Take a photo of a barcode or cover
saraleebooknerd 's review for:
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks
by Jason Reynolds
What's the story?
LOOK BOTH WAYS is a set of short stories that add up to a portrait of the lives of a group of Black middle school children. Each chapter tells the story of an individual or ensemble on a particular block. And what a cast: a girl skateboarding whiz who's lost her older sister (who was also a skateboarding whiz); a group of kids who wear buzz cuts in solidarity with their parents in cancer treatment; and a boy whose friends help him grapple with the new stink of puberty. The story moves by peeling back the layers of these fascinating characters as they go about the mundane events of their lives.
These are short stories that focus on different kids' experiences around a neighborhood. Each child has a story. There are pain and humor. It's real-life scenarios. Parents can hope for only Beezus and Ramona-type childhoods for their kids but that isn't reality. I like that this helps kids understand what friendships may ask from them - comfort, attention, and deep caring.
The stories in this collection really give you a perspective of how youth have universal experiences. The individual stories are connected in many different ways while using metaphors for the life of youth. Whether you are suburban, rural, or urban you will find something in this book that resonates with you!
One problem
So I was eager to read Look Both Ways. It was confusing and lacked any plot or storyline. The connection of the falling school bus was forced... at least that's how I felt
LOOK BOTH WAYS is a set of short stories that add up to a portrait of the lives of a group of Black middle school children. Each chapter tells the story of an individual or ensemble on a particular block. And what a cast: a girl skateboarding whiz who's lost her older sister (who was also a skateboarding whiz); a group of kids who wear buzz cuts in solidarity with their parents in cancer treatment; and a boy whose friends help him grapple with the new stink of puberty. The story moves by peeling back the layers of these fascinating characters as they go about the mundane events of their lives.
These are short stories that focus on different kids' experiences around a neighborhood. Each child has a story. There are pain and humor. It's real-life scenarios. Parents can hope for only Beezus and Ramona-type childhoods for their kids but that isn't reality. I like that this helps kids understand what friendships may ask from them - comfort, attention, and deep caring.
The stories in this collection really give you a perspective of how youth have universal experiences. The individual stories are connected in many different ways while using metaphors for the life of youth. Whether you are suburban, rural, or urban you will find something in this book that resonates with you!
One problem
So I was eager to read Look Both Ways. It was confusing and lacked any plot or storyline. The connection of the falling school bus was forced... at least that's how I felt