When It All Syncs Up - Paperback

by Maya Ameyaw (Author)

"A stunning read [. . .] simmering with tension and gripping to the final word." --Debbie Rigaud, New York Times bestselling author of Simone Breaks All the Rules and A Girl's Guide to Love & Magic

Now in paperback! 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. But when discrimination at her elite academy pushes her to her breaking point, she decides to pivot. At her new public arts school, Aisha scores more dance opportunities than she's ever had before. And it doesn't hurt that she gets to take classes with her bestie . . . and with Ollie, an adorably shy musician who keeps throwing off her usually impeccable balance.

Yet even as Aisha navigates friendships, family conflict, and first love, questions about her dance career open up new and old wounds. Aisha must find strength in herself and place her trust in others to make her next move.

"At times hopeful and beautiful but also heartbreakingly devastating, When It All Syncs Up is a story of love in so many forms. But maybe most important of all, it is about the love we give ourselves, and allow ourselves to be given, even at our most broken."--Jonny Garza Villa, author of the Pura Belpré Honor Book Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun

Author Biography

MAYA AMEYAW is a former bookseller and currently works as a community arts writing instructor. She has edited several mental health-themed anthologies for youth and adults, and her writing was included in the anthology Brilliance Is the Clothing I Wear(Dundurn Press). Maya also runs a YouTube series and blog where she interviews YA authors about their writing journeys. She lives in Toronto and can be found on Twitter @MayaAmeyaw.