"Look Both Ways" a Y/A Novel Well Worth Reading by both Teens and Adults

"Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks" by Jason Reynolds was a finalist for the Nat'l Book Award ('19).  Reynolds' clever & disarming writing combines 10 short stories interconnected by the students who live within 10 blocks of each other and attend the same school.  Each winning story intersect and connect by a school bus falling from the sky unobserved and a crossing guard ensured with the safe passage home of her awarded charges.  This magical work finds the humor, vulnerabilities, wisdom and fervor amongst adolescent friendships that surmount all else.  The friendship between 2 misfits, Simeon the gentle giant and Kenzi, one of the tiniest students comprises "a kingdom full of princes...no one ever bet on anyway.  Their earnest & unflappable excuses charm their way out of trouble. Simeon tells Kenzi "We family."  The other smallest student in school is Bit,  big on cunning and leader of 4 friends dubbed the "low cuts."  "The way they were-a braid of brilliance and bravado-concerned everyone."  The most timid & diffident girl at school is Fatima.  Fatima developed a tool for maneuvering a safe sojourn home.  She makes a checklist of things noted on her journey home. "28.  Look both ways. 29. One-way sign.  Right at the beginning.  Always there.  I still look both ways."  There's a fast & steady friendship between Jasmine and TJ.  They leave each other "friendship flags" in each others' lockers; empty snack bags; the litter of love, basically notes that said I've missed you.  In Cheeto dust."  Even though Jasmine is a girl and TJ a boy, they're best friends anyways because he'd always get her to laugh whether she wanted to or not.  "He was always there to chip some of the hard off."  Bullies seem to thrive on humiliating others until someone with temerity stands up to them.  Ty is often prey to his classmates' cruelties. That ended when Bryson, one of the coolest kids at school interjects in the lunchroom.  Bryson sat himself next to Ty and "pointed at all the jokesters.  Like my father always says 'Those that scar you are you.'"  But, Bryson could tell they had no idea what he meant.  "A gem dropped in the mud."  "Look Both Ways" is a trove of stories that sparkle with sagacious hindsight and keen insight into the mindsets of today's youngsters.  Look for this dazzling collection of tales.  It was a to begin with a school bus falling from the sky.  But this improbable event went overlooked.  Don't miss out on this delightful detour.  It's enjoyable through both the eyes of young people and those who recall being young, once.