Poetry

The Poet X

by Elizabeth Acevedo

★★★★

I’m so glad I snagged this as an audiobook via @libby.app! While I could have read the ebook version like I did for With the Fire on High or for Clap When You Land, I feel like the print version would have lost the beauty Acevedo created through spoken-word style poetry. The flow of the story was beautiful and powerful. I have learned a little bit more about the experiences faced by Dominican American families with each of her books, and I find myself wanting to learn even more. Xiomara is strong, passionate, and compelling. Her conflicting portrayal of mamí is heartbreaking, as it speaks to the struggles of immigrant families and parenthood. I have heard many similar stories from family friends about their parents' high expectations placed on them; they had given up everything for their children to have the opportunity to get an education, so they fully expected that their children would succeed. It might have been harsh, and arguably toxic, but their households are full of love; Xiomara’s household is the same. As the story was enhanced by hearing Acevedo tell it orally in the way she intended for it to be heard, I will definitely be getting all future texts from her in audiobook format when possible.

A Warning About Swans

by R. M. Romero

★★★★★

I snagged this beauty via @netgalley since I enjoyed The Ghosts of Rose Hill. Like TGORH, A Warning About Swans was a quick read written in prose; this story is suitable for middle school students and adults alike, so I would love to put a copy in my class library. I found our protagonist, Hilde, fits well within what we expect of our fairy tale women (as well as a non-human woman can). She is curious, passionate, and just wants to find her own place in the world without others telling her who she must be; she represents the struggles of identity and purpose felt by many women just for existing. On the other hand, we have our antagonist, Richter; he’s our classic fairy tale’s wolf in sheep’s clothing (although I’d argue he is worse- at least wolves do not hide their intent to eat you alive). While I will not spoil what happens between Hilde and Richter, it is ultimately her relationship with a third character (Franz) that shows her who she wants to be. This story is full of magic, charged emotions, and experiences that everyone can connect with in one way or another. I highly recommend checking this one out when it releases in July 2023.

Clap When You Land

by Elizabeth Acevedo

★★★★

If you are looking for a book that is both beautiful and heartbreaking, Clap When You Land is the book for you. The story follows Yaharia and Camino in their respective homelands, and we see how they process their grief and work toward healing after the death of their father. Their story is written in prose, so the 400 or so pages just fly by. This would probably be a great audiobook, but the Kindle book was still aesthetically pleasing. Acevedo doesn’t shy away from the difficulties associated with poverty, split households, half-siblings, and grief. Acevedo shows the beauty of both New York and the Dominican Republic, and yet, she does not shy from some of the harsh realities of either place. This story shows just how much hardship and strength Acevedo has witnessed. 

Milk and Honey

by Rupi Kaur

★★★

This one kept being recommended in each of the book clubs I have joined- so of course I decided to check it out when I found it on Libby. Honestly, I found myself very underwhelmed after all of the praise I heard about it. I’m not a huge poetry person, but I decided to give this collection a shot since it emphasizes what it means to be a woman. She covers what it is like growing up a woman, being in love, and what it is like when you must find yourself after that love comes to an end. I will acknowledge that Kaur shows the good, the bad, and the seriously ugly parts of womanhood and femininity; I just found that I was not huge on the way she chose to address these topics. I found it difficult to tell where one poem ended and another began in the Kindle edition, so that potentially altered how I felt about her poems in the end though. This collection would probably be enjoyable for poetry lovers, and it’s a solid choice for someone who is just looking for a quick read.

The Ghosts of Rose Hill

by R. M. Romero

★★★★

I snagged this beauty via @libby.app after finding this in the poetry category. I’m not huge on poetry, but I really enjoyed following along as Iliana explored Prague. Romero explores the identity struggles faced by Jewish Latinx people, especially as individuals like Iliana are still trying to heal from the multi-generational trauma. I loved the way Romero emphasized the beauty of music and of Iliana’s love for Hebrew traditions, as these were critical parts of who she is. The love shared between Iliana and other characters also added to the magic of the story, though I’ll acknowledge the ghosts helped with that one too. I would definitely recommend this story to others, and I’m hoping to snag a copy for my class library!

Blood Water Paint

by Joy McCullough

★★★★

Blood Water Paint tells the story of Artemisia Gentileschi, a historical Italian painter, through poetry and prose. I love historical fiction, but I normally don’t care for poetry; McCullough may have just changed my perspective though. Artemisia’s story is heartbreaking, and yet it speaks to the harsh truth that many women have faced. It considers the misogynistic beliefs of our past, but it offers advice and insight that are arguably still relevant today.  We also get to experience some of history’s favorite subjects in a way rarely painted before. Artemisia’s courage and passion are inspiring, and McCullough’s poetry is a compelling compliment to the story. I would recommend snagging yourself a copy if possible; I found mine on @libby.app.

The Black Flamingo

by Dean Atta

★★★★

"He is me, who I have been, who I am, who I hope to become. Someone fabulous, wild, and strong. With or without a costume on."

I've had this one on my shelf for a while, so I really wanted to incorporate it in my pride-themed reads this month. I normally hate prose/poetry, but I actually loved this. The main character, Michael, is so relatable as he focuses on trying to find himself without apology. Although I can never fully understand the experiences of discrimination and (often accidental) bigotry towards queer POC, I am all too familiar with the gender expectations that Atta sets out to challenge. I was one of the girls growing up that was always being told that the things I liked were "too boyish" or "not for little girls." Thankfully, my father didn't care even at times when my mother did. Multiple of my siblings have come out as queer over the last few years, and it breaks my heart when they face many of the struggles that Mikey does. While it can be heartbreaking at times, I love how authentic the story and his struggles are. Atta doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of homophobia. Atta realistically addresses the struggles with racism and identity faced by POC with multiple ethnicities as Michael navigated being Greek, Jamaican, and British. It is hard enough to find a good queer representation in the mainstream media, but it is even harder to find queer POC main characters. I honestly think this book could be a game changer for many teens that are working on accepting themselves in the same way Mikey does. I love that readers get to follow along as Michael grows, and his confidence by the end of the novel is inspiring. The prose was well crafted, so the book still read beautifully. Although I wish I could have read a bit more about The Black Flamingo, I do recognize that his first performance is a symbolic ending.

Under Her Skin

Edited by Lindy Ryan and Toni Miller

★★★

So I'm not normally a poetry person, but I decided to give Under Her Skin a try. This collection of horror poetry specifically focuses on body horror- the distinct process of a person losing control of their body. All poems in the collection were written by women or femmes, so this book is feminist through and through. Although I wasn't fond of half the poems, I did find some I really enjoyed. Some I liked include "Growing Pains," "Shed," "Betrayer," "I Become Numinous," "Queen," and "Dissolving Connections." If you like horror and poetry, you'll likely enjoy Under Her Skin.