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Every Day and All the Time
A heartbreaking, honest, and downright funny novel about loss and recovery
"She lay pinned in the back seat listening . . . to the sounds of help that had come too late."
Six months ago a terrible car accident devastated Emily Racine. Not only did she lose her older brother, Jon, but her own injuries pre-vented her from doing the thing she loved best: dancing. Now, just as Emily is getting on her feet again, she receives another blow: her parents want to sell their house, which they feel is too full of sad memories. But the cellar of this house is the only place where Emily can still feel and speak to Jon-and she can't bear to lose him twice.
Emily tries hard to prevent the sale, often with humorous results. Yet as the months pass she comes to realize that change may not always be a bad thing. With lots of love and support she finds a way to say good-bye to her brother and her cherished childhood dream.
By turns heartwrenching and hilarious, Sis Deans's moving novel will resonate long after the last page has been read.
"She lay pinned in the back seat listening . . . to the sounds of help that had come too late."
Six months ago a terrible car accident devastated Emily Racine. Not only did she lose her older brother, Jon, but her own injuries pre-vented her from doing the thing she loved best: dancing. Now, just as Emily is getting on her feet again, she receives another blow: her parents want to sell their house, which they feel is too full of sad memories. But the cellar of this house is the only place where Emily can still feel and speak to Jon-and she can't bear to lose him twice.
Emily tries hard to prevent the sale, often with humorous results. Yet as the months pass she comes to realize that change may not always be a bad thing. With lots of love and support she finds a way to say good-bye to her brother and her cherished childhood dream.
By turns heartwrenching and hilarious, Sis Deans's moving novel will resonate long after the last page has been read.
- GenresFiction
304 pages, Library Binding
First published September 1, 2003
About the author
Sis Deans
9 books4 followersSis Deans was born and raised in Maine, USA. She has won several regional awards, including the 1995 Main Chapbook Award. Sis now lives on a small farm in Maine with her husband and three daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 4, 2010
This book was ridiculously amazing. It was so touching to me. Throughout the book, I just pictured myself in the main character's situation; what if it had been my older brother to die? This book shows the deep bond held between siblings, even if they fight or don't get along. Deep inside, love is stronger than any other emotion. The author crafts this tender story so well, showing the heartache and pain of recovering from a traumatic event and learning to stand on your own two feet, even if they aren't that stable. Deeply touching and personally spellbinding, Every Day and All the Time is a book I would recommend to anyone with a box of tissues nearby.
October 9, 2020
This book did not appeal greatly to me and I had to force myself to finish it, but I will readily admit that it is well-written and would encourage you to give it a try if the description interests you. I am also a writer and I am frustrated by one-sentence reviews I read, so I will try to explain why it didn't grab me but it may well grab you. I will also try not to give things away, though there may be minor spoilers.
Oddly enough, this is the second young adult novel in a row I have read where the lead character has thoughts that are sort of witty insults of people around them. Now I try to include a lot of wit and humor in my books, but to me constant little pot shots at other characters is not the best kind of humor. It makes me like the character less and therefore I am less likely to smile at the jokes. Again, however, maybe that is just me because of my own writing style. I also got a bit tired of the plot device of her talking to her dead brother, since it lasts right up until nearly the final page, though I will admit I like how the situation was resolved in the end.
So it was difficult to really curl up and settle into this book with Emily rubbing me the wrong way, but your heart will probably reach out for her in ways mine did not and cut her a lot more slack. The book takes place in Maine. I lived in Maine for over fifty years and placed some of my novels there, but I usually created a fictional town for my settings, so it seems jarring to hear all of the place names dropped here and there to set this book in the Portland area. At first it felt like there were too many place names and not enough cultural references (the people, way of life, etc.) to the southern Maine I know so well, but as the book moved along, it cumulatively began to feel like home.
I will stress that Emily does grow and develop emotionally during the course of the story, which I feel is especially important in a young adult novel. Her parents also are developed after they seemed a bit two-dimensional in the early pages, which may well have been intentional to further show Emily's emotional growth.Likewise Emily's relationship with a few other minor characters reflects her coming to terms with her tragedy and feeling empathy for others, such as with an old woman she visits in a nursing home.
(I had to smile when I realized Emily's father was a writer - I try not to have any writers in my novels as it feels like I am taking a shortcut writing close to home. But then again, we are told to write about what we know! And her mother is a surgeon, after all.)
Sometimes a book doesn't grab me because I know what is going to happen before the characters do, or I find myself thinking "I could write better than this," but there is nothing like that here. Like I said at the start, this book is written well, so personal taste and your level of empathy for Emily should be major factors deciding how much you enjoy this book. So I suggest you give it a go and decide for yourself.
Oddly enough, this is the second young adult novel in a row I have read where the lead character has thoughts that are sort of witty insults of people around them. Now I try to include a lot of wit and humor in my books, but to me constant little pot shots at other characters is not the best kind of humor. It makes me like the character less and therefore I am less likely to smile at the jokes. Again, however, maybe that is just me because of my own writing style. I also got a bit tired of the plot device of her talking to her dead brother, since it lasts right up until nearly the final page, though I will admit I like how the situation was resolved in the end.
So it was difficult to really curl up and settle into this book with Emily rubbing me the wrong way, but your heart will probably reach out for her in ways mine did not and cut her a lot more slack. The book takes place in Maine. I lived in Maine for over fifty years and placed some of my novels there, but I usually created a fictional town for my settings, so it seems jarring to hear all of the place names dropped here and there to set this book in the Portland area. At first it felt like there were too many place names and not enough cultural references (the people, way of life, etc.) to the southern Maine I know so well, but as the book moved along, it cumulatively began to feel like home.
I will stress that Emily does grow and develop emotionally during the course of the story, which I feel is especially important in a young adult novel. Her parents also are developed after they seemed a bit two-dimensional in the early pages, which may well have been intentional to further show Emily's emotional growth.Likewise Emily's relationship with a few other minor characters reflects her coming to terms with her tragedy and feeling empathy for others, such as with an old woman she visits in a nursing home.
(I had to smile when I realized Emily's father was a writer - I try not to have any writers in my novels as it feels like I am taking a shortcut writing close to home. But then again, we are told to write about what we know! And her mother is a surgeon, after all.)
Sometimes a book doesn't grab me because I know what is going to happen before the characters do, or I find myself thinking "I could write better than this," but there is nothing like that here. Like I said at the start, this book is written well, so personal taste and your level of empathy for Emily should be major factors deciding how much you enjoy this book. So I suggest you give it a go and decide for yourself.
May 11, 2023
This is perfect for readers who have patience and aren't looking for a thriller, action, or adventure book. It's slow-paced, but that makes it easy to follow. In other words, this book is chill.
December 10, 2016
this us a great book to understand the way a child deals with loss and grief. the family in this story lost their son in an accident and it shows how adults, children and the family as a whole deals with it in different ways. the story also shows fears, coping, and healthy ways to forgive and not give into the emotions. the Girls in the main character so if you know someone young who lost someone, this is a good insight into what they may be thinking and feeling. I would recomend you read this book first on your own and take notes, then maybe read it with your child as well.
February 10, 2014
This book is heartbreaking, well written, sarcastic, wonderful and just plain funny. As I read, I grew to love Emily's character, and the plot of the story. I've read this novel at least ten times. It's my favorite book ever!
June 15, 2015
This was the best book I read this year! It was another book of both happy and sad and don't forget funny too! I just absolutely loved this book! All of you young readers this would be a good book to read!
November 21, 2015
I think middle school and junior high students would like it. It is especially good for someone who has lost a family member. It shows the real and difficult struggle with dealing with life after a death.
December 16, 2020
This book had me laughing and crying. Truly amazing to see an author capture a child's grief with such effectiveness.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews