EVERY DAY

Every day, A inhabits a different teenager’s body. A has been male, female, gay, and straight, but (s)he has never been in love until (s)he meets Rhiannon. Levithan tackles sexuality and acceptance as A balances personal desire with ethical behavior. Narrator Alex McKenna chronicles A’s attempts to reconnect with Rhiannon while coping with an ever-changing physical identity. The first thing listeners will note is McKenna’s throaty vocal quality, which is akin to laryngitis. This distracting effect is a barrier that prevents full connection to the text. That problem, along with a slow start, means that listeners will be well into the story before they can appreciate McKenna’s emotional range and subtle handling of an introspective main character. Humor well delivered may help balance a problematic vocal choice. C.A. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2012]