#when it all syncs up

[the-final-sentence]

I lean back against him before I turn to watch out the window as the road endlessly zooms up and disappears behind us.

Maya Ameyaw, from When It All Syncs Up

[prose-mortem]

When It All Syncs Up ARC Review

Rating: 5/5 Stars

When It All Syncs Up was so good, I was shocked to learn that it is a debut! Sixteen-year-old Aisha is experiencing racism and bullying at her ballet school in Alberta, so when she is given the opportunity to audition at a new school in Toronto and be closer to her best friend (Neil), she leaps at the chance. She is forced to reconcile with Neil's hardships while holding space for her new love interest (Ollie) and her own mental health issues. Aisha has a complicated relationship with her body and food thanks to an abusive mother and previous dance teacher who pushed her to conform to the standard, "ideal" ballerina body. When she and Neil have a difficult time connecting during their dance duos, her estranged mother starts contacting her again, and Aisha starts noticing that her mental health is spiraling, she is forced to choose between who she has been told she has to be to seem worthy to others and how to find her worthiness in who she naturally is.

This book made me cry, and it gives some valuable insights into how harsh the ballet world can be, specifically for Black people. We've heard plenty of stories about white ballerinas and the struggles they face in the industry, but this narrative adds many more layers and delineates how much harder it is for Black ballerinas just to exist in the same spaces as their white peers. The mental health journeys in the book are relevant and relatable, and the author did a fantastic job of representing them. As someone who experienced depersonalization a lot in my teen years due to abuse, I really resonated with that precinct of Aisha's story. I am not flippantly saying this because it is Black History Month (this book came to me unexpectedly)- When It All Syncs Up is truly one of my favorite books so far this year, and I think it is a staple in contemporary YA readership. Buy it for yourself, buy it for your age-appropriate teens, and take the time to really digest it. (The author has clear content warnings at the beginning of the book for those who want to make sure they can read it safely.)

I will read anything Maya Ameyaw writes in the future. These characters were so real and well-developed. When It All Syncs Up should be required reading for any dance school's students in order to cultivate awareness, acceptance, and allyship of/for Black people's experiences in the industry. High school libraries should have this on their shelves as well. Thank you to Netgalley, Maya Ameyaw, and the publishers at Annick Press for sending me an e-ARC of this gem. I will be recommending it to everyone!

[bookcoversonly]

Title: When It All Syncs Up | Author: Maya Ameyaw | Publisher: Annick Press (2023)

[hollymbryan]

Blog Tour: Top 5 Reasons to Read WHEN IT ALL SYNCS UP by Maya Ameyaw! #tbrbeyondtours

Welcome to Book-Keeping and my stop on the TBR and Beyond Tours blog + bookstagram tour for When It All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw, which is OUT TODAY! I’ve got all the details on this debut YA contemporary for you below, plus my top 5 reasons to read the book!

About the Book

title: When It All Syncs Up author: Maya Ameyaw publisher: Annick Press release date: 6 June 2023

A Black teen dancer with dreams of landing a spot in a prestigious ballet company must learn to dance on her own terms in this explosive debut about the healing power of art and friendship, perfect for fans of Heartstopper and Tiny Pretty Things.

Ballet is Aisha’s life. So when she’s denied yet another lead at her elite academy because she doesn’t “look” the part, she knows something has to change–the constant discrimination is harming her mental health. Switching to her best friend Neil’s art school seems like the perfect plan at first. But she soon discovers racism and bullying are entrenched in the ballet program here, too, and there’s a new, troubling distance between her and Neil. And as past traumas surface, pressure from friends and family, a new romance, and questions about her dance career threaten to overwhelm her. There’s no choreography to follow–for high school or for healing. Aisha will have to find the strength within herself–and place her trust in others–to make her next move.

Content Warning: Brief mention of physical and sexual abuse, on page verbal abuse, racism, colorism, depictions of an eating disorder, body dysmorphia, disassociation/depersonalization, depression and alcohol dependency

Add to Goodreads: When It All Syncs Up Purchase the Book: Amazon | B&N | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Maya Ameyaw worked as a bookseller in college and currently works as a community arts writing instructor. Her contemporary debut WHEN IT ALL SYNCS UP has been awarded grants by the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts.

A deleted excerpt of her upcoming novel is included in the anthology BRILLIANCE IS THE CLOTHING I WEAR, which was featured in Quill and Quire literary magazine.

In her free time, Maya enjoys hanging out with her adorable dwarf rabbit and devouring as many books as possible. She also loves exploring all the bookstores that Toronto has to offer.

Connect with Maya: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Top 5 Reasons to Read

I very much enjoyed this YA contemporary debut from Maya Ameyaw! Below are my top 5 reasons to read this book:

1. It’s all about dance and creativity and putting one’s whole self into one’s art. I was very serious about ballet for about 9 years, until I was injured and couldn’t continue, so I really felt this aspect.

2. I absolutely adore the friendship between Aisha and Neil! I love how it breaks the stereotype that men and women can’t be best friends without it ending up as something romantic.

3. It’s a sensitive portrayal of disordered eating, colorism, racism, microaggressions, anxiety, and dependence on alcohol.

4. It includes the most touching depiction of how a young man deals with the aftermath of sexual assault that I think I’ve ever read (typically we read about young women experiencing this).

5. I love the relationship between Aisha and her father, and the fact that he has always been the strongest and most supportive force in her life. He fights for her every step of the way, even when that means fighting against, and ultimately divorcing, his own wife.

I highly recommend When It All Syncs Up to all YA contemporary fans, especially if you love books about ballet/dance such as Tiny Pretty Things!

Make sure you check out the Bookstagram tour as well! You can find my post here, and the full schedule is here.

[royalarchivist]

This bit from Jaiden's Miku video reminds me of an old conversation (and a funny / sweet moment) she had with Roier and Mariana on QSMP.

[ Full Clip + Transcript ]Po

[mugentakeda]

[charlieconwayy]

fryleela meme ♥ [5/5 parallels]

[anewp0tat0]

this is not one of the like 5 video projects I'm supposed to be finishing, this is an animatic meme that I'm pretty sure is still going around which I didn't wanna miss like last time I missed an animatic meme(it still sits in my WIP folder. it's been 3 years) so yes that's why it exists. and also because I'm kinda shocked I haven't seen it yet. sorry if it HAS been made.

[hmshermitcraft]

One of my favorite interpretations of shared-pain soulmate dynamics is the idea that they then also share period cramps.

Ranchers in Double Life, trans!Tango, his period rolls around. Terrible timing as is, it’s hard to deal with during a death game, but he makes it work. Then one day, he finds Jimmy leaning against their fence, one hand clutching his abdomen. Tango immediately ran up to him asking what was wrong.

“My stomach hurts so bad, I don’t know why.”

Tango froze for a moment, registering what must be happening.

“Ah. That one’s my fault.”

Jimmy looked at him confused before he continued, “I’m on my period.”

Cue Jimmy’s shock and outrage that ‘you experience this every month!?!!’ and Tangos response of ‘Pretty much.’

Yeah, they have some things to talk about. And Jimmy desperately needs advice on pain management

The 'monthly death time' club has some extra members that season. Tango is probably the most sympathetic. Cleo and Pearl are trying... When they stop laughing.

[cementcornfield]

Ja'Marr checking in on Tee's Stream 🙂

[lianhuajing]

Trailer vs BTS

[shesnake]

i also think by fridging tante heleen they took a lot away from inej’s personal journey, the manipulation and abuse she experienced, the horror of being caught back in those fake silks, the triumph stealing the jewel right off her neck, all these things inej worked through herself and did for herself in the books become something solely for kaz to save her from, and sure he’s always played a part in her freedom but those steps were really important for inej to work through her trauma originally. consolidating inej’s trauma from heleen/the menagerie and his own into the one villain who was already always his to vanquish was such a bad move

[cod-fishing]

Drift compatible GhostSoap. Pacific Rim jaeger pilots GhostSoap. That’s it that’s the post.

[lalunanymph]

rin, who finds out you’re pregnant way before you do bc he has ur entire cycle calendar synced onto his phone

[hillmon]

Ross Colton cunting it up in his lululemon shorts, Peak Access (Sept. 2024)

[mintjeru]

241005 watch me woo!

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