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National Poetry Month Diverse Reads: April 2021 |
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No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History
by Lindsay H. Metcalf, Keila V. Dawson, and Jeanette Bradley (editors); illustrated by Jeanette Bradley
Starring: Fourteen young activists who changed their communities in their own unique ways. Each activist is profiled with a short bio and a poem.
What sets it apart: A variety of poetry forms are featured, including free verse, haiku, and more.
Want a taste? "We may be small / but / we / can / ROAR!"
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Woke: A Young Poet's Call to Justice
by Mahogany L. Browne with Elizabeth Acevedo and Olivia Gatwood; illustrated by Theodore Taylor III
What it is: This poetry collection celebrates individuality and encourages today's kids to become a new generation of activists.
Look for: The vibrant, colorful illustrations that accompany each poem.
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The One Thing You'd Save
by Linda Sue Park; illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng
The setup: In this novel in verse, a teacher asks her middle school class what one thing they would save in an emergency, and this starts a lively discussion.
Author alert: Linda Sue Park received the Newbery Medal for her novel A Single Shard.
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I Remember: Poems and Pictures of Heritage
by Lee Bennett Hopkins (editor)
What's inside: Poetry and art from a diverse pool of creators, celebrating cultural heritage and sharing childhood memories.
Don't miss: Bad Kitty creator Nick Bruel writes about his mixed Chinese/Belgian heritage and shares his experiences with having to check only one ethnicity box on a form.
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They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid's Poems
by David Bowles
What it is: A spirited verse novel that follows the life of Güero, a 12-year-old Mexican-American who lives in a town near the border.
What happens: After his teacher introduces him to poetry, Güero records his seventh-grade experiences in 49 poems that explore family, friendship, culture, young love, and more.
Reviewers say: "Vibrant and unforgettable" (School Library Journal).
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For Every One
by Jason Reynolds
What it is: An inspirational book-length poem that provides reassurance and a message of solidarity for teens.
Don't miss: The OverDrive audiobook version, which is powerfully and memorably narrated by the author.
Want a taste? "Dreamer, / if you are like me, / you / jump / anyway."
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The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country
by Amanda Gorman
What's inside: The viral poem presented by Amanda Gorman at the recent presidential inauguration.
Did you know? Gorman was the first National Youth Poet Laureate.
Further reading: A longer collection of poetry by Gorman is coming out later this year. You can find this book in our catalog and place a hold by clicking here!
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Clap When You Land
by Elizabeth Acevedo
What it's about: In this evocative verse novel, a tragic event brings together two sisters who, for most of their lives, hadn't known of each other's existence.
Reviewers say: "A standing ovation" (Kirkus Reviews).
Author alert: Elizabeth Acevedo's first verse novel, The Poet X, won the 2019 Printz Award. (The Printz is a pretty big deal—it recognizes the year's "best book written for teens"!)
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Soaring Earth
by Margarita Engle
What it's about: Through poems, Engle explores her teenage and early adult years during the turbulent late 60s and early 70s.
Series alert: This is a companion volume to Enchanted Air, which recounts the author's early life as the child of a Cuban mother and American father.
About the author: Engle has received many literary honors, including the Pura Belpré Award and the Newbery Honor.
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Shout
by Laurie Halse Anderson
What it is: A powerful poetic memoir from an award-winning author. Anderson traces her childhood years, describes her start as a writer, and throughout, she calls out sexual abuse and censorship.
Did you know? Shout won the 2019 Goodreads Choice Award for Poetry.
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An American Sunrise: Poems
by Joy Harjo
What it is: A moving poetry collection that intersperses stories from Joy Harjo's personal life with tribal memories.
Did you know? In March and April 2021, Fresno City College's community-wide Big Read is focusing on this book. Learn about the program by clicking here, and borrow the eBook or eAudiobook with no wait through the end of April!
Author alert: Joy Harjo is the current U.S. Poet Laureate and the first Native American to hold this position.
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Postcolonial Love Poem
by Natalie Diaz
What's inside: In this critically-acclaimed collection, Diaz writes about a variety of themes, including our relationship with the land, romantic love, Native American identity, oppression, and even... basketball!
Book buzz: Postcolonial Love Poem was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Poetry.
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Dearly: New Poems
by Margaret Atwood
What it is: A memorable and eclectic new poetry collection from the author of The Handmaid's Tale.
Topics of note: Nature, love and loss, feminism, the inevitable passage of time, and even... zombies!
Reviewers say: "A good reminder of her mastery of the craft" (Time).
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Monument: Poems New and Selected
by Natasha Trethewey
What's inside: Poems spanning the illustrious career of the two-time U.S. Poet Laureate.
Topics of note: Family history and memory, resilience in the face of loss, racial identity, and more.
Further reading: Several of the poems in Monument honor Trethewey's mother; for a deeper exploration of this topic, try the recent Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir.
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Light for the World to See: A Thousand Words on Race and Hope
by Kwame Alexander
What it is: Newbery medalist and NPR contributor Kwame Alexander delivers a book of poetry about racial injustice in America.
Don't miss: The very unique graphic design of the book.
Reviewers say: "An apt and timely reminder of the ongoing inequities in America, as well as the power of collective hope" (Publishers Weekly).
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Fresno County Public Library
2420 Mariposa St.
Fresno, California 93721
559-600-READ (7323)www.fresnolibrary.org |
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