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ARE WE THERE YET? REVIEWS
School
Library Journal
Danny
Silver, 23, is a workaholic advertising executive; his laid-back,
17-year-old brother, Elijah, absolutely drives him wild with his untied
sneakers and lack of focus. The teen, who once idolized his sibling,
now feels that he would never want to be Danny. The brothers are tricked
by their parents into vacationing together in Italy. They both dread
the experience, believing that they have little in common. Once abroad,
they tiptoe around one another, connecting when they’re in museums
together, a reminder of childhood occasions spent similarly with their
mother and father. They both doubt that there is enough between them
to rekindle a bond. And then Elijah has a chance encounter with a
college dropout with whom he falls head over heels in love. When he
introduces Julia to Danny, she sings that she’s attracted to
him, too, and that catapults Danny into a situation in which he has
to determine his priorities. The insightful and gently humorous narration
alternates between the thoughts and experiences of the two brothers.
Teens will relate deeply to Elijah and gain insight into Danny’s
attitudes as well. Levithan, author of Boy Meets Boy (2003)
and The Realm of Possibility (2004, both Knopf) gets better
and better with each book. This novel will appeal to a broader audience
than the earlier titles and is a priority choice.
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Kirkus
Reviews
…Levithan
works his magic creating two real and round narrators in a series
of poetic vignettes. The alternating point of view not only fleshes
out the brothers and their relationship, it also keeps the simple
story moving. Obviously written or at least set before the Iraq War,
this beautiful glimpse of fraternal love will be at home in any public
library’s YA section.
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Booklist
Gr.
10-12. Elijah and Danny are brothers who have grown apart. Elijah
is a mellow, kind, live-in-the-moment, pot-smoking teen who likes
to wonder about things and to wander without a plan. Danny, six years
Elijah's senior, is a young up-and-comer with a prestigious New York
law firm, who dresses meticulously and exerts a rigid control both
on his own life and on the lives of those around him. In an attempt
to draw their sons back together, the boys' parents arrange a vacation
to Italy. But the appearance of a girl who may have the power to separate
the two brothers even further means the trip may not reach its intended
goal. Levithan's latest is a stylized, pensive, almost mournful piece
that outwardly travels through three of Italy's most famed cities
but is focused almost exclusively on the interior landscapes of two
uniquely sympathetic young men. At times overly self-aware, the book's
literary complexity and minimal action make this a title for older
readers attracted to mature psychological and philosophical perspectives. - Holly Koelling
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Children’s
Literature
Elijah
and Danny are brothers who were once close but have lost the ability
to connect with each other. Danny, in his early 20s, has gotten a
job he is proud of, while Elijah, still in high school, sees life
as something to experience. They each feel the other is unwilling
to try to get to know them as they are now. Their parents interfere
with the best intentions and maneuver their sons into taking a trip
to Italy together. The cities the boys explore serve initially to
emphasize the disconnect they feel from each other. The two brothers
come to appreciate being with each other, especially when a new friend
proves to be less than Elijah had hoped. As the ten-day vacation draws
to a close, Danny and Elijah each have an epiphany that is made stronger
when they realize it is shared. Readers will identify with the brothers,
especially the one that corresponds to their own sibling rank. A lyrical,
well-written story that shows the ties siblings feel whether they
want to or not. - Vicky Ludas
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