the realm of possibility by david levithan

So if you are like me, a first-year student looking back with nostalgia on what, upon reflection, was clearly the not-so-stressful times of high school, then this is the book for you. Among the 20 people, you’ll find a gay couple celebrating their anniversary, an academic achiever trying to find pot for her mum, a Korean daughter flirting with both acceptable and unacceptable boys and a religious chorister dating a goth - just to name a few. But it’s David Levithan: a gay Jewish author who delves into the lives of diverse characters to show the true range of teenage emotion. Although it does have some angst and is a YA book. This isn’t just another heteronormative, white, teenage angst YA book. This book is so important because it’s relatable: you can understand and remember the experiences, anxieties and joys detailed in the stories of their lives.Īnd don’t worry. The book traverses the way high schoolers cope with the struggles of adolescence, examining their relationships to both themselves and others in class, in concerts, in parties, at part-time jobs and on road trips. The beauty and intrigue of the book also become clear as you progress through the chapters and realise the intertwining of the characters’ lives. It follows the lives of 20 high schoolers, with each person expressing their thoughts through free verse or song lyrics in a form of poetry unique to Levithan. This poignant book stole my heart the first time I read it and it still does every time I re-read it (which is often). Whether you sympathise with Diana’s seemingly inescapable trajectory of romantic endeavours, or her unique ability to bring about the exact problems which she worries will arise, I promise there is so much more relatable and gorgeous poetry for you to delve into in this book. Welcome to the rollercoaster ride of emotions in The Realm of Possibility.

It’s one of the stories crafted by David Levithan: a song written by teenage lesbian Diana, taking readers through the progression of her unrequited love for her fellow classmate Elizabeth.

Is this the next song to be released by an unknown indie band? No.

The realm of possibility by david levithan