Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category
Becoming Billie Holiday
Wordsong, 2008
Poetry
ISBN: 159078507X
117 pages
Synopsis
A series of fictionalized poems, chronicling the life of Billie Holiday from birth until 25, this text provides an interesting insight into the life and rhythm of one of the greatest jazz performers throughout history. The poems themselves are more like stories broken into poetic line than writing that follow the typical constraints of poetry. Each of the poems is titled after one of Holiday’s songs, bringing a depth into the story of the song, possibly where it came from. Also, the text is, in places, accompanied by beautiful artwork that enhances the experience. …
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The Surrender Tree
Henry Holt and Co, 2008
Poetry
ISBN: 0805086749
176 pages
Newbery Honor Book
Synopsis
Taking place over the several wars that Cuba had with Spain in order to gain independence, the story centers on Rosa, a young slave girl who is eventually freed by her master when he revolts against Spain and becomes the most renowned healer throughout Cuba. …
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Cool Salsa
Fawcett, 1995
Poetry
ISBN: 044970436X
160 pages
Synopsis
Cool Salsa is a collection of bi-lingual poems written by Latin Americans in order to express their lives here in America, their thoughts about their old countries and cultures, and what they’ve left behind, and how they can fit into the culture they’ve found themselves in while keeping their heritage in tact. Many of the poems are interlaced with both English and Spanish, and most of them are translated into both languages side by side. …
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I Am The Darker Brother – Reviewing Classics
Simon Pulse, (reprint edition) 1997
Genre
ISBN: 0689808690
192 pages
Synopsis
A collection of African American poetry from the 20th century originally compiled in the late 60s, I Am The Darker Brother is one of the few anthologies of African American poetry amassed specifically for younger readers. From cover to cover, each poet leaves a legacy about life in America as ‘the other’. This edition adds more current writers that carved out a career post 1968, like Maya Angelou, Rita Dove, and Ishmael Reed. …
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Face
Hanging Loose Press, 2009
Poetry
ISBN: 1931236704
160 pages
Synopsis
Sherman Alexie puts together a collection of poems he’s written throughout his life thus far to give a glimpse into his life, travels, past and many of the elements about the current state of the world that he’s constantly wrestling with. Much like the rest of his work, it’s peppered with comedic approaches to difficult things. …
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The Space Between Our Footsteps
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, 1998
Poetry
ISBN:0689812337
144 pages
Synopsis
In the attempt to dispel the myth that everything about Muslim culture and the Middle East is violent, dangerous, and cultureless, Nye has compiled a collection of Middle Eastern and Islamic poetry and art largely created throughout the 20th century. In her forward, she notes that because of the news, Americans have a very disparaging view of the Middle East and Muslims. …
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