuit, he thinks. There is something inherently noble about that word - pursuit. Life should be a pursuit."
"Brothers are not like sisters," he says. From his tone, Danny can tell this is something he's More...
"Travel is no longer a pursuit, he thinks. There is something inherently noble about that word - pursuit. Life should be a pursuit."
"Brothers are not like sisters," he says. From his tone, Danny can tell this is something he's More...
Nov 09, 2009
Beth
rated it:
Elijah used to idolized his big brother, but growing older has meant growing apart. Their parents coerce them into taking a trip to Italy to reconnect. High school senior stoner Elijah wants to wander and experience, while Danny, a twenty-something ad-exec, wants to stick to the timetable. The two get on one another's nerves more and more, finding occasional common ground in museums and reminiscence. When Elijah finds romance with a tourista and begins spending all his time with her, Danny finds
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Dec 14, 2011
Steffanie
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Who hasn't fought with their siblings? It is natural that brothers & sisters don't get along, but sometimes, things can get out of hand.
Are We There Yet conveys an adventurous story about two brothers that attempt to survive a trip to Italy together. David Levithan is very detailed in describing artifacts & settings in museums & landmarks of Italy. Readers who love to learn about adventure & enjoy sightseeing will find Are We There Yet a great option to add to their list. I found th More...
Are We There Yet conveys an adventurous story about two brothers that attempt to survive a trip to Italy together. David Levithan is very detailed in describing artifacts & settings in museums & landmarks of Italy. Readers who love to learn about adventure & enjoy sightseeing will find Are We There Yet a great option to add to their list. I found th More...
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Dec 19, 2011
Ahhh, David Levithan what a special gift you have for pulling the reader into your stories and allowing the reader to be a witness to important snapshots of your characters' lives. ARE WE THERE YET? is one of those novels that needs to be thought about after the last word is finished. For me, ARE WE THERE YET? is a metaphor for so much more than the obvious. What is the obvious? The plot. This is a novel about two brothers who have grown apart and their parents "almost" desperate attem
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Sep 01, 2010
Signe
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I only really decided to read this, because I wanted to read something written by David Levithan before I read Will Grayson, Will Grayson, so I had no real expectations as to how it would be.
Elijah and Danny are brothers, but they don't have anything in common. At all. Elijah thinks Danny's life is boring and too "grown-up", while Danny thinks Elijah is too much of a child and even a bit naïve. They used to spend all their time together when they were kids, but they haven't seen More...
Elijah and Danny are brothers, but they don't have anything in common. At all. Elijah thinks Danny's life is boring and too "grown-up", while Danny thinks Elijah is too much of a child and even a bit naïve. They used to spend all their time together when they were kids, but they haven't seen More...
Aug 12, 2010
Claudia
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OH, my. Every Levithan book I've read is an amazing gift of words. ARE WE THERE YET? is funny, heartbreaking. I love Danny and Elijah and I want to strangle them. But what deep, reflective characters they are. Danny and Elijah, the Silver brothers, are 7 years apart and have never really been close. Their mother forces the issue the summer before Elijah's senior year in high school by tricking the boys into taking an Italian vacation together. We see all the petty resentments, misunderstandings,
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May 06, 2011
Nelvieee
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Liked it! It was short, yet surprisingly satisfying. I do have to say that there could have been a lot of stuff that can happen, but hey, it's not my book. The voice used in Are We There Yet? is different from David Levithan's collaborations. First of all, it's not in the first person point-of-view. I admit, I was kind of disappointed at first. Levithan's first person narrations are a riot. However, the third person narrative gave an in-depth no-nonsense feel to the story. Which I surprisingly d
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Apr 18, 2010
Molly
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Two brothers who feel they have nothing in common are tricked by their parents into going on a vacation to Italy together. Danny, in his mid-twenties, is an advertising big-shot whose work has become his life. He thinks his seventeen-year-old brother Isaac is a slacker with no ambition. Their attitudes toward travel are as different as they are. Danny sticks to his itinerary, and Isaac prefers to wander. But when they meet the lovely, free-spirited Julia, they find they have more in common
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Oct 14, 2010
Minli
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As part of my crusade to read more YA from a boy's perspective, I was happy to learn that Are We There Yet? tackles a topic I hardly EVER see: The relationship between two brothers. Danny and Elijah are polar opposites, seven years apart, with Danny being the uptight young professional with no personal life and Elijah the dreamy high-schooler with no sense of direction. Their parents trick them into spending a vacation together in Italy, and the book is basically about what happens.
T More...
T More...
Dec 07, 2011
Claire
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David levithan is one of my favorite authors.I find his books to be witty,fun, and very entertaining. Most of all, they aren't going to weigh you down with emotional plots. This book is from the viewpoint of two brothers who couldn't be more different yet they are very alike as well. When their parents trick them into going to Italy on a nine day all expense paid bonding trip, neither of them have high expectations. They take trips into their past as they explore the canals and roads of Italy. T
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Jan 25, 2009
Jaemi
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David and Elijah Silver are 10 years apart, and while they were thick as thieves when Elijah was young, and Danny would wake the house every night to make sure the baby was ok, once Danny hit his teens, Elijah was shut out. Being so young, he didn’t understand, but he did learn to deal. Danny shut himself into his world, Elijah got lost in another.
One morning each brother receives a call from their mother explaining about Italy. She and their father were going to go, but his leg is a More...
One morning each brother receives a call from their mother explaining about Italy. She and their father were going to go, but his leg is a More...
Mar 20, 2011
Alexandra
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I said it before and I'll say it again, David Levithan is a genius. It's not so much the stories he tells or the settings (although Italy is pretty darn cool) but it's more about the way he conveys the character's true self. His characters (main ones, anyway) have depth. He describes things with such pinpoint accuracy so that you really get the character, so that you feel the character is you.
In the beginning, I couldn't stand Danny's character. I thought he was uptight and stuffy and a b More...
In the beginning, I couldn't stand Danny's character. I thought he was uptight and stuffy and a b More...
Jun 18, 2009
Infinite Playlist
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This book is a quick, relaxed read because it doesn't have many pages, because most pages aren't even fully filled and because of the short chapters with the changing points of view.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the language, Levithan is quite a genius when it comes to describing feelings/thoughts/architecture/whatever. His style is so original and poetic without being boring or incomprehensible.
It was funny that Danny's and Elijah's journey took them through More...
What I enjoyed most about this book was the language, Levithan is quite a genius when it comes to describing feelings/thoughts/architecture/whatever. His style is so original and poetic without being boring or incomprehensible.
It was funny that Danny's and Elijah's journey took them through More...
Sep 13, 2011
Nina
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Levithan's coming of age novel is beautifully written and thought out. Don't be deceived by the small size of the volume.
It is a surprise, a very good one, to know that the book recommended by a friend is as good as it was praised. Are we there yet? is a refreshing, heartfelt read about two boys. Elijah and Danny are six years apart, and as far as brothers can be.
Levithan's novel is the journey that both Elijah and Danny take together, not only physically to Italy b More...
It is a surprise, a very good one, to know that the book recommended by a friend is as good as it was praised. Are we there yet? is a refreshing, heartfelt read about two boys. Elijah and Danny are six years apart, and as far as brothers can be.
Levithan's novel is the journey that both Elijah and Danny take together, not only physically to Italy b More...
Mar 21, 2010
Ariel
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I don't know if it's good or bad, but it's still the same style as his other novels. A unique story unlike most of the novels I've read, this focuses more on the relationship of the siblings rather than boy-meets-girl-then-fall-in-love stuff we usually read. It also gives me a deeper appreciation on what my brothers have done for me. It may not be the way I wanted it to be, but now I know it's the most that they could have done on that time.
This is an excerpt from the novel that I re More...
This is an excerpt from the novel that I re More...
May 10, 2010
Jamie
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The writing style of this book was a little more difficult for me to get into than some other books I read. It wasn't bad - just a little different than what I'm used to reading. At the same time, some of the descriptions the author used were so dead on and thought-provoking. Several times I found myself wanting to write down various lines because they were ways I wished I had thought to describe something. One of the main reasons I picked up this book to read was because it is set in Venice, Fl
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Jun 04, 2011
Meghan
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The style of this book is gorgeous. So many published YA authors today aren't writers, the poetry of their words is lacking, but that is not the case for Mr. Levithan. He has a way of making you feel nostalgic for things you've never seen or experienced before just because of the emotions that he puts into his writing.
The story itself wasn't that engrossing. There was no point where I was curious to find out what happens next, but I don't think that's what this book was about. And i More...
The story itself wasn't that engrossing. There was no point where I was curious to find out what happens next, but I don't think that's what this book was about. And i More...
Aug 14, 2011
Daven
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A big, unexpected surprise. My expectations were low in the opening pages. Don't let what appears to be simplistic, perhaps even poor writing turn you off. It gets much better. The revelation of the relationship between two brothers is moving and memorable. Am very happy I stumbled across this one! (By the way, avoid Goodreads' paragraph-long review of this one; it greatly minimizes the potential impact of the story, making it sound very shallow. On top of that, they have the ages of the t
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May 14, 2011
Rosey
rated it:
I really enjoy reading YA books from the boy perspective. Which is an odd thing to say, really. Why exactly are most YA books female-centered, but most mainstream movies male-centered? Is it the medium, the targeted age group, or mental vs visual genders?
Anyway. I'm much more Danny than I am Elijah, but it was clear the author liked Elijah better. Danny's development seemed a little fake and unsustainable - how can he make friends if he goes back to his 15-hour-day job? And will he More...
Anyway. I'm much more Danny than I am Elijah, but it was clear the author liked Elijah better. Danny's development seemed a little fake and unsustainable - how can he make friends if he goes back to his 15-hour-day job? And will he More...
Mar 13, 2011
Christian
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Brothers Elijah and Danny, who used to be quite close, have grown apart as they've gotten older. Now in his early twenties, Danny is a rising professional and workaholic. Elijah, entering his senior year in school, is much more laid back. Trying to repair the rift in the boys' relationship, their parents trick them into going to Italy for a 10-day vacation. Initially disgruntled at having to spend this time with each other, they eventually begin to understand one another again and learn who they
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Mar 01, 2009
Shellie
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Aug 06, 2011
I love this author, but I have to say this novel was a disappointment. I hated the present tense narrative and the slow pace of everything. The story was also predictable and a bit bland. It's ok if the plot isn't crazy but at least spice up the prose to keep us interested. If you want to read something by this author read Boy Meets Boy or The Realm of Possibility but not this. I liked the idea but not the work. Sorry...
Aug 08, 2011
Dazed
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Just a great book about siblings---perfect for brothers, great for sisters, and insightful for the only child.
I really, really enjoyed this book. I had no expectations going in but it still exceeded them all. I really cared for the characters, even when I didn't like them, and I also felt that I could see things from both characters' perspective very clearly and logically. Of course, there is also a lot of emotion that goes along with reading this book so be prepared!
I really, really enjoyed this book. I had no expectations going in but it still exceeded them all. I really cared for the characters, even when I didn't like them, and I also felt that I could see things from both characters' perspective very clearly and logically. Of course, there is also a lot of emotion that goes along with reading this book so be prepared!
Feb 12, 2011
Nicole
rated it:
Woops! I forgot to mark that I was reading this! Oh wells. This was a lovely little story written by an author who I think I've read his complete library, at least in YA books.
This story is about two brothers who have a large age difference (not that large but big enough) the older one is 23 and in an advertising agency and the younger is about 17 or 18 and about to be a senior in HS. They are very different people and they do not get along. Their parents trick them into taking a tr More...
This story is about two brothers who have a large age difference (not that large but big enough) the older one is 23 and in an advertising agency and the younger is about 17 or 18 and about to be a senior in HS. They are very different people and they do not get along. Their parents trick them into taking a tr More...
Dec 16, 2009
Jennie
rated it:
In this wonderfully lyrical tale, Levitahn tells the story of two brothers, Danny and Elijah. Danny is motivated, driven, a pre-planner, and a work-a-holic rising star at his New York Corporate Firm. Elijah, seven years his junior, is laid back, a bit of a stoner, and a spur-of-the-moment type of guy who takes time to truly see the world around him. Danny doesn't think Elijah knows how to make a living. Elijah doesn't think Danny knows how to make a life. Their parents trick them into spending n
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Jun 07, 2009
Krista
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I loved this book. I read Realm of Possibility in high school, and was worried I wouldn't be as interested in his work now that I've graduated and grown up a bit. This book, however, drew me in immediately. I found myself flipping every page, yearning to be traveling like the Silver brothers and hoping to be as free as Elijah.
This book is absolutely amazing.
This book is absolutely amazing.
Sep 18, 2011
Chayne
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At first, it took a little while to get into this book. From reading reviews, I knew it was going to be good, but I guess it just took awhile to see where everything was going. David Levithan writes in such a good poetic prose way of writing that it just blows me away at its literary quality. Every chapter, every word, is infused with meaning. Once you get into the scheme of things, you'll not want to put this book down. Another thing that is good about David Levithan's style is really short cha
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