Love at first sight! A wonderful selection of animal-centric poems and gorgeous illustrations. I probably would have worn the covers off this book if I had it as a child.
Stacey
October is a great month for feeling like you're on the verge of giving up. The edge is there. You can see it. The days are getting shorter and it's a long, long barrel to look down to the solstice, and, frankly, one of these days you're gonna lose it and scream your little head off in public. Ada Limón's The Carrying holds your hand right up to the edge and names all the trees along the way, and whether you scream or you don't, The Carrying will be there. full of dread and hope.
Piera
Like Aime Cesaire and Wanda Coleman, Eisen-Martin's poems spark and burst with images that dig deeply into the soil of power and culture, politics and survival, anger and justice. Eisen-Martin's poems feel both fresh and ancient, both powerful and approachable. A perfect addition to the storied City Lights Pocket Poets series.
Josh
Smith's How The Word Is Passed is flying off the shelves, so why not complement it with his debut poetry collection? Counting Descent feels like canon to me and I'm thrilled to see it reprinted. Come find me after you've processed Clint's instructions for cardboard boxes, I'm still recovering.
Caleb
This long awaited novel in verse illustrating the struggles of balancing two cultural identities felt like I was looking into a mirror in which I could see myself, my mother, my grandmother, my aunts, and every Indian woman in my life who had to assimilate into American culture. It is beautifully written and is semi-autobiographical. If you like Rajani's work, check out her other middle grade novels and picture books. She is incredible!
Janaea
This collection is full of beautiful words and phrases that I often turn to on days I crave to feel seen. These poems have become such a great tool for me in the dark days of social distancing so I highly recommend this selection if you too are craving the seemingly long lost feeling of human solidarity.
Hannah
This new translation of Beowulf is everything the version you (perhaps begrudgingly) read in high school was not. The language is fresh and florid, brimming with alliteration and bravado and modern slang. Headley translates the characters of this age-old poem into people we can recognize, instead of the granite giants of legend. It is, in a word, readable, and delightfully so. Her introduction is also its own work of art; it would be worth the purchase for that alone.
Meaghan
I started following Kate Baer on instagram this spring and eagerly awaited this book. It didn't disappoint! This is poetry for a generation of women who have been told to be anything but themselves. Kate Baer sets you free. Embrace it and share it.
Heather
This collection blew my already high expectations out of the water. Halsey is an extremely talented singer songwriter who is gifted in her ability to express herself in the most breathtaking ways. This collection is booming with raw and deep emotion, strung together in the loveliest, most immersing fashion. I couldn't put it down.
Hannah
Phenomenal. I didn't think this pair of creators could outdo their previous book Lost Words, but they have. The illustrations are so beautiful; it feels like you could fall into the scenes. The poetry is fun, and haunting, and lyrical. Definitely the type of poetry that rumbles around in your head, so much so that you'll find yourself thinking of it time and time again. Unlike its predecessor, in a very travel-handy format!
Stacey
