Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Moving, interwoven stories of Black middle schoolers.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
LOOK BOTH WAYS is a set of short stories that add up to a portrait of the lives of a group of Black middle school children. Each chapter tells the story of an individual or ensemble on a particular block. And what a cast: a girl skateboarding whiz who's lost her older sister (who was also a skateboarding whiz); a group of kids who wear buzz cuts in solidarity with their parents in cancer treatment; and a boy whose friends help him grapple with the new stink of puberty. The story moves by peeling back the layers of these fascinating characters as they go about the mundane events of their lives.
Is It Any Good?
This poignant book captures the roller-coaster of emotions that go along with middle school life: humor, sadness, and fear all mixed up. Look Both Ways author Jason Reynolds is a gifted poet and novelist, a National Book Award finalist whose other awards include the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent, the John Newbery Medal, and the NAACP Image Award, to name just a few. Though this book is a work of prose, it works like poetry; every word and sentence is so densely packed that the meaning comes to life from images without a lot of action or plot.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the bullying in Look Both Ways. Does it seem realistic to you? How can someone who's been bullied almost start bullying others himself?
The kids in Look Both Ways are all coping with events in the world that are beyond their control: sick parents, changes in their bodies, a dog that might bite. What character strengths do kids use to handle their troubles?
In every chapter, the author weaves in the image of a school bus falling from the sky. Which one was your favorite?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Alexander Nabaum
- Genre : Literary Fiction
- Topics : Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster
- Publication date : October 6, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 14
- Number of pages : 208
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Awards : ALA Best and Notable Books , Coretta Scott King Medal and Honors
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate