Look Both Ways - by Jason Reynolds

About the Book

"A collection of ten short stories that all take place in the same day about kids walking home from school"--

Book Synopsis

A National Book Award Finalist
Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
UK Carnegie Medal winner
An NPR Favorite Book of 2019
A New York Times Best Children's Book of 2019
A Time Best Children's Book of 2019
A Today Show Best Kids' Book of 2019
A Washington Post Best Children's Book of 2019
A School Library Journal Best Middle Grade Book of 2019
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2019
A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2019
"As innovative as it is emotionally arresting." --Entertainment Weekly

From National Book Award finalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds comes a novel told in ten blocks, showing all the different directions kids' walks home can take.

This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky. But no one saw it happen. They were all too busy--

Talking about boogers.
Stealing pocket change.
Skateboarding.
Wiping out.
Braving up.
Executing complicated handshakes.
Planning an escape.
Making jokes.
Lotioning up.
Finding comfort.
But mostly, too busy walking home.

Jason Reynolds conjures ten tales (one per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings, and brilliantly weaves them into one wickedly funny, piercingly poignant look at the detours we face on the walk home, and in life.

Review Quotes

*"Each story rings with emotional authenticity and empathy."-- "Publishers Weekly, starred review"

*"Filled with the heart and humor."-- "Horn Book, starred review"

*"Superb storytelling."-- "BookPage, starred review"

*"The perfect book to hand to reluctant middle grade readers, who will relate to the hectic and uncertain lives of these characters."--School Library Journal, starred review

*Reynolds proves once again that he has a knack for marrying the emotionally gripping to the unabashedly silly in ways that read as both new and familiar....Charming."-- "BCCB, starred review"

"An unconventional, clever exploration of the secret trials and tribulations of middle schoolers."--Shelf Awareness

"Reynolds' gift for capturing the voices and humanity of urban teens is on full display....Brims with humor, pathos, and the heroic struggle to grow up."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"This is storytelling at its finest, a true masterpiece."--Booklist, starred review

"One of the most exciting, constantly surprising voices in children's literature...is back with another book that's as innovative as it is emotionally arresting." --EW.com "May 3, 2019"

About the Author

Jason Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a Newbery Award Honoree, a Printz Award Honoree, a two-time National Book Award finalist, a 2024 MacArthur Fellow, a Kirkus Award winner, a UK Carnegie Medal winner, a two-time Walter Dean Myers Award winner, an NAACP Image Award Winner, an Odyssey Award Winner and two-time honoree, and the recipient of multiple Coretta Scott King honors and the Margaret A. Edwards Award. He was also the 2020-2022 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. His many books include All American Boys (cowritten with Brendan Kiely); When I Was the Greatest; The Boy in the Black Suit; Stamped; As Brave as You; For Every One; the Track series (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu); Look Both Ways; Stuntboy, in the Meantime; Ain't Burned All the Bright (recipient of the Caldecott Honor) and My Name Is Jason. Mine Too. (both cowritten with Jason Griffin); Twenty-Four Seconds from Now...; and Long Way Down, which received a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, and a Coretta Scott King Honor. His debut picture book, There Was a Party for Langston, won a Caldecott Honor and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. He lives in Washington, DC. You can find his ramblings at JasonWritesBooks.com.