Look Both Ways (novel)

Last updated
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks
Look Both Ways, A Tale Told in Ten Blocks.jpg
Hardcover edition
Author Jason Reynolds
IllustratorAlexander Nabaum
LanguageEnglish
PublishedOctober 8, 2019
Publisher Atheneum Books
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (paperback, hardcover)
ISBN 9781481438285
OCLC 1091293098

Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks is a young adult novel written by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Alexander Nabaum, and published October 8, 2019 by Atheneum Books. The book is a New York Times best seller, [1] National Book Award for Young People's Literature finalist (2019), [1] [2] Coretta Scott King Award honor book (2020), [3] and Carnegie Medal recipient (2021). [4]

Contents

Reception

Look Both Ways is a New York Times best seller. [1]

The book received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, [5] School Library Journal , [6] Booklist, [7] Horn Book , [8] and Kirkus , [1] as well as a positive review from Shelf Awareness . [9]

Booklist's Ronny Khuri referred to the book as "storytelling at its finest, a true masterpiece." [7]

Kirkus Reviews noted, "The entire collection brims with humor, pathos, and the heroic struggle to grow up." [1] Publishers Weekly agreed with the sentiment, stating that "each story rings with emotional authenticity and empathy, and not a small amount of rib-tickling humor offsets the sometimes bittersweet realities of the characters’ lives." [5]

Kyla Paterno of Shelf Awareness called the book "an unconventional, clever exploration of the secret trials and tribulations of middle schoolers," noting that the "connected and intertwining tales are not neatly contained nor completed at the end, but rather left ambiguous, allowing readers to decide what happens next."

The audiobook, narrated by Heather Alicia Simms, Bahni Turpin, and January LaVoy and others, received a starred review from Booklist, who noted, [T]he readers reflect [the characters'] bravado and ethnicity. They also give them vulnerability and surprising grit as they face everyday problems." [10]

"Each of Reynolds's characters is so highly developed and memorable that they are easily noticed as background players in the others' vignettes. " Shelf Awareness

Look Both Ways was named one of the best children's books of the year by Kirkus Reviews, [1] NPR, [11] Chicago Public Library, [12] The New York Times, [13] TIME, [14] The Today Show, [15] the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature, [16] School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. [8]

Accolades

YearAccoladeResultRef.
2019 Booklist Editors' Choice for Youth AudioSelection [17]
Booklist Editors' Choice for Books for YouthSelection [18]
National Book Award for Young People's Literature Finalist [1] [2]
2020 Association for Library Service to Children's Notable Children's BooksSelection [19]
Association for Library Service to Children's Notable Children's RecordingsSelection [20] [21]
Coretta Scott King Award for AuthorHonor [3]
Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's LiteratureWinner [22]
YALSA's Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Selection [23]
2021 Carnegie Medal Winner [4]
YALSA's Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults Selection [24]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Look Both Ways". Kirkus Reviews. 2019-07-14. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  2. 1 2 "National Book Award Finalists: Young People's Literature". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  3. 1 2 Marketing, Chris (2020-02-06). "2020 Coretta Scott King Book Awards". Eisenhower Public Library. Archived from the original on 2022-01-06. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  4. 1 2 "Winners of the 2021 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals Announced". The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Children's Book Awards. 2021-06-16. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  5. 1 2 "Children's Book Review: Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by Jason Reynolds, illus. by Alexander Nabaum. Atheneum, $17.99 (208p) ISBN 978-1-4814-3828-5". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  6. ↑ Kahn, Elizabeth (2019-10-01). "Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  7. 1 2 Khuri, Ronny (August 2019). "Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks". Booklist. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  8. 1 2 "Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by Jason Reynolds". Junior Library Guild. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  9. ↑ Paterno, Kyla (2019-10-25). "Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  10. ↑ Smith, Candace (2019-11-15). "Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks". Booklist. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  11. ↑ "Best Books 2021: Books We Love". NPR. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  12. ↑ "Best Fiction for Older Readers of 2019". Chicago Public Library. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  13. ↑ "The 25 Best Children's Books of 2019". The New York Times. 2019-12-02. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  14. ↑ "The 10 Best YA and Children's Books of 2019". Time. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  15. ↑ Tolin, Lisa (2019-11-25). "26 of the best kids' books of 2019". TODAY.com. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  16. ↑ "Best Books 2019". Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  17. ↑ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Youth Audio, 2019". Booklist. 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  18. ↑ "Booklist Editors' Choice: Books for Youth, 2019". Booklist. 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  19. ↑ "Notable Children's Books: 2020". Booklist. 2020-03-15. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  20. ↑ "Notable Children's Recordings: 2020". Booklist. 2020-03-15. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  21. ↑ Schulte-Cooper, Laura (2020-02-10). "ALSC announces 2020 Notable Children's Recordings". American Library Association. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  22. ↑ "Past Winners". The Judy Lopez Memorial Award. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
  23. ↑ "2020 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2020-01-07. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  24. ↑ "2021 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). 2021-01-04. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
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