🩰Sometimes I think I don't love young adults books anymore and then I read a book like When It All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw and I know that there are still young adult books out there for me.

From the publisher: 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.

🩰My thoughts: I was drawn to this book because of its focus on ballet and the arts but I enjoyed it because of the characters that Ameyaw created on the pages along with all the many details of dance classes, rehearsal, performances. Aisha, Neil, and Ollie often seem like regular teens until they don't. Each one is managing something that weighs them down in some way. I appreciated that Aisha's dance teachers recognized something was wrong, and that she and Neil agreed to speak to a counselor. Aisha's father is especially refreshing for a young adult book.

5 Stars

When It All Syncs Up beautifully showcases Aisha’s experiences as a young black woman trying her place within the discriminative traditional ballet world. Ameyaw uses Aisha’s journey to serve as a metaphor of experiences black girls face as they grow up. Through Ameyaw’s examination of being a young black woman in a predominately white profession, the story highlights how it takes a toll on Aisha’s mental health and the importance of healing.

The writing is incredibly raw and powerful, further conveying the vulnerabilities the characters face and how truly healing from trauma isn’t something you can hold deep down inside of you.

The story explores how dance isn’t just a form of art but can help people to heal and express themselves. Through her vivid writing, Ameyaw communicates how modern choreography allows Aisha to be vulnerable and let go of everything that’s been festering inside of her. When It All Syncs Up interweaves the two different dance forms — modern and ballet — to illustrate how Aisha can use dance to release her inner feelings while not being held back by the traditional rules of ballet.

Through a beautiful friendship that preserves despite the odds stacked against them and an agonizingly sweet budding romance, Ameyaw balances heavier topics with these more lighthearted moments. The story wonderfully explores the complexities of Aisha’s friendship with Neil, her best friend, as they both try to heal from their own traumas and navigate their ever-changing relationship. Aisha’s and Ollie’s developing feelings for each other are lovely to read as they come to terms with those feelings while dealing with their own struggles.

When It All Syncs Up is a poignant story about a black teen trying to find her place within a white dominated industry while emphasizing the importance of healing from trauma and captures a feeling of hopefulness for the future.

Dance with all of the tough emotions! This book really takes on a lot of teenage issues along with being at school for dance.

Aisha was struggling at her expensive dance school and while visiting her friend Neil, she auditions for his more public school. Fast forward into her year at the new school, she has some of the same issue, but also starts to connect with her emotions more including finding Ollie.

This book handles a lot of issues well through Aisha and her friends school year including, racism, teenage drinking, family divorce, anxiety, and eating disorders. These things are also big issues in the ballet world and Aish finds how hard it is to use modern dance to let out and show the emotions.

Overall a good coming of age book the emphasizes that it's ok to get help.

Thank you to Annick Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

This is a really well written Ya book exploring a lot of heavy things in a very graceful way. The main character Aisha is struggling with disassociation and an eating disorder linked to the immense amount of pressure she is under in the ballet world. I think this book could be very helpful to young adults navigating pressures at school, home etc.

This is the story of Black teen ballet dancer as she manages her career preparation with friendships, mental health and family expectations.

When she does not get into an esteemed apprenticeship program, Aisha finds herself reaching out to her childhood friend, Neil. They used to dance together and in spite of being in different provinces, they have kept up with each other and continued to share their love for dancing. But something is not right on Neil’s end either and Aisha finds her friend at the hospital. A blessing in disguise is Neil’s school is having auditions for their dance program. Could this be her chance to create a strong application for college?

I expected Neil and Aisha’s relationship to be more centre-stage in 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙸𝚝 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚌𝚜 𝚄𝚙 since they share a long history. But as it happens in life, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢. They are in the same modern dance class where the instructor is using dance therapy to get the students connected to their emotions and use dance to express themselves. It’s brand new for Aisha and seeing Neil transform in this class gives her the courage to connect with herself too.

There are many layers and nuances to Aisha and I enjoyed discovering them through the book. It is not easy to embrace a new environment and shed the negativity of past experiences. The challenges that Aisha and others in the community faced were integrated into the storyline well.

I connected with our MC Aisha, because I am a former ballerina. So this warmed my heart thinking back on the good times I had.

Unfortunately she does not have the same story as I did. The passion is there but, so is her being ostracized due to the richness of her skin, "looking the part" and more. Aisha is rejected yet another lead role at this ballet school solely for being Black and she is fed up.

She attempts to run away from her problems there and head on onto her childhood friend's secret.

Eventually starting at Huntley High, where doors begin to open up for her. Though the familiar feeling creeps up on her as more things begin to stir up that Aisha thought was left in the past.

One of my favorite scenes is the Black dance company she watches perform. This reminded me of the amazing Hiplet Ballet performance I recently was honored to see. It's so good knowing there are dance companies our there that understand not everyone fits the "norm" nor "ideal" look of formal ballet. It is fantastic to see ballet and more dance styles branch in unique ways.


***spoiler warning***
When It All Syncs Up discuses alcoholism, gaslighting, eating disorder, and bullying

When It All Syncs Up is a moving YA contemporary novel is about a young dancer, Aisha, who dreams of earning a spot with a prestigious ballet company. Aisha faces many challenges on her journey including teachers that don’t think she “looks” the part, peers that are openly racist, pressures from family, mental health challenges, and trying to help her best friend with his struggles.

This book is deeply emotional in many ways…Aisha went through so much during the book and was a character that I cared deeply about. Although Aisha’s best friend, Neil, wasn’t always the most likable character, I found myself rooting for him as well and ultimately I felt like I had a better understanding of him and what he went through. Ollie was practically irresistible and I’m so glad that I got to know him through the story. All of the characters faced challenges, individually and together, and I appreciated that they were all able to learn and grow as the story progressed. I loved the way Aisha’s father was extremely supportive even though he couldn’t always be there physically. I appreciated that this book touched on various mental health issues, especially the importance of seeking help.

This is a book that I’d recommend to fans of YA contemporary novels, especially those that are looking for a bit of romance. Content warnings include: 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.

Rating: 4.5 stars

1- Characters-8

When it All Syncs Up is filled with beautiful characters. I loved how their personalities differed from one another, and how they evened each other out. Aisha is a strong character who knows what she wants and will go after it. She is also strong in the story because she is on the road to recovery from her past, and working on becoming a better person, daughter, and friend. Ollie and Neil are wonderful side characters that support Aisha on her journey, both in and out of the dance classrooms.

2- Plot-7

When It All Syncs Up is a lovely story about standing your ground and going after your dreams. I love seeing Aisha thrive as the story progressed. She started the story in a low place after some ballet-related news, and we see her get some great news, and she bounces back from the sad news which I loved to see. This story is also a journey, and I loved seeing Aisha come out better at the end. Ollie and Neil also have their own stories and journeys which I loved following just as much as Aisha’s. When It All Syncs Up is a fun story that also has a lot of heart.

3- The Ballet elements

If you’re a former dancer or a fan of ballet, I believe you will enjoy the ballet elements of this story. Ballet plays a powerful element in terms of the plot, and Aisha’s character, and was one reason I wanted to pick up this book. As a former dancer, and someone who knew dancers, this story took me back. I loved how this story included Modern Dance as well.

4- Strong Friendship vibes

I spoke a bit about this before, but I loved the bond between Aisha, Ollie, and Neil. If you’re looking for a book with a strong friendship vibe or a found family element, try this one. This friend group supported each other, and I just loved the vibes they all had. All three friends come out stronger in the end.

5- Writing-9

The writing in When It All Syncs Up is delightful. There were some scenes when Aisha was happy, and you can tell that Maya Ameyaw had a great time writing this story. This is also a very heavy book, which I enjoyed book it started some real conversations about what happens to dancers, and how dancers can see themselves.

Thanks to NetGalley and Annick Press Ltd. for this read. I enjoyed reading this book. It went into some heavy topics that made me see this book at a new adult more than YA. This was well written and it flowed so well that it was easy 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!

Maya Ameyaw's debut is an emotional, heartfelt debut novel following Aisha Bimi on her journey as she struggles with the impacts of racism, mental health, disordered eating, emotional abuse from family, and trying to come to terms with the ever-changing relationships she has with her friends. Throughout all of this, Ameyaw handles the readers, and Aisha, with care, making it an impactful story with a lingering hope and positivity that things truly will be okay.

Ooh. This was really fun. I did ballet for 7 years as a kid but haven't touched pointe shoes since. It was great to read a story about the dance world. It mentions but doesn't dwell on some of the negative aspects such as mangled feet, body dysmorphia and eating disorders. The author does a great job of highlighting some of the stereotypes in dance that continue to block access for black, brown, PoC and other genetically diverse people to continue in the dance world.
Overall, I found the story quite emotional in good and bad ways. Kids deal with so much often on their own or while trying to protect the adults around them. This book about friendship, family, love, loss and dance is a winner!

A beautiful story and it really gave me a feeling of watching a movie or a tv show. The characters were developed correctly along with the story it was an easy follow and not a huge plot line as well.

There are so many things I loved about this book. It tackles some heavy topics such as racism, mental health, bullying, etc… which definitely makes for a hard read at times. I felt a lot for Aisha, the way the author conveyed the feelings and emotions that she made it easy to connect with her, I liked reading from her POV and it fit the story quite well.

Although I wouldn't say this book is very plot-heavy, it's definitely more character driven, I never got bored, it was a quick and engaging read. The story really examines what it's like to be a young Black woman in an industry as white as ballet, how it affects Aisha's mental health and some of her relationships. I liked how it ended, with Aisha taking a step back and really considering the options she has for her future. Mental health is such an important aspect of this book, and we see it not only through Aisha and her journey, but also through the side characters, with Neil's drinking problem being part of the complex relationships the author created, and Ollie's own anxiety and struggles. It was great to see them talk about mental health; these characters have a serious problem of not communicating a single one of their feelings (which, same), but I think it's really honest and it's great to see how this changes throughout the book.

Overall, the relationships, friendships, and even romance make this book an emotional and hopeful read. Definitely a new favorite.

Content warnings: eating disorder, dissociation, body dysmorphia, alcoholism, mental health, verbal abuse, racial discrimination, panic attacks/disorders, racism.

This book follows a black teen ballet dancer as she struggles with the harsh standards of the ballet world, is introduced to modern, and deals with the racism of the world. As a dancer, I was immediately drawn to the modern dance aspect of this book. Most books about dance talk only about ballet, but this one was different. The romance felt a bit rushed, but the book overall was really fast paced.

Check trigger warnings!

I believe this story was extremely needed. As a former dancer, I can only imagine what professional ballet dancers go through on a daily basis. The amount of pressure to please other’s critical thoughts over the way you look, especially black women. Aisha’s story is one that many people through.

Besides Aisha’s story, Ollie & Neil’s own personal struggles are respected and weaver into the story. It was a beautiful and interesting way to show that you never know what others are going through.

Aisha is a sixteen year old ballet dancer who has dreams of getting into an apprenticeship at the Western Canadian Ballet. Aisha faces racial discrimination daily at her school, which has caused her to take on a placid attitude, not showing any emotion when around her instructors or her peers. It doesn’t make things better when she finds out she was not selected for an apprenticeship. Her dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer becomes vague at the moment. Aisha decides to go visit her best friend, Neil, but discovers from his other friend, Ollie, that he is in the hospital. Neil somehow convinces Aisha to attend his school being that she has no reason to stay at her current one, being she didn’t get into her apprenticeship. Aisha then tries to adjust as a new student at Huntley School of Arts and navigates her feelings for Ollie.

There so many moments where I resonated with Aisha from her experiences of being left out as well as going through internal battles that she is afraid to share those closest to her. Maya Ameya truly did an amazing job creating Aisha’s story. I couldn’t stop turning the pages of this book. It was absolutely a treat to read.

Aisha's entire life is dance, and has been for as long as she can remember. After being passed up for an apprenticeship she knows she deserves, she returns home to find her best friend in crisis. And when he suggests she transfer to his public arts high school, where the fact that she's Black won't be used by her teachers as a reason she couldn't possibly succeed, she decides to audition on a whim.

Moving back home is strange. Neil's drinking is scaring her; she's actually getting the recognition she deserves in her dance program; her estranged mother wants to spend time with her; and Neil's other best friend Ollie is starting to become important to Aisha, too.
But she can't shake the thought that something's wrong. She feels disconnected from her body, she's eating way too much, and she can't figure out how to mend the rift between her and Neil.

When It All Syncs Up is a beautiful examination of what it's like to be Black in the ballet world, what it's like to be the new girl, and what it's like to hold tight to relationships that feel like they're crumbling.

The ending felt a little rushed for me--there were a lot of both feelings and changes that I wish were explored a bit more but this was one of my favorite books I've read in a long time. It's heavy and sad and hopeful and inspiring in equal measure. This is definitely a book I would read again, and wholeheartedly recommend.

Tw for eating disorders, racism, and sexual assault (off-page)

I unfortunately ended up DNFing this book at 21%. I could not connect with the characters on an emotional level or get into story sadly. I think this book had great potential! I loved the idea of it, but the execution missed the mark a little for me. I’m a former dancer and love YA, so that’s what initially made me interested in this book.

You may like this book if…
- you enjoy stories with minority rep
- are a former ballet dancer
- enjoy YA books with slower pacing

A slightly less important critique - the eARC was a little frustrating to read because it wasn’t separated by chapters (the start of a chapter didn’t start a new page) and the formatting was inconsistent (spacing especially).

I will not be reviewing this book on my page or on Goodreads. Other people may love this, and I don’t want my review to effect the success of this book!

This book definitely is a 5 star read for debut novel! First we follow the journey of Aisha, a black female ballet dancer, trying to navigate the best way she can as a teenager trying to find her identity amongst the arts of ballet. This has trigger warnings, of course. When it comes to ballet it is a did eat dog world out there especially for black women. Eating disorder, dissociation, body dysmorphia while dealing with racism, discrimination, and verbal abuse from her peers. Omg!

What I love is that the author handle the issues with delicate care. Not just with Aisha but with her friends Neil and Ollie. I wish we would’ve gotten into more of Neil’s issues but we are seeing it from Aisha’s POV. Overall great story!

Aisha is definitely a latch key kid for sure and how that affected her in her choices to not be a burden on her parents is how I was when I was a kid.