When It All Syncs Up by Maya Ameyaw
Release Date: June 6, 2023
Publisher: Annick Press
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 320
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Blackwell’s | Indigo | Indiebound
Synopsis
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
Review
When It All Syncs Up does a remarkable job of speaking on really tough subjects while also using a lot of care in the writing. Aisha’s journey is not an easy one, and we see who battle so much adversity and things that are completely out of her control. It was frustrating at times because we, as readers, may think we know the answers and the proper response to everything, but in reality it can be so difficult to be battling so many things at once.
Aisha’s character was so strong and resilient throughout the whole story. She took so many hits but was still able to come out whole on the other side. Her relationship with other characters in the book, especially with Ollie, were so realistic and helped me to relate to her character even more. There were some really sweet moments and some really not so sweet ones as well, but together all of these moments made the story whole.
I cannot wait to see what else Maya Ameyaw has in store for us.
Interview
- When It All Syncs Up is your debut contemporary novel, what sparked your idea for this Aisha’s
story?
Dancing has always been a big part of my life. It’s a part of my everyday wellness routine. After
watching the dance documentary First Position, featuring ballerina Michaela DePrince, I was inspired
to add a ballet element to the initial draft of what ultimately became When It All Syncs Up. - What sort of research did you do for your debut novel? Did you learn anything about ballet that
you didn’t already know?
Because I’m not a professional dancer, I had to do a lot of research. I watched documentaries and
read biographies about Black dancers. I also had a few writing friends with dance backgrounds beta
read the story for accuracy which was a huge help to make sure I got all the details right. - Aisha’s journey through When It All Syncs Up is not an easy one and Aisha has to get up many
times after being knocked down over and over again. What was your process for writing Aisha’s
journey?
Aisha is a very persistent character who refuses to give up when things get tough. This is good in a lot
of circumstances, but ultimately, she has to learn that pushing herself too hard isn’t healthy – which
is a very difficult lesson for her. While writing her journey, I kept in mind how her single-minded
personality would help her at some points in the story and then hurt her at other points before she
finally learns how to step on the breaks and put her health first. - Which part of writing When It All Syncs Up will you remember the most? Which was your
favorite?
I really enjoyed writing the sweet moments between Aisha and Ollie awkwardly navigating their first
relationship. Their concert date was one of my favorite scenes. - What are some of your favorite books and genres to read?
I have a special place in my heart for YA contemporary. Some of my favorite books are The Truth
About Forever by Sarah Dessen, Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers and Everything Everything
by Nicola Yoon. - Would you mind telling us a little more about your pet dwarf rabbit? What’s their name?
Of course! His name is Charlie and he’s an incredibly soft, chocolate brown Rex dwarf. He loves
bananas as special treat and he likes to run around and do little spinning jumps when he’s in a really
good mood 🙂
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.
TBR and Beyond Tours Schedule: When It All Syncs Up
June 5th
Armed with A Book – Review
Pages & Plots – Promotional Post
June 6th
Stuck in Fiction – Interview
Book-Keeping – Top 5 Reasons to Read When It All Syncs Up
June 7th
Paiges of Novels – Top 5 Reasons to Read When It All Syncs Up
Charli’s Book Box – Promotional Post
June 8th
yassreads – Interview
Midsummer Night’s Read – Review
PopTheButterfly Reads– Review
June 9th
Literary Liza– Review
The Litt Librarian– Review
June 10th
The Book Dutchesses – Promotional Post
The Thought Scribbler’s Blog– Review
June 11th
Justice For Readers – Interview
Unconventional Quirky Bibliophile – Promotional Post
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