Look Both Ways
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3.5 • 11 Ratings
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
Thoughtful, funny, and steeped in the wild drama of growing up, Alison Cherry’s new novel is the story of a girl hoping she’s found a place to belong . . . only to learn that neither talent nor love is as straightforward as she thinks.
A summer away from the city is the beginning of everything for Brooklyn Shepard. Her acting apprenticeship at the Allerdale Playhouse is a chance to prove that she can carve out a niche all her own, surrounded by people who don’t know anything about her or her family of superstar performers.
Brooklyn immediately hits it off with her roommate, Zoe, and soon their friendship turns into something more. Brooklyn wants to see herself as someone who’s open to everything and everyone, but as her feelings for Zoe intensify, so do her doubts. As she questions her sexuality, her role as an artist, and her place in her family, Brooklyn discovers that neither talent nor love are as straightforward as she thinks.
Winner of the 2016 Bisexual Book Award for YA
An ALA Rainbow List Selection
"Enthralling . . . Brooklyn’s journey is shared, at its heart, by all young people, and her story will speak to many readers." --VOYA
"This breezy story of summer love and self-discovery has surprising depth . . . packed with humor and emotion." --Booklist
"A well-written novel that pushes the envelope but remains true to its premise." --SLJ
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Cherry (For Real) will delight theater fans with this novel about a girl who seems to lack her family's knack for performance. Brooklyn Shepard, 17, lives in the shadow of her mother, a famous Broadway star, but she plans to hone her own talents at a prestigious summer-stock program. Yet even there, Brooklyn is surrounded by skilled peers who idolize her mother, and she can't shake her insecurities about whether she deserves to be in the program, wondering whether her mother pulled strings to get her in. Soon, Brooklyn discovers that her place in the theater world might be as a musician, and she begins developing feelings for Zoe, her summer roommate (who has a boyfriend). Cherry's writing is smooth, and her characters are bright and full of humor. She explores Brooklyn's struggles with self-esteem and uncertainty about her sexuality with a sensitivity and openness that gives the story notable depth and should expand its audience beyond those who dream of the stage. Ages 12 up.
