Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Alexander Nabaum
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*Published October 8, 2019*
This was a very sweet book, and I liked that it focused on the minutiae of the everyday lives of the teens in the book. And it all stems from how the teens walk to or from school.

From National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds comes a novel told in ten blocks, showing all they different directions a walk 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.
Your life, your coworkers life, you kids’ life, your kids’ friends’ life, so many lives that you touch on a daily basis. Well, I hope you’re not touching right now, what with the social distancing and making sure everyone is safe, but you know what I mean. The way we live our lives, touches the lives of many other people in ways we can’t even imagine. The kids you seeing roughhousing in the hallway after school are the best friends you ever did meet. The kids who take your pocket change, just the change you have wandering around in your pocket, to buy ice cream for one’s sick mother. One of the coolest guys in school is scared of dogs, and plans his escape route should one start to chase him.
You never know what is going on in the lives of others, no matter the circumstances. And you interactions with that person may be the brightest thing in their lives that day. Or, it could be the worst thing to happen to them but they don’t want to let on that what you’re doing is affecting them so.
Think about your day, and think about your daily interactions, and think about the lives those interactions are taking a part of. And as with this book, think about how your interactions may be affecting others. I know that’s a hard sell right now, but try to think and reflect on how you can make not only your day better, but the days of others better.
I know that this sounds SUPER preachy right now, but sometimes we need the preach. And sometimes we need to listen to someone who is not ourselves or our family members. Take a look at Look Both Ways and make sure that you’re able to start looking both ways as well.