Blue Lipstick

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Grandits, John. Blue Lipstick. New York: Clarion Books, 2007. Print.

ISBN 9780618568604

2. Evaluation

Grandits has a very humorous and unique take on poetry with his book Blue Lipstick. He uses a type of poetry that many of us only use in the lower elementary grade levels to portray the life, ideas, and feelings of Jesse , a very spunky, opinionated teenage girl. The style of poetry Grandits uses is called concrete poetry, or shape poetry, and is poetry in which the typographical arrangement of words is as important in conveying the intended effect as the conventional elements of the poem, such as meaning of words, rhythm, rhyme and so on.

He does such a great job of making concrete poetry very intriguing and entertaining. You are immediately drawn into the poem with his use of texture, shape, and color. The book is short and reads quickly, but each poem lends itself to much discussion. The book is recommended for students aged 10 and up, but could easily be used up to high school because of Grandits’ wit and the topics covered.

3. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

"This irreverent, witty collection should resonate with a wide audience." School Library Journal

4. CONNECTIONS

This book would go well in any poetry collection. The style of poetry that Grandits uses is often reserved for younger writers, but I believe that this style offers itself well to any grade level. Concrete poetry requires a different level of creativity that I believe some students who are reluctant to pursue poetry would really enjoy. This style can also be easily used in classes other than ELAR to help reinforce vocabulary, topics, or ideas.

Other concrete poetry books:  

Technically, It's Not My Fault: Concrete Poems by John Grandits

A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems by Paul B. Janeczko  and illustrated by Chris Raschka

Your Own, Sylvia

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hemphill, Stephanie. Your Own, Sylvia. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2007. Print.

ISBN 9780375837999

 2. Evaluation

Your Own, Sylvia is a collection of poetry that recounts the life and death of the famous poet Sylvia Plath. In this collection, Hemphill creates an autobiography told through poetry in which she includes both a poem and a short excerpt that inspired her poetry. This is very fitting because Sylvia expressed her feelings and life through poetry. The verses represent a variety of emotions from the humorous to the dark, with each being told through different people’s voices. While the collection is fiction, Hemphill brings life to the characters and situations she creates.

The poetry is presented simply, without frills or pictures for the most part. In the center of the book Hemphill included several photographs of Sylvia to accompany the story being told. The book is a bit lengthy at 240 pages, but reads very easily. The novel also includes several different forms of poetry. The book also includes an Author’s Note, a section describing the source material for each poem, and suggestions for further reading.

3. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

“Rather than write in Plath's voice, Hemphill channels the voices of those who knew the poet in chronologically arranged poems, written from the perspective of family members, friends, colleagus, even Plath's doctor. Plath's own voice is evident in the poetic forms, though, with many of the poems written "in the style of" specific works. The result is an intimate, comprehensive, imaginative view of a life that also probes the relationships between poetry and creativity, mental fragility, love, marriage, and betrayal…Plath's dramatic genius and personal struggles, particularly the difficulties of reconciling the writing life with the roles of wife and mother, have long attracted teen interest, and this accomplished, creative story may ignite new interest in Plath's original works.” – American Library Association

 4. CONNECTIONS

I would suggest using this book for students in grades 8 and up because of some of the poem topics. Hemphill suggests several other selections that would accompany the novel well.

For this collection, I do not think I would share the entire book with a class. However, I would read selections to both introduce Sylvia Plath and to show that poetry may stand on its own or be part of an ongoing story. After reading a selection, I may ask students to compile a collection of poetry in different styles, from different perspectives that tell the story of their lives.

Things I Have to Tell You: Poems and writing by teenage girls

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Franco, Betsy. Things I Have to Tell you: Poems and Writing by Teenage Girls. Cambridge: Candlewick Press, 2001. Print.

ISBN 9780763610357

2. Evaluation

a perpetual struggle

between honesty and composure,

between realness and masks

a perpetual struggle

excerpt from Song For a Girl by Jessie Childress

Things I Have to Tell You is a collection of very real, very frank poems written by teenage girls. The poems are individually very striking and honest, but as a whole share the struggles, diversity, and honesty that each person feels.

The collection is put together in no particular order; much like a journal of poetry might be kept by a middle school girl. This lends to the collection’s authentic feeling, which brings more power to each of the poems. The collection consists of 31 poems. Because of this the book does not seem over whelming and becomes more approachable to young adult readers.

The poems are also accompanied by stunning black and white photography by Nina Nickles.  Her photography is very expressive and powerful without taking away from or over shadowing the poetry. She seems to shed a light on the emotions of the poetry and compliments the vehemence of the writer’s words.

3. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

“The voices in this collection have so much to question, so much to grieve. They have so much to celebrate, so much to rage against. They’re ready to speak up and begin the conversation — with you and with the world. More than thirty uncensored poems are accompanied by Nina Nickles’s masterful photographs, which sensitively capture the moods and essence of adolescence. Here, painted in the words of teenage girls, is a portrait of their dreams and desires - a record of hope, disillusionment, anger, joy, sadness, and most of all, strength.” – Goodreads.com

"With more urgency than many YA novels,...many teens will recognize their search for themselves..." --Booklist

4. CONNECTIONS

This is a great book to use in any middle or high school ELAR classroom to introduce poetry and show students that people from all different backgrounds, experiences, and ages write poetry, not just adults.

Other books that could be included in a collection that emphasizes the importance of young adult poets:

You Hear me?: Poems and Writing by Teenage Boys   Edited by Betsy Franco

Paint Me Like I Am: Teen Poems from WritersCorps  by Bill Aguado and Richard Newirth

Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers edited by Betsy Franco