No Crystal Stair vs. Every Day

This one ended up being more hotly contested than I had originally suspected. Maybe I was just being blind to the idea that entertainment trumped substance, or that maybe I foolishly found substance where others pointed out that there was very little. Here is the conversation between the three of us on these books. Brad has posted his own ideas on the books, and has voted for No Crystal Stair to move on. Despite the issues Tracy and I have with the book, we have voted for Every Day to move forward. We are as divided as possible on this one. I think Every Day moves on easily. Tracy feels neither should be going forward. And Brad is the exact opposite from me, feeling No Crystal Stair should go on.

Andrew: To me, the winner of this round is obvious. It comes down to which book a student would be more likely to read. David Levithan took a very interesting idea in Every Day, the concept of waking up in a different body every day, and made it an interesting read. By no means is this book perfect, in fact, there are several things that irritate me about it, but it is definitely more readable than No Crystal Stair, the more unique of the two. Unique, but dull, looking through the eyes of a student.

Tracy: So here’s the question.  Do we really have to put forward either of the books?  I finished reading Every Day Friday night, and had to resist chucking it against the wall.  Andrew, I know you enjoyed the book, but what was a painful beginning, became an okay middle, to finish up with a ridiculous ending.  Seriously, what is with that Poole character?  The ominous figure looming in the shadows of this strange body snatching  existence.  (Imagine an overly exaggerated dramatic voice while reading this last sentence)  A threat to A and the others like him.  And then what does Levithan do with him?  Nothing.  Why even bother.  I think the author watched too many episodes of Quantum Leap, read the Time Traveler’s Wife,  and then thought, “Have I got a great idea!”  And love the “subtle” shout out to his friends – if you haven’t read Feed, The Book Thief, Destroy all Cars and First Day on Earth, he’s got the plug in for you to do so.

What was probably most disappointing is that there are some very clever ideas wanting to be written about – the idea that our body controls more of our actions and responses than we like to think.  Some of the best chapters were A inhabiting the body of the junkie, who had to lock himself in the bedroom for the day; and Dana, the girl abusing alcohol after a drunk driving accident which killed her brother.  I also thought that Levithan’s exploration of sexuality had great potential – that A felt comfortable as male and female, and the chapters with Vic and Dawn and Zara and Amelia.  And then, you have the magical plot contrivance that almost every body who A inhabits magically can drive, has a car, and can get to Rhiannon with little challenge. 

The other book, No Crystal Stair, was also a no go.  The idea, again had merit. But it was BORING!  I admit to skipping sections of the book because there was little being said about Lewis Michaux.  Here is a man who obviously did something amazing for his community, and the stories from people who were actually there are lost, or compiled into a mash-up character.  His brother the preacher seemed more interesting based on the development of the story.

If I have to choose one, I will pick Every Day, because I think kids will read it.  Sigh.

Brad: Oh, Ms. Tracy.  I couldn't agree with you more!

However, I didn't find No Crystal Stair boring at all.  But you are right--kids would, for sure.  Too many voices, too many temporal shifts, too many anecdotes that might seem like they aren't adding up to something.  But I really think that they are.  Which is why I think it would have to be taught. 

I honestly think there is real potential there!

Tracy: Concur.  Lewis’s slim shady youth was crying out for detail, as was his relationship with the people who come into his store.  I wanted to know more about the man himself, but was left wanting.

Andrew: There is absolutely potential with No Crystal Stair, but I am with Tracy in admitting that I skipped sections simply because it didn’t hold my interest. So I am forced to wonder if it would hold the interest of the average junior high school reader. I think there is a niche readership for this book, but honestly I can’t think of any of my students that I would recommend it to at this point.

I’m not denying that Every Day is deeply flawed, but there are issues in there that are done well enough. Tracy mentioned the exploration of sexuality, and I think that he did this in a subtle enough way that it would not deter students who would be scared off by a book that has more in-you-face sexual questions. At the risk of picking more on the book that I want to advance, I also hate that it is one of those books where the narrator sets out a rule that they never break (A claims that he/she never tries to become too involved in the lives of the people he inhabits) and then goes about for the entire novel flagrantly disregarding his rule. That annoyed me, but it wouldn’t be much of a novel if it was followed.

The character of Poole does seem like wasted time. It was touched on, but not really enough depth. In the end, we don’t really know anything about him. I will say, however, that the ending was good for me, because it could have gone down the even more predictable path that would involved Poole. I’m glad Levithan avoided that and gave us something more fresh (I know I’m opening myself up to being assaulted on that opinion, but I have thick skin).

I feel like I am fighting an uphill battle with this book!

And seriously, what is wrong with a little Quantum Leap? Isn’t Scott Bakula one of the greatest actors of his generation?

Brad: That's not the only rule for body swapping that changes, repeatedly throughout the book.  New rules are introduced as deus ex machinas (how does one make this plural?  Latin peeps?)  throughout.

If the most (only?) interesting part of a book is the premise, and that premise is poorly dealt with throughout the novel, I would suggest that the novel is not just deeply flawed, but craptacular.

Tracy: Mmmmm.  Craptacular.  Such a precise piece of diction.  But, I still think that if we are looking at what kids will read, this is it.  Let’s face it.  Will the book survive the next round?  Likely not.  Hope not.

Brad: Wait a second.  This dialogue that I'm participating in won't be posted, will it?

I have not been paying attention to grammar.

Andrew: Ok, I have to admit that I am slowly cracking on this one. I like what you wrote in your post Brad about No Crystal Stair making you want to know more, to research the names that were brought up in the story. Would students do the same? Or would they miss a lot of the substance that the novel has to offer? We need to admit that the book that students will read is Every Day, so us Vimy folk are voting it to advance.