Look Both Ways by Logan Refsnider

Introduction

loganrefsnider — 2024-10-21 13:36:43 UTC

Look Both Ways is a young adult book that is written by the author Jason Reynolds. Look Both Ways consists of ten different tories telling about kids troubles. In each story it focuses on a different group of kids and tells about how they are struggling. Some topics it calls out are bullies, family issues, grief, and navigating complex friendships. I believe that their are many possible main points in this group of stories. One is that friendship is the easiest way to get support, help, and connect to other like minded people.

friendship

loganrefsnider — 2024-10-21 14:00:11 UTC

Theme Exploration

The theme of the book is friendship.

An example to prove this is in the story "Five Things Easer Than Simeon and Kenzi's secret handshake". The theme of this story is friendship. In the story it shows the reader how Simeon and Kenzi have such a close friendship they are like brothers. In the story Simeon says, ""Anyway, like I was saying. We family"(106) Kenzi responds to this by saying, ""Exactly. You my brother"(106)

Another example to prove this is in the story "The Low Cuts Strike Again". The main message of this story is also friendship. Proof of this is scattered throughout the story. For example in the beginning of the story it says, "if you ever see John John Watson, Francy Baskin, Trista Smith, or especially Britton "Bit" Burns-the Low Cuts-better watch your pockets". (19) This is meant to make the reader think in the beginning they are bad people. Later in the book it changes the pace and shows the low cuts are actually trying to not make their parents not half to pay for everything after they lost a lot of money from cancer treatment.

Character Analysis

loganrefsnider — 2024-10-22 15:05:20 UTC

For the topic of character analysis the character I chose is Britton Burns or Bit. In the beginning of the story it says, "he was the biggest when it came to confidence. And when it came to temper. He was known for knocking people out" (23). He is best known for being hot tempered and nocking people out. Later in the book though it shows his true colors when he uses the stolen money to make his mom happy. He does this by using their stolen money to buy ice cream. He then shows the ice cream to his mom to make her think they are just being good kids and not getting in trouble. His motivation is actually just trying to make his mom who has cancer to be happy.

Literary Devices & Structure

loganrefsnider — 2024-10-23 21:58:06 UTC

In this book Reynolds likes to use different things to help the reader to understand the message better. One way he does this is by using of short stories. By using of short stories he can explain the message he is trying to communicate in many different ways. This makes it so if the reader doesn't understand the message in one story another might be clearer to that person. He takes this to another level by connecting each of these stores but telling each from a different perspectives so someone may find a character or situation that they may connect to personally. A final way is how he uses literary device to help show that message in just one more way. For example in the story water booger bares Reynolds uses one type of literary device many times. The literary device that I am talking about is the, "friendship flags"(3). Friendship flags are, "The litter of love. And because Jasmine had been gone for a while, they were basically notes that said I've missed you"(3). This literary device helps us understand that the two of them are very good friends and they know each other very well.

Personal Reflection & Conclusion

loganrefsnider — 2024-10-23 21:59:17 UTC

This novel is relevant in today’s world because it brings more black main characters into the child novel section. This is important because not many kids books that have black main characters. Also now more than ever real friendship is important because of the screens making social gatherings less and less common kids need a real friendship that will get the kids off their phones and start to talk to each other. Friendship is the easiest way to get support, help, and connect to other like minded people. I think just from my experiences that friendship is one of the most important relationships that we can have. The main takeaways from the novel that I found are be yourself, make friends, and don't judge a book by its cover.