Every Day

Every Day Imagery

The Beach

In the first chapter of the novel, Levithan's descriptions of A's day with Rhiannon at the beach take on a magical, effervescent quality. Describing Rhiannon's construction of a sandcastle, Levithan writes that "she makes turrets bloom from her cupped hands" (14). As A and Rhiannon connect, Levithan describes the beauty of the beach around them, writing "the ocean makes its music; the wind does its dance" (15). Throughout the chapter, Levithan's descriptions of the beauty of the beach establish the whimsical, serendipitous feeling of A and Rhiannon's day, creating a cinematic backdrop to their first meeting.

The Mountain Hike

On the day A spends inhabiting Rhiannon's body, A wants to do something special for Rhiannon and eventually decides to go on a hike up a mountain. In this scene, Levithan describes "grappling with the last steep incline, the final turns of the path" until finally "finding yourself above it all" (198). After reaching the summit, A reflects on what it feels like to be "at the highest point the eye can see, not counting the clouds, the air, the lazy sun" (198). The vivid descriptions in this scene highlight A's feelings of enthrallment and astonishment at the experience of occupying Rhiannon's body.

Alexander's Bedroom

When A wakes up in Alexander Lin's body, Alexander's bedroom immediately wins A over. There are "plenty of books on the shelves, some of their spines worn down from reading," as well as "three guitars in the corner" and "a lime-green couch" (306). Most interestingly, there are "Post-its all over the place with random quotes on them," some in Alexander's writing, and others in the writing of Alexander's many friends. Levithan's vivid description of Alexander's bedroom serves to reveal the type of person Alexander is; he is a creative, social, literary person who A immediately likes and respects.

The Tree House

in the final chapter of the novel, Levithan describes the enchanted atmosphere of Alexander's treehouse, which ends up being the site of A and Rhiannon's last date together. As A and Rhiannon gaze up at the treehouse, A reflects that "the only light is coming from the kitchen, drifting out to us like the afterglow from another world" (315). Up in the treehouse, A remarks on its charm, describing it as "as much a rehearsal space as a tree house, with another guitar in the corner, as well as notebooks full of lyrics and music" (315). It is the perfect place for A and Rhiannon's last date, and the two "sit cross-legged on the floor and eat, facing each other in the candlelight" (315).