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chrissie_whitley 's review for:
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks
by Jason Reynolds
I started Look Both Ways last fall (though that seems as if it was well over a year ago) when my youngest son chose this book from his summer reading list before the start of eighth grade. I started to try and read it before it was due back at our library — and I was admittedly a little put off by the first story. I'd like to say that was just me, but my son was also bothered by it. And not just because it pervasively talks about boogers, but because that part made it seem more like an elementary school atmosphere, rather than middle school. That's just because he and I bring our own experiences to the table, as does everyone, and we found that part of the first story to feel a little less than genuine.
Regardless, it ended up back at the library unfinished by me. (I didn't want to keep it from being able to be checked out by any other middle schooler looking to read it for their own summer reading assignment.) But I always intended on returning to it, and my son insisted that if I pushed past the first story, as he had done, the rest of the stories more than made up for all the booger talk that led to our side eye.
He was right. The rest of the book, and even the rest of the first story — ignoring the aforementioned specious talk, was incredibly authentic and observant. The subtleties that allow each story and each narrator to be separate and individual felt especially true and real. Each story has its own situation that is addressed and wrapped with such a loving touch from Reynolds.
Audiobook, as narrated by a full cast: Each narrator was wonderful. They all performed this book — each kid's story — with their all. Every nuance in tone only added to the stories created by Reynolds and bolstered the emotional impact from all ten.
This may have been the only Acknowledgements that has made my eyes well with some tears. There's nothing unusual in this one — but read by Reynolds and performing still for the younger target audience of the whole, felt so incredibly intimate and truthfully heartfelt.
Regardless, it ended up back at the library unfinished by me. (I didn't want to keep it from being able to be checked out by any other middle schooler looking to read it for their own summer reading assignment.) But I always intended on returning to it, and my son insisted that if I pushed past the first story, as he had done, the rest of the stories more than made up for all the booger talk that led to our side eye.
He was right. The rest of the book, and even the rest of the first story — ignoring the aforementioned specious talk, was incredibly authentic and observant. The subtleties that allow each story and each narrator to be separate and individual felt especially true and real. Each story has its own situation that is addressed and wrapped with such a loving touch from Reynolds.
Audiobook, as narrated by a full cast: Each narrator was wonderful. They all performed this book — each kid's story — with their all. Every nuance in tone only added to the stories created by Reynolds and bolstered the emotional impact from all ten.
This may have been the only Acknowledgements that has made my eyes well with some tears. There's nothing unusual in this one — but read by Reynolds and performing still for the younger target audience of the whole, felt so incredibly intimate and truthfully heartfelt.