Essay Questions

How does the novel portray the fluidity of love through Rhiannon's relationships?

Another Day examines love as an experience that goes beyond physical attraction and social expectations. Rhiannon's relationship with Justin reflects the limitations of conventional love—he is moody, emotionally distant, and their bond relies heavily on routines and shared history rather than genuine emotional intimacy. In contrast, Rhiannon's relationship with A challenges her understanding of love entirely. A inhabits a different body each day, ranging in gender, age, and appearance, yet maintains a consistent personality. Rhiannon's attraction to A forces her to confront what she truly values in a partner: kindness, empathy, and understanding, rather than superficial traits. The novel portrays love as fluid, capable of transcending physicality, societal expectations, and traditional norms, highlighting that genuine connection is rooted in emotional and moral qualities rather than appearances.

What role does memory play in shaping Rhiannon's perceptions of relationships?

Memory acts as both a lens and a trap in Rhiannon's journey. She clings to the memory of a "perfect day" spent with Justin, which she believes demonstrates the potential of their relationship. Ironically, it was not Justin at all but A inhabiting his body that created this joyful experience. This misattribution underscores how humans often romanticize or misremember events to align with their desires, creating emotional distortions that influence decisions. Memory in the novel also highlights the fragility of perception—Rhiannon's longing for connection and stability is filtered through her selective recollection, and her struggle to distinguish between the actual and the perceived exposes the challenges of understanding love, identity, and human behavior. Levithan uses memory as a narrative tool to explore the subjectivity of experience and the tension between reality and expectation.

How does the author use body-swapping as a tool to examine empathy?

The motif of body-swapping is central to the novel's exploration of empathy. A inhabits a different body every day, experiencing life through a variety of ages, genders, races, and social circumstances. This extraordinary situation compels Rhiannon—and readers—to confront perspectives radically different from their own. For Rhiannon, it challenges assumptions about identity, attraction, and understanding; she must learn to recognize the essence of A beyond physical form. The narrative suggests that empathy requires moving beyond surface-level judgments, understanding the lived experiences of others, and appreciating the diversity of human existence. By using the literal device of inhabiting other bodies, Levithan crafts a metaphor for emotional insight and moral sensitivity, illustrating that connection and compassion require seeing past appearances to the true character of a person.

How does Rhiannon's journey reflect self-discovery and personal growth?

Rhiannon's story is a journey from insecurity to self-awareness. Initially, she feels trapped in her relationship with Justin, adhering to his moods and neglecting her own needs. Her interactions with A act as a catalyst for growth, pushing her to question her assumptions about love, attraction, and personal worth. Through navigating a relationship with someone who has no permanent form, Rhiannon confronts her biases about gender, beauty, and physical attraction. She gradually develops emotional resilience and confidence, recognizing that she deserves connection rooted in mutual respect and understanding rather than convenience or habit. The novel portrays self-discovery as inseparable from relational experiences: growth occurs through reflection, confrontation of uncomfortable truths, and learning to embrace uncertainty in both love and life.

In what ways does the novel challenge traditional gender norms?

Levithan's novel subverts traditional ideas of gender by presenting a protagonist, A, whose identity is fluid and not tied to a single body or sex. A's daily transformation exposes Rhiannon—and the readers—to a wide spectrum of gender expressions, forcing a reevaluation of societal expectations surrounding attraction, romance, and relationships. Rhiannon must navigate her feelings for A across multiple genders, realizing that emotional connection and compatibility are far more significant than physical gender. This challenges conventional frameworks of heteronormativity and binary gender definitions, suggesting that love can be inclusive, flexible, and based on personal values rather than societal labels. By decoupling love from physical identity, Levithan offers a progressive exploration of intimacy and demonstrates that genuine human connection transcends externally imposed categories.