Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Staff Review by Susan Carson:
This book should be a must read for Language Arts or Creative Writing teachers, and would make a great gift for the poetry lovers on your list.
Having read about Matthew Shepard, a gay 21 year old college student who was beaten and left to die in 1998, I took this thin book home after looking only at the cover and title. I opened it up and discovered a series of poems, written by the author that speak beautifully and well about the tragedy of this young man’s death. This book goes to the heart of solemn feelings and thoughts, saying so much in so few words. I don’t think you will find a better book to teach your students about poetry, while opening up a discussion on bullying. As a bonus, the author offers a notes section that explains what influenced each poem, as well as an explanation of poetic forms such as a villanelle, a pantoum, and the acrostic.
I wish my teachers and my children’s teachers would have had a book like this when we were students, because who knows what we may have created as a result.
If you’re interested in this book, there is a library in your neighborhood where you can find it. Your public library is a source of immediate gratification. Take a walk to your local branch and discover a vital resource that is there for the taking. Whether it’s current events, a visit to our downtown cafe called fables, something for the kids, or even booking a librarian, we’re not just books anymore! Your free Buffalo & Erie County Public Library card is your ticket to millions of free resources – e-books, downloadable music, research databases, genealogical materials, our complete catalog, and of course, more than 3 million book titles. All of this is at your fingertips at any Library in Erie County or from your own computer – check us out at www.buffalolib.org.