Peter, a star basketball player is worried he may be wasting his life. Quiet Eliza, ostracised by her fellow students, starts her evenings at her father’s hospital bed then hits a club where she tries to be someone else. Smart, rich girl Anita feels the pressure of her parents' high expectations. Then there’s Andy, a punk skater who would rather skip school, and whose only plan for the future is to enjoy it as much as possible.
When news of the imminent disaster spreads, they start living life at warp speed. What else do you do if you only have two months left to live? What would you do?
We All Looked Up is about hopes, dreams and fears, and looking for meaning in life. It neatly weaves together the stories of the four main protagonists, along with a cast of supporting characters. It’s a gritty story, with shocks and surprises, and an ending that leaves you thinking.
This is the first novel for author Tommy Wallach who is also a singer-songwriter. He has released a companion album of original songs, also called We All Looked Up, and you can listen to one of the songs streaming on his website, or buy the album elsewhere. It’s a great soundtrack for listening to while reading the book, or any other time (I have to admit I had ‘A Natural Disaster’ playing on repeat for a while).
Story and music recommended.
Title: We All Looked Up
Author: Tommy Wallach
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, $14.99 RRP
Publication Date: April 2015
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781471124556
For ages: 16+
Type: Young Adult
