Can't Look Away by Donna Cooner | eBook

Children's Literature - Caitlyn Payne

‘Hello beauty stars!’ I give my signature wave and smile into the camera. ‘So I wanted to tell you…’ my voice trails off. The tears spill silently down my cheeks. It’s all too much. I don’t know where to start.” This is the voice of Torrey, who has not been able to successfully post on her online fashion and beauty video blog since her sister was killed by a drunk driver. Shaken and deeply grieving that her last words to her sister were spoken in anger, confused by a move to a new home and school, and struggling to communicate with her family, Torrey has a difficult time getting through each day. But then a boy named Luis, who teaches her his cultural tradition of el Dia del Muerto, the Day of the Dead, befriends her. As she learns about the holiday which honors those who are gone, and gets to know Luis, Torrey begins to find peace—with herself and the death of her sister. Slowly, she begins to find friendship and respect from people in her present, day-to-day world, not in the online world of her blog. The book examines powerful issues like death, grieving, friendship, and the difficulty of starting over. However, instead of empathizing and cheering for Torrey as she works through her struggles, the reader mostly sees Torrey worrying what online readers and her school’s popular kids think of her and how her grief affects her famous blog posts that get “thousands” of hits. Torrey treats the friends she does make poorly and does not show empathy or a willingness to support their interests, making the reader less inclined to sympathize with Torrey’s troubles. When Torrey does finally start to move on and become stronger and less self-absorbed, the changes feel rushed and more like a “ta da!” moment to bring the story to a close than a natural progression of character development and growth. Rather than knowing Torrey has started to mature and resolve her issues, the reader is left with a feeling of relief that Torrey has finally started to learn about being genuine and a friend. Torrey’s fictional online followers may eagerly await her blogs, but the book reader will be relieved to leave Torrey behind. Reviewer: Caitlyn Payne; Ages 12 up.

School Library Journal

07/01/2014
Gr 9 Up—Torrey Grey (Beautystarz15) is a YouTube teen sensation. Her videos on fashion and shopping "hauls" have earned her articles in Teen Vogue and a league of online worshippers. Younger sister Miranda could not care less about beauty or fashion; her main interests lie with comics and superheros. While accompanying Torrey and a friend on a video shoot, Miranda is killed by a drunk driver while standing in the middle of a crosswalk. Sympathy for Torrey is quickly changed to blame when a video of an argument between Torrey and Miranda, recorded shortly before the accident, is posted. Moving from Denver to a small Texas town is culture shock for the main character; the fear of being discovered by the fashion-conscious popular crowd complicates friendship issues, as does being friendly with the ex-boyfriend of the most popular girl in school. Newspaper articles about the accident and aftermath and tips from Torrey on fashion introduce chapters. Thoughtful messages about regret and the price of fame are poignant without being heavy-handed. Day of the Dead customs are significant aspects of the story, which makes for a unique multicultural twist. The portrayal of the impact of a child's death on a family is authentic. The protagonist's pain and remorse are raw and deeply defined. She may not be immediately likable by some readers, but her journey through grief and her "new normal" will draw empathy. Although Torrey's story is atypical, common themes of fitting in, boy-girl relationships, and sisterhood are universal.—Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

Publishers Weekly

08/04/2014
In a story about loss, sensationalism, and the double-edged sword of fame, pretty, popular Torrey has "cultivated a loyal following" by posting beauty tips and "haul videos" (showing off recent purchases) online as Beautystarz15. After a drunk driver kills her younger sister, Torrey's views surge into the millions, even though she hasn't uploaded a video since the tragedy. Moving with her parents from Colorado to Texas, Torrey tries to retain her social status but is plagued by nightmares and insensitive online comments, especially after a video leaks, showing her fighting with her sister the day of the accident. When Torrey meets handsome Luis, the outcast son of a funeral home owner, they form a close and candid bond that will never fly with the popular girls at her new school. She also must decide how to handle her return to being Beautystarz15 and grapple with her grief both personally and publically. While Cooner (Skinny) builds Torrey's emotional life skillfully and tackles complex moral questions, the ideas she introduces are not explored in enough depth to make Torrey's transformation entirely believable. Ages 12–up. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary. (Aug.)

From the Publisher

Praise for Can't Look Away:

"Sad, wise, and true... unforgettable." -- Melissa de la Cruz, New York Times bestselling author of Blue Bloods and Witches of East End

"From start to finish, I couldn't look away from Donna Cooner's honest, at times heartbreaking, yet hopeful story about the bonds of sisterhood and the challenges of starting over." -- Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club and Better Off Friends

"Cooner explores the dark side of popularity... insightful and absorbing." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Poignant [and] authentic." -- School Library Journal

Praise for Skinny:

"Resounding... with wit, compassion, and courage, Skinny will speak to everyone who has ever felt invisible or unlovable." -- Kathi Appelt, New York Times bestselling author and winner of the Newbery Honor

"The best -- and truest -- depiction of the joys and pangs of transformation I've ever read. Deeply moving, totally addictive, utterly fabulous." -- New York Times bestselling author Lauren Myracle

"Compelling." -- Kirkus Reviews

"At a time when many teens are struggling with personal obesity, overweight, and the definition of beauty, public and school libraries should not hesitate to include this... in their collection." -- VOYA

Kirkus Reviews

2014-06-10
Cooner explores the dark side of popularity.Sixteen-year-old Torrey has become slightly famous with her fashion video blog, winning a large following on YouTube. However, she’s haunted by guilt over the death of her little sister, Miranda, killed by a drunken driver as the girl walked away from Torrey after a fight. With the family’s abrupt move from Colorado to Texas, Torrey faces the challenge of becoming popular in a new school. She quickly identifies the queen bee of the school, Blair, and thanks to her fashion sense, scores a seat at the popular table. However, she also finds herself attracted to Luis, whom she quickly learns Blair deems unacceptable. Torrey tries to conceal her growing relationship with Luis and continues to deal with her own guilt over her sister. Worse, Torrey begins to appreciate her dorky cousin, Raylene, a girl who appears to be oblivious to the social rankings in their high school. Finally Torrey faces a serious question: Just how important is popularity if it means hurting people she likes? Cooner demonstrates solid knowledge of the high school social system, both characters and their motivations ringing true. The story allows readers to reach their own conclusions about the moral choices Torrey confronts without shoving the right decision down their throats.Insightful and absorbing. (Fiction. 12-18)

Can't Look Away

eBook

Customer Reviews

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Recently Viewed

Can't Look Away

eBook

Customer Reviews

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Recently Viewed

Related Subjects