The Realm of Possibility

by David Levithan

This collection of linked poems from David Levithan, the author of the New York Times bestseller Every Day and the groundbreaking classic Boy Meets Boy and the co-author of Will Grayson, Will Grayson (with John Green), will introduce you to a world of unforgettable and emotionally resonant voices.
 
Here’s what I know about the realm of possibility—
it is always expanding, it is never what you think 
it is. Everything around us was once deemed 
impossible. From the airplane overhead to 
the phones in our pockets to the choir girl 
putting her arm around the metalhead. 
As hard as it is for us to see sometimes, we all exist 
within the realm of possibility. Most of the limits 
are of our own world’s devising. And yet, 
every day we each do so many things 
that were once impossible to us.

Enter The Realm of Possibility and meet a boy whose girlfriend is in love with Holden Caulfield; a girl who loves the boy who wears all black; a boy with the perfect body; and a girl who writes love songs for a girl she can’t have.

These are just a few of the captivating characters readers will get to know in this intensely heartfelt new novel about those ever-changing moments of love and heartbreak that go hand-in-hand with high school. David Levithan plumbs the depths of teenage emotion to create an amazing array of voices that readers won’t forget. So, enter their lives and prepare to welcome the realm of possibility open to us all. Love, joy, and these stories will linger.
 
 
A MARGARET A. EDWARDS AWARD WINNER
AN ALA TOP TEN BEST BOOK FOR YOUNG ADULTS
A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOK FOR THE TEEN AGE
 
“Luminous . . . each voice sings with hope, humor and possibility.” —Time Out New York Kids

• ISBN10: 0375836578
• ISBN13: 9780375836572
• Publish Date: 9 May 2006 (first published 10 August 2004)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Ember
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 224
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780375836572

Reviews

[Angie]

I think that The Realm of Possibility had an interesting concept. It's a collection of "short stories" all written in free verse. Unfortunately, I don't think it worked out too well. The stories are all way too short, so as soon as I was settling in to that character's tale, it would end. The book's format was also odd and doesn't make sense. There are five parts, each labeled numerically followed by a list of four characters. Then the poems start, and after the first person's poem I'd forget who was next since the names are at the beginning of the section rather than before their actual narrative. This made it hard to keep all of the connections straight. It also doesn't help that most of them have the same voice.

One of the stand out characters was Diana. Her section is actually a collection of songs that she has written for a girl she's in love with, but doesn't know it. I could have easily recognized her parts if this had been an alternating POV type of book rather than a compilation of 20. Gail's part also stood out to me. She's the girl who lives and breathes the gospel and befriends the tormented boy in black, Anton. I would have love more from both of them. In general the stories aren't that memorable though.

The Realm of Possibility was an interest mix of poems. It just needed more pages to actually explore each of the characters' stories and cement their connectedness. A different organization technique would have also helped make remembering who everyone is easier. While I didn't care too much for this one, I'll definitely still read more from this author. I adored Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and I don't think The Realm of Possibility shows what he's actually capable of.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.