Can't Look Away

by Donna Cooner

Overview

Donna Cooner establishes herself as our own Jodi Picoult in this timely tale of sisters, loss, and redemption.

Torrey Grey is famous. At least, on the internet. Thousands of people watch her popular videos on fashion and beauty. But when Torrey's sister is killed in an accident -- maybe because of Torrey and her videos -- Torrey's perfect world implodes. Now, strangers online are bashing Torrey. And at her new school, she doesn't know who to trust. Is queen bee Blair only being sweet because of Torrey's internet infamy? What about Raylene, who is decidedly unpopular, but seems accepts Torrey for who she is? And then there's Luis, with his brooding dark eyes, whose family runs the local funeral home. Torrey finds herself drawn to Luis, and his fascinating stories about El Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. As the Day of the Dead draws near, Torrey will have to really look at her own feelings about death, and life, and everything in between. Can she learn to mourn her sister out of the public eye?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545634014
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	08/26/2014
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
Lexile:	670L (what's this?)
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Donna Cooner is the acclaimed author of Skinny, Can't Look Away, Worthy, Screenshot, and Fake. A Texas native and graduate of Texas A&M University, Donna currently lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, with her husband, a cat named Stu, and two chocolate Labradors, Roxanne and Murphy. Follow @donnacooner on Twitter or visit her online at donnacooner.com.

Read an Excerpt

From CAN'T LOOK AWAYSometimes I say I hate the way my fingers look. There's really nothing wrong with them, but you have to hate something about how you look, right? When other girls say, "Oh, I hate my hair. It's so curly," or another one say, "My thighs are huge," then I say, "I just hate my fingers. They are so stubby." I figure why not make the hated body part something that really doesn't count? Lately though, I've been kind of thinking my fingers really are ugly. I stop the recording, watching my fingers carefully. I'll delete that clip. I push record again. "Hello, Beauty Stars!" Do the wave again. Don't focus on your fingers. "I'm so sorry I haven't posted for so long. So many of you have tweeted to ask where I've been lately and I wanted to update you . . ." I stop recording, then watch the clip. The face reflected in the monitor is like a ghost over the images on screen. My eyes look so tired. And sad. The tears well up and spill silently down my cheeks. This isn't what my fans sign on to watch. They want me to tell them whether to buy a Mac222 crease brush or a Mac220 blending brush for their Bobbi Brown eye shadow. My vlogs are always supposed to be confident, inspirational, and delightfully personal. Viewers know all about me. They want to be me. It's a big responsibility.

Editorial Reviews

07/01/2014
Gr 9 Up—Torrey Grey (Beautystarz15) is a YouTube teen sensation. Her videos on fashion and shopping "hauls" have earned her articles in Teen Vogue and a league of online worshippers. Younger sister Miranda could not care less about beauty or fashion; her main interests lie with comics and superheros. While accompanying Torrey and a friend on a video shoot, Miranda is killed by a drunk driver while standing in the middle of a crosswalk. Sympathy for Torrey is quickly changed to blame when a video of an argument between Torrey and Miranda, recorded shortly before the accident, is posted. Moving from Denver to a small Texas town is culture shock for the main character; the fear of being discovered by the fashion-conscious popular crowd complicates friendship issues, as does being friendly with the ex-boyfriend of the most popular girl in school. Newspaper articles about the accident and aftermath and tips from Torrey on fashion introduce chapters. Thoughtful messages about regret and the price of fame are poignant without being heavy-handed. Day of the Dead customs are significant aspects of the story, which makes for a unique multicultural twist. The portrayal of the impact of a child's death on a family is authentic. The protagonist's pain and remorse are raw and deeply defined. She may not be immediately likable by some readers, but her journey through grief and her "new normal" will draw empathy. Although Torrey's story is atypical, common themes of fitting in, boy-girl relationships, and sisterhood are universal.—Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

School Library Journal

08/04/2014
In a story about loss, sensationalism, and the double-edged sword of fame, pretty, popular Torrey has "cultivated a loyal following" by posting beauty tips and "haul videos" (showing off recent purchases) online as Beautystarz15. After a drunk driver kills her younger sister, Torrey's views surge into the millions, even though she hasn't uploaded a video since the tragedy. Moving with her parents from Colorado to Texas, Torrey tries to retain her social status but is plagued by nightmares and insensitive online comments, especially after a video leaks, showing her fighting with her sister the day of the accident. When Torrey meets handsome Luis, the outcast son of a funeral home owner, they form a close and candid bond that will never fly with the popular girls at her new school. She also must decide how to handle her return to being Beautystarz15 and grapple with her grief both personally and publically. While Cooner (Skinny) builds Torrey's emotional life skillfully and tackles complex moral questions, the ideas she introduces are not explored in enough depth to make Torrey's transformation entirely believable. Ages 12–up. Agent: Sarah Davies, Greenhouse Literary. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Can't Look Away"Sad, wise, and true ... unforgettable." — Melissa de la Cruz, New York Times bestselling author of Blue Bloods and Witches of East End"From start to finish, I couldn't look away from Donna Cooner's honest, at times heartbreaking, yet hopeful story about the bonds of sisterhood and the challenges of starting over." — Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club and Better Off Friends"Cooner explores the dark side of popularity ... insightful and absorbing." — Kirkus Reviews"Poignant [and] authentic." — School Library JournalPraise for Skinny"Resounding . . . with wit, compassion, and courage, Skinny will speak to everyone who has ever felt invisible or unlovable." — Kathi Appelt, New York Times bestselling author and winner of the Newbery Honor"The best — and truest — depiction of the joys and pangs of transformation I've ever read. Deeply moving, totally addictive, utterly fabulous." — New York Times bestselling author Lauren Myracle"At a time when many teens are struggling with personal obesity, overweight, and the definition of beauty, public and school libraries should not hesitate to include this . . . in their collection." — VOYA

From the Publisher

2014-06-10
Cooner explores the dark side of popularity.Sixteen-year-old Torrey has become slightly famous with her fashion video blog, winning a large following on YouTube. However, she’s haunted by guilt over the death of her little sister, Miranda, killed by a drunken driver as the girl walked away from Torrey after a fight. With the family’s abrupt move from Colorado to Texas, Torrey faces the challenge of becoming popular in a new school. She quickly identifies the queen bee of the school, Blair, and thanks to her fashion sense, scores a seat at the popular table. However, she also finds herself attracted to Luis, whom she quickly learns Blair deems unacceptable. Torrey tries to conceal her growing relationship with Luis and continues to deal with her own guilt over her sister. Worse, Torrey begins to appreciate her dorky cousin, Raylene, a girl who appears to be oblivious to the social rankings in their high school. Finally Torrey faces a serious question: Just how important is popularity if it means hurting people she likes? Cooner demonstrates solid knowledge of the high school social system, both characters and their motivations ringing true. The story allows readers to reach their own conclusions about the moral choices Torrey confronts without shoving the right decision down their throats.Insightful and absorbing. (Fiction. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews