We All Looked Up
We All Looked Up is a novel by Tommy Wallach published in 2015.
Premise
[edit]We All Looked Up follows four high school seniors as they grapple with the impending collision of the asteroid Ardor with Earth. Facing their final months, they struggle to redefine their lives and uncover what truly matters. This apocalyptic thriller explores intense themes, including personal growth, relationships, and survival, with mature content involving violence and sexuality.[1]
Development and release
[edit]We All Looked Up was the debut novel for Tommy Wallach.[2][3][4] The film rights to the book were optioned by Paramount shortly after its release.[5]
Reception
[edit]Stacey Comfort for Booklist said that "There are a few moments that feel contrived, but Wallach's debut is nevertheless a literary Breakfast Club for a modern generation, and it will surprise readers expecting another clunky dystopian novel with its solid, realistic writing."[2]
Barbara Hesson of the Calgary Herald called it a "thought provoking story".[1]
ReaderWren for The Guardian said that "The plot is a bit dull. It isn't the most interesting story. There isn't much to it. Not much action. A bit more drama. The Stacey slut thing (even if that happened before the book). The world ending itself. The party. The loss of normality. Misery. I feel like there could have been more plot. More action. Maybe if there was something about the riots. Not just photos. Maybe starting one. Not the tear gas riot. Something else. I'm not sure what."[6]
The reviewer for Hollins Critic said that "This is Tommy Wallach's first novel, and it is awesome. (Yes, I really am using that word correctly.) The storytelling is riveting and amazing. The dialogue is real and gritty; it came as no surprise to me that Paramount has already optioned the film rights for this book."[3]
Sam Sinclair of School Librarian said that "Tommy Wallach, who is an interesting combination of writer and musician, has created an 'end of the world story' that feels very different to the current crop of dystopian teen novels. The plot of We All Looked Up has a 'Brat Pack' movie feel, as we follow four high school seniors who all seem to be living up to their labels, until an asteroid is discovered that has the potential to end the world as we know it. (Therefore, it's no wonder the book has already been optioned by Paramount for the big screen.)"[5]
The reviewer from Publishers Weekly said that "Debut novelist Wallach increases the tension among characters throughout, ending in a shocking climax that resonates with religious symbolism. Stark scenes alternating between anarchy and police states are counterbalanced by deepening emotional ties and ethical dilemmas, creating a novel that asks far bigger questions than it answers."[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Hesson, Barbra (2015-05-02). "From asteroids to edmund; Reads for children and teenagers offer a little bit of everything". Calgary Herald. ProQuest 1677802126.
- ^ a b Comfort, Stacey (February 2015). "We All Looked Up". Booklist. Vol. 111, no. 11. pp. 49–50. EBSCOhost 100783163. Archived from the original on 2025-06-16. Retrieved 2025-06-16 – via Gale.
- ^ a b "We All Looked Up". Hollins Critic. Vol. 52, no. 3. June 2015. pp. 19+. Archived from the original on 2025-06-16. Retrieved 2025-06-16 – via Gale.
- ^ a b "We All Looked Up". Publishers Weekly. Vol. 262, no. 49. 2015-12-02. p. 100. Gale A436234298. Archived from the original on 2025-06-16. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
- ^ a b Sinclair, Sam (2015-09-22). "Wallach, Tommy: We All Looked Up". School Librarian. Vol. 63, no. 3. p. 186. Archived from the original on 2025-06-16. Retrieved 2025-06-16 – via Gale.
- ^ ReaderWren (2015-05-04). "We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach - review". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2025-06-16. Retrieved 2025-06-16.