Look Both Ways
Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds is a novel composed of ten interconnected stories, about different students at Latimer Middle School and set in one of the blocks surrounding the school. The stories show the struggles, strengths, and secrets of students who only know each other in passing.
The first story is about the long friendship between Jasmine Jordan and Terence (TJ) Jumper. Jasmine has sickle cell anemia and TJ is a foster child. They chat about boogers and discuss what it means to be humans as they walk home.
The second story is about a group known as the Low Cuts who terrorize the halls of the middle school. They are children of cancer patients and their goal is to get ice cream for a sick mother who just completed her first round of chemotherapy.
Story three follows Pia Foster, a skateboarder, and Stevie Muson, a private school student. Stevie struggles with Marcus, a relentless bully. Pia and Stevie's unlikely friendship begins when the characters collide during a confrontation between Pia and Marcus.
Four shows us Fatima Moss who records her every movement from school to home.
Chapter five focuses on Bryson Wills as he recovers from an attack by four boys after he defends his friend Ty Carson.
Part six tells about the deep friendship between Simeon Cross and Kenzi Thompson.
Seven is about Satchmo Jenkins who was traumatized by a dog bite when he was a young child.
Cynthia "Say So" Sowers is the focus of chapter 8. She has a grandfather who suffers from dementia and deals with it by using jokes and comedy.
Story nine is about Gregory Pitts and his friends as they try to help him impress Sandra White.
In the final chapter, we meet Canton Post working on his homework and watching his mom work as the school's crossing guard.
Look Both Ways tells about the experiences of each character struggling to understand their changing lives and the changing world around them. Each story stands alone and shows the main character growing a sense of self and transitioning to adulthood.
Jason Reynolds, who found inspiration in rap, started writing poetry at the age of nine. Learn more about him here.
*Quick Picks for the Reluctant Young Adult Readers
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