Young Adult Book Reading Challenges discussion

A meets Rhiannon at the beginning of the book and it instantly drawn to her. What do you think of the relationship between Rhiannon and A?

If you were in the same situation as Rhiannon, how would you react?

Although I usually dislike insta-love, I think their relationship seems realistic and I think she would be happier with A rather than Justin.


If I were in her situation I would definitely have a hard time believing A. I would think he was crazy.

I want to say that their relationship is entirely unrealistic, but I also know people in real life who truly and honestly believe that the zombie apocalypse is going to occur any day now, so...

As far as what I would think in Rhiannon's situation, I agree with Jannatul. What A says seems like the imagination of a crazy person. Even when "proving" to Rhiannon that A can do what A says A can do, I feel like there's still other possible explanations. A group of people could certainly pull off an elaborate prank on someone in Rhiannon's position.

I think the whole books makes you thing about what's most important to you in a relationship - is it the external appearance of the person or who they are deep down.

Many people have had an experience with, or know of a situation where, someone does something that is totally out of character. We say "he's not acting like himself" or she's "not herself today" - usually because the other person has done something or has behaved in a way that is inconsistent with the way they behaved previously even though we know it's the same person; they look just the same as the always have.

Levithan has turned this around. A is very consistent in what he believes and how he treats Rhiannon and his "hosts". Yet, each time Rhiannon him, he looks completely different. Although the surface changes, even the gender, the person inside is still the same and after a while she's able to recognize him no matter what he looks like externally.

Grace wrote: "Many people have had an experience with, or know of a situation where, someone does something that is totally out of character. We say "he's not acting like himself" or she's "not herself today" - usually because the other person has done something or has behaved in a way that is inconsistent with the way they behaved previously even though we know it's the same person; they look just the same as the always have..."

I like that you mentioned that the book sort of flips this around. I hadn't really considered that before. It was clear that Levithan was trying to say that looks aren't important, even though Rhiannon had a hard time getting past this at first. She was less attracted to A when A was in the body of a girl, for example. In the end (view spoiler)[Rhiannon can't really get over the body switching thing and A moves on. It is as if one cannot really sustain a relationship of this kind despite the fact that A remains the same inside (at least at a young age) (hide spoiler)].

I don't think Levithan was trying to say that looks aren't important. (As witness A in the body of the fat boy.) I think the point was more that gender and sexuality can be far more fluid than we normally believe.

willaful wrote: "I don't think Levithan was trying to say that looks aren't important. (As witness A in the body of the fat boy.) I think the point was more that gender and sexuality can be far more fluid than we n..."

Sorry, I meant gender and sexuality, but I said "looks" instead. Thank you for the clarification.

I did think that she took A's explanation of him jumping from bodies a little easy. If someone told me that I just don't know. I would suspect listening devices or something for them to know so much about me.

I do think it's romantic that Rhiannon can tell who he is no matter what body. I also think it's realistic that she likes him more in some bodies then others. We are all attracted to a different look on someone. I like to think that for me looks aren't important. I try not to view people this way. I also love that this story points out that why should we love someone solely based on gender and sexuality.