I don't read a lot of poetry, but when I'm in the right mood, I love this style of poetry: short, accessible poems, aiming to be healing and empowerinI don't read a lot of poetry, but when I'm in the right mood, I love this style of poetry: short, accessible poems, aiming to be healing and empowering. I especially loved the section about mental health, and those poems resonated the most with me. That's also because, as a white reader, I'm not the target audience for this collection, and this topic is the one I could relate to the most. I definitely did appreciate the other poems as well, and I think if you're a Black woman reading them, they will be really empowering.
This collection reminded me of Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renée Watson, which I would say is sort of a YA version of this. Both hold so much love for Black women, and they're aimed at self love and self acceptance in a world that doesn't always love you.
Read as part of the Read Around the World book club (Malawi)...more
The title was enough for me to want to read this, because it's such a beautiful line, and the titular poem is equally amazing, as is the rest of this The title was enough for me to want to read this, because it's such a beautiful line, and the titular poem is equally amazing, as is the rest of this poetry collection. I've loved Renée Watson's novels before but I think this was my first time reading poetry from her. Some of it was autobiographical, and all of it spoke of so much love for Black girls and women. It was a true celebration, without shying away from difficult subjects, but while always centering joy and (self) love.
Many thanks to Libro.fm for the audiobook listening copy...more
Many thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy!
This is one of those books that should be taught in schools. It's an amazing introductory resouMany thanks to Harper360YA for the digital review copy!
This is one of those books that should be taught in schools. It's an amazing introductory resource into both historical and contemporary Black poetry. I'm not the hugest poetry reader, but this was a really interesting experience for me. I especially loved the context added to the poems, which made the poems more accessible and invited the reader to read the poems more attentively and critically. In this way it made some more complex poetry more accessible for young adult readers, not by "dumbing down" the reading material, but my creating a bridge of knowledge and understanding between the poem and the reader. I think teaching (part of) this collection in literature lessons would make for a really valuable learning experience and can lead to really important conversations....more
I wish I remembered who recommended this to me so I could thank them, because this is truly gorgeous. It took me a little while to get into it, but I I wish I remembered who recommended this to me so I could thank them, because this is truly gorgeous. It took me a little while to get into it, but I loved how narrative the poems were, and how infused with love they are, especially towards the end....more
Middlegrade verse novels have my entire heart, and Andrea Beatriz Arango is becoming on of my favourite authors for them. This is such a touching, nuaMiddlegrade verse novels have my entire heart, and Andrea Beatriz Arango is becoming on of my favourite authors for them. This is such a touching, nuanced story, told with a lot of care, with a main character who goes through a lot. And of course a dog will always make everything better! I read this cuddling with my own puppy....more
This is such a lovely little collection. Some poems silly, some touching, some funny, and some all of the above. I only knew The Orange, which is the This is such a lovely little collection. Some poems silly, some touching, some funny, and some all of the above. I only knew The Orange, which is the reason I picked up this collection, but I loved almost everything else as well....more
I've been wanting to read this since it came out, but I'm glad to have finally done so. I don't read poetry too often, and usually it's the type of boI've been wanting to read this since it came out, but I'm glad to have finally done so. I don't read poetry too often, and usually it's the type of book I finish in one sitting, but this time I took my time and read this over a couple of days.
I could say a lot about this, but the author does a much better job than I ever could, so I can only recommend giving this a read....more
Having loved the first collection in this poetry series, and the second one not as much, I'm glad to say I enjoyed this a lot! It might have somethingHaving loved the first collection in this poetry series, and the second one not as much, I'm glad to say I enjoyed this a lot! It might have something to do with Persephone being one of my favourite goddesses, but I loved this interpretation of her. As in the previous installments, I really loved the combination of poetry and visual art: illustrations, photography, collages. This was all so cool to see, and I think it will look even better in a physical copy....more
In one single afternoon, Sadie's girlfriend breaks up with her, and then they witness police brutality, when police violently arrest a Black college sIn one single afternoon, Sadie's girlfriend breaks up with her, and then they witness police brutality, when police violently arrest a Black college student after she saves a white woman's dog from drowning and the woman accuses her of stealing her dog.
Sadie, who already has anxiety and agoraphobia, starts to spiral more and more, and is barely able to go outside anymore. Still, she wants to contribute to activism, so she starts hosting lives from her bedroom where she talks about the case, her anxiety, and finding joy as an anxious Black girl in such an anxiety-inducing world.
As someone who also deals with anxiety and agoraphobia, this was one of the most relatable ways I've ever seen it portrayed. Even as a white person I don't understand how people are able to function in current society without debilitating anxiety (and I don't even live in the US), and I won't ever be able to imagine how the intersection of being Black adds to that.
This is a stunningly beautiful verse novel that will stay with me for a long long time. I adored Sadie, and I also particularly loved how fleshed out and flawed all the important characters were. They were all imperfect and so incredibly real.
I really want to get a physical copy soon so I can tab it and treasure it forever, and I can only urge you to pick it up....more
This was my third book I've read by this author. All of them have been very different, but equally beautiful, and this was no different. It's a historThis was my third book I've read by this author. All of them have been very different, but equally beautiful, and this was no different. It's a historical fantasy full of fairytale vibes, which is exactly my favourite kind of fantasy. The verse is so gorgeously written, which really adds to the fairytale vibe, and you can't help but love the main character. I loved seeing non-binary representation in this book as well, especially in a historical/fairytale context....more
This book is beautifully written. I love verse novels in general, but this one especially has a beautiful writing style.
I did enjoy the book as a wholThis book is beautifully written. I love verse novels in general, but this one especially has a beautiful writing style.
I did enjoy the book as a whole, but in the end, the writing style is my favourite aspect. The rest of the book felt a little underdeveloped, and I wasn't getting as much out of it as I would have hoped. I didn't feel like I got to know the characters very well, which made this story feel less emotional than it could have felt....more
I think I liked this one even more than the previous installment. I don't think there's enough historical middlegrade being published, especially withI think I liked this one even more than the previous installment. I don't think there's enough historical middlegrade being published, especially with topics that are still so relevant today. While this is a very quick read due to it being written in verse and it having a low page count, there's still so much packed into this story. I think that would make the story very accessible to younger readers, but I'd highly recommend this to people of any age....more
This was my second Robin Gow book, and I think I can safely add them to my list of favourite authors. I'm a huge fan of verse novels in general, but tThis was my second Robin Gow book, and I think I can safely add them to my list of favourite authors. I'm a huge fan of verse novels in general, but this is an especially gorgeous one.
This book is one of those examples to illustrate how we really do still need coming out novels, but it's also so much more. It's about coming of age and wanting freedom, but also wanting people to keep you close and struggling with changes. All of the main character's emotions are so palpable, so much so that I cried at the coming out moment.
It's a sapphic story with a bisexual main character and a questioning lesbian trans love interest. One of my favourite storylines is how, when she starts a summer job at a nursing home, the main character meets an elderly lesbian resident, and they become fast friends. Another favourite storyline of mine is how the main character and her brother find each other again in both being queer, and decide to come out to their parents together. It was so amazing to see them grow closer again, and support each other....more
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