A review by omurphy
When It All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 

When It All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw is an insightful and realistic look at how mental health challenges and discrimination affect teens, depicted through the beautiful but cutthroat world of dance. 

Aisha is a Black ballet dancer who has been continuously passed over for lead roles due to the racism in her school. She transfers to her longtime best friend Neil’s art school, where she begins to receive the recognition she deserves, both in ballet and in modern dance, but prejudice is everywhere. Her mental health continues to deteriorate, while at the same time she is struggling to help Neil with his own.

The bond between Aisha and Neil is my favorite part of this book. While I am a few years older than these characters, their mutual struggle to help one another even as the other denies having a problem is something I relate to and am sure many other teens and young adults will relate to. The love and frustration that accompanies this situation is depicted perfectly. My heart ached for them!

I don’t know a thing about dance, but that aspect was another part I loved. Aisha’s experience with ballet and modern dance become metaphors for her shifting mental health and identity, as well as another manifestation of her friendship with Neil. I thought the imagery of dance was lovely in the book and allowed for the externalization of some very internal conflicts, too.

A specific aspect of Aisha’s mental health that is so important to me is that she sometimes dissociates. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book, much less a young adult book, that depicts dissociation. I think this representation could really help teen readers who may be experiencing it but not know the word for it, like Aisha at the beginning of the book. 

Finally, I enjoyed Aisha’s romance with Ollie a lot. The pair was so comforting to read about. I also appreciated that it was just one part of the book, and the characters’ friendships were given just as much if not more importance. I also loved the representation of characters questioning their sexuality!

Overall this is an emotional but hopeful book about healing from trauma that shows the importance of asking for help—from friends, partners, trusted teachers, parents, and professionals—and supporting others in their own journey. 

Thank you to Maya Ameyaw and Annick Press for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!