Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh

Bibliographic Information:

• Title: Every Body Looking
• Author: Candice Iloh
• ISBN: 0525556206
• Publisher: Dulton Childrens Books
• Copyright Date: September 22, 2020

Genre: Poetry, Contemporary Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age

Format: Book

Awards/Honors: National Book Award Finalist 2020, Michael L. Printz Award  Honor Book 2021, YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults nominee 2021

Reading Level/Interest Level: Ages 14+ (Common Sense Media, 2020)

Plot Summary: Every Body Looking is a coming of age novel in verse about Ada, the daughter of a Nigerian-American immigrant father and a drug-addicted mother. Ada’s father is deeply religious and overbearing. When Ada graduates high school and goes to college, it is the first time she is on her own and able to do her own thing and find herself. Ada does not like her business classes and does not really seem to fit in with the other freshman at her school. She stumbles upon a dance studio and begins taking classes and finds that this is her true passion. Ada discovers her sexuality and although she has a boyfriend, realizes that she has strong feelings toward Kendra, one of the dancers. Throughout the book, Ada has flashbacks to different points in her childhood. She recalls sexual assault by a cousin, a betrayal of her privacy by her aunt who finds and reads her diary, and pressure to succeed and be perfect from her father. Through dance, Ada learns how to let go of her past and her family expectations and become the girl she wants to be.

Author Background: Candice Iloh is a Nigerian-American author, dancer, teaching artist, and youth educator based in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from Howard University and has an MFA in writing from Lesley University. Her work has earned fellowships from Lambda Literary and VONA among many others. Her debut novel, Every Body Looking (2020), was a finalist for the National Book Award and earned a Michael L. Printz honor award (Goodreads, 2020).

Critical Evaluation: Every Body Looking is an autobiographical fiction novel written in verse. It is written beautifully and is engaging and interesting. The book jumps around between the present and earlier periods of Ada’s life but it is easy to follow. Parts of the book are heavy and deal with serious subjects such as sexual assault and drug addiction. But the book is uplifting and “freeing” as Ada finds herself and discovers who she wants to be.

Creative Use for a Library Program: For a library program, I would have a poetry writing workshop and find a local poet or poetry teacher to come to the library and work with the teens. After the teens write their poems, they could have a poetry slam. Members of the library staff could be the judges, and the teens could also vote for their favorite poems.

Speed-Round Book Talk: Do you love novels in verse or poetry? If so, this book is a must read! Every Body Looking is a beautifully written book about Ada and her first experience away from home when she goes to college. Ada finds herself through dance and discovers how to let go of the past and her family drama so she can be herself.

Potential Challenge Issues and Defense: There could be potential challenges with this book since Ada, the protagonist, has feelings towards another woman. Although that is not the main focus of the book, some parents or readers might object to this. A defense to this would be that many students discover their sexuality when they go away to college. It is important for this to be represented in youth literature since teens like to read books about people like themselves.

Reason for Inclusion: I included Every Body Looking because I loved the way it is written and found the story to be sad and uplifting at the same time. The story of the immigrant father and Ada breaking free of his pressure and oppression is one that some teens will relate to. I am not usually a fan of poetry but have found myself drawn to books in verse, such as this one, The Black Flamingo, The Poet X, and Punching the Air. Teens who like poetry and books in verse will love this one.

References:

Goodreads. (2020). Candice Iloh. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15305469.Candice_Iloh

National Book Foundation. (2020, December 1). Candice Iloh, 2020 YPL National Book Award Finalist, reads from EVERY BODY LOOKING. ]Video] YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmE9Xl-UsaA&ab_channel=NationalBookFoundation