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Every You, Every Me
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In this high school-set psychological tale, a tormented teen named Evan starts to discover a series of unnerving photographs—some of which feature him. Someone is stalking him . . . messing with him . . . threatening him. Worse, ever since his best friend Ariel has been gone, he's been unable to sleep, spending night after night torturing himself for his role in her absenc
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Hardcover, 248 pages
Published
September 13th 2011
by Knopf Books for Young Readers
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Feb 17, 2011
Tatiana
rated it
did not like it
Recommends it for:
those who can't get enough of the ANGST
I usually like David Levithan, a lot even. But this new experimental piece of his - it caused me physical pain to slog through that little bit of the book that I did manage to read.
Let me recount my problems with Every You, Every Me in order of appearance:
1) the ANGST - the book assaults with an unbearable amount of teen boy angst from the very first page, when you do not even know the main character's name and circumstances. It's just angst, angst, angst with a hint of mystery. The novel breat ...more
Let me recount my problems with Every You, Every Me in order of appearance:
1) the ANGST - the book assaults with an unbearable amount of teen boy angst from the very first page, when you do not even know the main character's name and circumstances. It's just angst, angst, angst with a hint of mystery. The novel breat ...more

Wow, this book was a bit of a trainwreck.
There are a few things I need to point out.
Firstly, the strikethough. Halfthe novel was written like this and for the most part it seemed pretty random. I almost dropped it on the first page, because it was just that annoying.
Secondly, oh my god, the angst. Do you remember that part in New Moon, where Edward dumped Bella, and she was just this depressed mess for months? Yeah, well, Evan is like that, but permanently, and for no reason that I can discer ...more
There are a few things I need to point out.
Firstly, the strikethough. Half
Secondly, oh my god, the angst. Do you remember that part in New Moon, where Edward dumped Bella, and she was just this depressed mess for months? Yeah, well, Evan is like that, but permanently, and for no reason that I can discer ...more

What a shame.
With black-and-white pictures and strike-through texts, I thought this book will be a disturbing psychological tale but the thing is, it wasn't.
Yes, there was a mystery but it didn't really work for me. I think it has been used just to make someone be compelled and read the book until the end in one sitting (which I did, unfortunately).
But this is a hideous and pretentious technique. Because really, this book is all about angst, teenage angst and nothing more. The angst is strong ...more
With black-and-white pictures and strike-through texts, I thought this book will be a disturbing psychological tale but the thing is, it wasn't.
Yes, there was a mystery but it didn't really work for me. I think it has been used just to make someone be compelled and read the book until the end in one sitting (which I did, unfortunately).
But this is a hideous and pretentious technique. Because really, this book is all about angst, teenage angst and nothing more. The angst is strong ...more

All I needed to know about Every You, Every Me was that David Levithan wrote it. The man has a permanent spot in my heart for giving me Dash & Lily! But this! Well…it was a whole new experience filled with imagination.
Once I opened the book, I could not put it down. The mystery and tension just built page turn after page turn just pulling me deeper into the story. I found myself clutching the book at times trying to get a better look! It truly was an amazing reading experience that blended pictu ...more
Once I opened the book, I could not put it down. The mystery and tension just built page turn after page turn just pulling me deeper into the story. I found myself clutching the book at times trying to get a better look! It truly was an amazing reading experience that blended pictu ...more

Oh god, this book.
I like the books of Levithan's that I've read but this was just awful.
The idea behind this book was actually a great and interesting. I like the way the book was set up and the addition of pictures to it and how the story was written between the author and the photographer.
The problems I had with this book:
1. The characters were COMPLETELY one dimensional and they didn;t develop at all over the book. On top of that the relationships between the characters weren't very convinin ...more
I like the books of Levithan's that I've read but this was just awful.
The idea behind this book was actually a great and interesting. I like the way the book was set up and the addition of pictures to it and how the story was written between the author and the photographer.
The problems I had with this book:
1. The characters were COMPLETELY one dimensional and they didn;t develop at all over the book. On top of that the relationships between the characters weren't very convinin ...more

Evan is on his way home from school when he finds an envelope on the ground that has a photo inside. He starts to think that Ariel is back to torment him, because of what he did to her. As they unravel the mystery behind the photographs, he soon discovers how little he knows about Ariel and the truth.
This was a heartfelt story of love and loss, and dealing with the tragedy of losing a close friend. It had a very haunting aura throughout the book, so that I felt Ariel’s missing presence right al ...more
This was a heartfelt story of love and loss, and dealing with the tragedy of losing a close friend. It had a very haunting aura throughout the book, so that I felt Ariel’s missing presence right al ...more

Easily, best book I've read all year. However, very different from David Levithan's other books.
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I was intrigued by this novel for the opening 30 or so pages, given its unusual use of strike-through text to indicate retracted internal monologue of the main character. This also made it a bit challenging to read, as one has to read his thoughts on the two levels. But the novelty wore off quickly, and the overdose of teen angst became overwhelming. I felt trapped in what I imagine a really bad episode of "Dawson's Creek" must've been like -- miserable teenagers speaking in tautologies and me
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This book would not be my first encounter with David Levithan. The first book I read of his was Lover’s Dictionary which I loved completely because of how he unconventionally told the story of the lovers whose names were never mentioned (their gender was never mentioned too).
Every You, Every Me was eccentric. It was odd. It would put you on the edge of your seat. It would keep you reading until you find out what really happened.
Evan started getting weird photographs.
First when he was on his wa ...more
Every You, Every Me was eccentric. It was odd. It would put you on the edge of your seat. It would keep you reading until you find out what really happened.
Evan started getting weird photographs.
First when he was on his wa ...more

Now THIS is what a young-adult thriller should be like. After being a bit disappointed at the mystery-thriller aspect of Susan Beth Pfeffer's Blood Wounds (but not disappointed in the book as a whole), Every You, Every Me was definitely a welcome surprise. I had expected the book to focus heavily on the gimmick and let the actual mystery plot, of what happened to Ariel and who's sending Evan those mysterious photographs, fall to the wayside. But it didn't. In fact, Every You, Every Me wouldn't h
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Two words: teen angst! And how does one evoke more teen angst? Strike through wording!
Evan has lost his best friend, Ariel, but how? Readers are not meant to discover a solid explanation until the end. In the mean time, Evan is haunted by her through memories and his own guilt for actions that resulted in her absence. Then, beginning on Ariel's birthday, someone starts leaving photos for Evan: a picture of trees, a picture of him, more trees, more Evan, and finally... pictures of Ariel. Evan, no ...more
Evan has lost his best friend, Ariel, but how? Readers are not meant to discover a solid explanation until the end. In the mean time, Evan is haunted by her through memories and his own guilt for actions that resulted in her absence. Then, beginning on Ariel's birthday, someone starts leaving photos for Evan: a picture of trees, a picture of him, more trees, more Evan, and finally... pictures of Ariel. Evan, no ...more

Every You, Every Me is an artistic endeavor that falls short. The idea of basing a story on random photos is intriguing and I was rooting for it to be an inspiring hit, but sadly I did not care very much for this work by David Levithan. Although I'm a fan of previous stories by the author, Every You, Every Me, didn't provide the level of intrigue or mystery the synopsis promises. At no point did I truly believe Ariel was behind the scheme and although this had depth potential, the plot wavered a
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If somebody wanted to know what it was like to have depression I would tell them to read this book. Not because I think its awful: The opposite! The thoughts that Evan has and how he reacts match very nearly perfectly with how having depression really feels.
Beyond that, the descriptions and photos and mysteries were all brilliant, although the climax was a bit of a let down in some ways. (Dana is an idiot. It felt too simple. Why did the book have to end?)
I found myself confused about Ariel. Li ...more
Beyond that, the descriptions and photos and mysteries were all brilliant, although the climax was a bit of a let down in some ways. (Dana is an idiot. It felt too simple. Why did the book have to end?)
I found myself confused about Ariel. Li ...more

I feel kind of disappointed after finishing Every You, Every Me. I love me some David Levithan from time to time and this one has definitely been the one book of his that I've been really meaning to read for a long time. Maybe it was the title or the cover, not sure exactly, but the book as a whole was really appealing to me, and I was really excited once I got my own copy and started reading it. Boy, did I get disappointed...
I mean, this is definitely David Levithan style: It's different, it's ...more
I mean, this is definitely David Levithan style: It's different, it's ...more

I've been in a bad reading slump and I thought this book would be perfect to end it. Written by David Levithan, in what seemed to me a style almost like poetry and with photographs, what could go wrong? Well, as short as the book was, it took me almost a month to get through it. It didn't grab me or captivate me in any way. I found the story to be just flat. The main character was the only one that seemed to show a bit more depth, but I still couldn't connect or find myself to care for any of th
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Interesting story told in a very unconventional style that at times felt experimental, but was also successfully executed in many other areas. I connected most with Ariel - a character who is spoken about on every page and never a physical presence. With that said, the ending was absolutely worth reaching.

So that was a big bowl of WTF and MEH.


Ahaha, so this is what I really felt like while I was reading this book, but hey, not in a bad or negative way. Most of the time, I was just like "Hey! Oh yeah! That point there's cool! Where's the next interesting thing?" I was kind of lost reading this book, but I don't know if it was just me.
This definitely is not one of David Levithan's best novels. I loved how he chose this to be written with photographs, that is absolutely hipster and gorgeous all at the same time.
"This is it. Thi ...more

I don't want you to think I got through this undamaged, okay? But I'm learning to live with it. Because otherwise, the damage is all you have."
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
It took me a while to get into the story but once it did, it was hard to put down. This is a very unique read for me. I don't think I've ever encountered a book similar to this before. The writing process the author did really intrigued me as well. It's amazing how he weaved a coherent story by basing everything on the ...more

The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover. The boy on the cover looks so sad and thoughtful, not to mention he is wearing some odd clothes. It made me wonder more about this boy on the cover.
As I got into the book I thought it was a little bit creepy and a whole lot mysterious. It has this sort of unnerving edge to it, that someone is sending these weird photos to Evan. I feel like the photos in the book add to the unnerving vibe.
I liked the mystery surrounding who was leaving the ...more
As I got into the book I thought it was a little bit creepy and a whole lot mysterious. It has this sort of unnerving edge to it, that someone is sending these weird photos to Evan. I feel like the photos in the book add to the unnerving vibe.
I liked the mystery surrounding who was leaving the ...more

There are so many versions of a person. We never completely understand a person, even if he/she is our closest friend, because we will only see one side of them. "You know one me. Just like I know one you. But you can't know every me. And I can't know every you."
Evan lost his best friend, Ariel. Evan blames himself. Suddenly, he comes along a mysterious photograph that is followed up by more curious pictures. Evan thinks Ariel is back to torment him, because of what he did to her. Photographs, m ...more
Evan lost his best friend, Ariel. Evan blames himself. Suddenly, he comes along a mysterious photograph that is followed up by more curious pictures. Evan thinks Ariel is back to torment him, because of what he did to her. Photographs, m ...more

This was quite pointless and plotless. A let down. It was an utter shame made up of literal and figurative madness.

I am not as annoyed at this book as I am with others because I did not have any expectations. So I guess that's why I gave it 2*.
Our MC
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I am not as annoyed at this book as I am with others because I did not have any expectations. So I guess that's why I gave it 2*.
Our MC


“That's the question, isn't it?" you said one night. "Does death bring freedom, or is it the end of freedom?”
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I had so many feelings about this book in the process of reading it. Initially, I was just like "ugh, this is all the bad parts of Shatter Me (overdone plot, underdeveloped characters, constantly repeating phrases and striking out every other line), then, as it progressed, I started to get into it, the striking out of entire pages stopped bothering me and I started to get more invested in the plot (probably bc of the photos, that was a cool idea I hadn't seen before-- not in the way that he did
...more

I'd give it a 2.5. I was really close to 3 stars but it was just so weird and dark, not my taste at all. I didn't like the photos in it either. The plot is alright but like I said, it makes you cut your wrists man. This main character is too depressive. The most depressive.
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READALIKES: Thirteen Reasons Why (Asher), Hold Still (LaCour)
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 3/5
Creativity: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Engrossing: 2/5
Writing: 4/5
Appeal to teens: 5/5
Appropriate length to tell the story: 4/5
CONTENT:
Language: mild
Sexuality: mild-medium; some talk of teens having sex; some remembered kissing
Violence: mild; stalking, talk of suicide
Drugs/Alcohol: none
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: I just ordered it. While the subject matter is somber and the presentation quiet, I think You Again ...more
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 3/5
Creativity: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
Engrossing: 2/5
Writing: 4/5
Appeal to teens: 5/5
Appropriate length to tell the story: 4/5
CONTENT:
Language: mild
Sexuality: mild-medium; some talk of teens having sex; some remembered kissing
Violence: mild; stalking, talk of suicide
Drugs/Alcohol: none
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: I just ordered it. While the subject matter is somber and the presentation quiet, I think You Again ...more
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Purpose of Literature | 1 | 3 | Feb 12, 2017 04:20AM | |
Purpose of Literature | 1 | 1 | Feb 12, 2017 04:20AM |
David Levithan (born 1972) is an American children's book editor and award-winning author. He published his first YA book, Boy Meets Boy, in 2003. Levithan is also the founding editor of PUSH, a Young Adult imprint of Scholastic Press.
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“You don't know me. You know one me, just like I know one you. And you can't know every me, and I can't know every you.”
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