Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. American poetry    3. Authorship    4. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. Poetry    7. Poetry - General    8. Young adult poetry, American    9. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Subjects:  1. American poetry    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    3. Children's poetry    4. Children's poetry, American    5. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    6. Poetry - General   

Reviews (6)

Easy read, some very very good poems....
I think the reader-poet connection is very personal.Some of the poets in this collection really touched me, and some were just not my thing... however, I still enjoyed the book, and for that same reason it was a great way to sample different voices and learn who rocked my boat and who didn't.Now I know who left me wanting more, and I'll go chase for more of the writing of those poets... Also, it was an interesting exposure to the urban experiences of young people from diverse backgrouds, told by the voices of the participants themselves. No filtering. I liked it.

A Good Collection for Spoken Words
When I selected Listen Up!: Spoken Word Poetry, I did so simply because it contained a couple of poems by Saul Williams.I'm a fan of Williams's work and pleased to read anything by him.In these pages, I discovered a good collection of other poets inspired by the Spoken Word. Historical
There are some really good and some really bad actors, comedians, rappers and would be monologuists pretending to be poets in this time of spoken word mania. But this collection actually manages to pull together someyoung writers who should endure long literary careers of splendor.Unforttunately, I can't say ALL of those included have mastered the art ofwriting poetry for the page-- Jessican Care Moore is no exception-- butwhen Tish Benson writes "A blood spillers paradise/this place has madea mockery of spirtual revolution/souls into gravel pits/a heart's identityis no longer revealed thru eyes/or words/or deeds..." or when CarlHancock Rux writes"At some hour these walls will faint away/when theundaunting command is not forthcoming/and his will to retrieve no longersurpasses his will to resolve/Then in the eviction of diggers, the quake ofwalls and the death of requests/only the stage this plot of land is heapedupon/will remain...unearthed" or Ava Chin writes "We lie in thetombs of our beds/A Greek chorus/Forecasting rain and shadow anddoom/Listening to water through the hole in the drainpipe" I know I amgetting a glimpse into the future through the insightful eyes of literarygiants. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. American - General    3. American Contemporary Poetry    4. American poetry    5. Anthologies (multiple authors)    6. Hip-hop    7. Performance Art    8. Poetry    9. United States    10. English    11. Poetry / Anthologies (multiple authors)    12. Poetry anthologies: from c 1900 -    13. USA   

Reviews (2)

Wonderful Poems
The Invisable Ladder was first shown to me by my 6th grade teacher and is a wonderful book, with excelent poems that you really have to look into.Perfect for relaxing, reading, and enjoying! Probably the best poetryanthology I have ever read in my life.Everyone should have a chance toenjoy it!

poetry rocks!
This is my favorite colection of poems for kids, if you don't count Shel Silverstein. (Otherwise I'd give it a 10.) When I want to laugh, I read Uncle Shelby. When I want to get serious I read this book. Though, one of the best poems in it, "The Nose" ispretty funny. So are some of the photos of the poets as cute little fat babies and kids! So on second thought I give it a 9 and a half. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. American poetry    3. Biography    4. Children's 12-Up - Poetry    5. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    6. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    7. History and criticism    8. Juvenile Literature    9. Poetry - General    10. Poets, American    11. Theory, etc    12. Young adult poetry, American    13. Poetry / Anthologies (multiple authors)   

Reviews (1)

great peoms forteens
The peoms were very moving to those who understand peoms very well. for the self confidence people the poem "Phenomenal Woman" is a great poem. others like "Anno Wrek Sick" and "Don't Ever slap me again, are just some of my favorites. I would reccomend this book to girls 11 and up ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    2. Children's poetry    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Feminism    5. Juvenile poetry    6. Poetry - General    7. Women authors    8. Young adult poetry    9. English literature: poetry texts & anthologies    10. Poetry / Anthologies (multiple authors)    11. Poetry anthologies: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (2)

Was that an earthquake or a kamikaze?
A subterranean vibration that could knock down a house, or a suicidal pilot gearing up for a fatal nose-diving crash? Either way, things won't ever be quite the same again after impact. Earth-Shattering Poems, compiled by Liz Rosenberg, is an excellent poetry anthology for the young readers of today's world. These poems are suitable for upper grade school, all the way up to mid-twenties, maybe even older if a person's into poetry. Remember, you don't have to understand a poem in order to like it. Sometimes it's all about rhythm and rhyme, or rhyme scheme. You know, you've got your AAA BBBs or AA BBs or AB ABs. You could even throw in a few ABCBs. It isn't confusing, even if you're NOT into poetry, because the way the poet turns a phrase, the rhyming seems natural.
definitely earth-shattering
I love this book, and think of it as my "secular bible," by which I mean I can always find something I need when I need it. Some of myold favorite poems are in here, like "Sometimes with One I Love"by Walt Whitman, and the very first poem in the book, by Sappho. But I'vealso discovered new (to me) favorites: the Persian poet Rumi, a poet namedJ.E. Wei, Pascale Giroux, and poems I didn't know by Sharon Olds and GalwayKimmel. I loved this editor's first anthology, "The InvisibleLadder" because of the choice of poems, but especially because of thephotos of poets as children (Robert Bly was a cute kid) and the poets'commentaries. That was a book I gave to my 10 yr. old son AND to my 95 yearold friend. Earth-Shattering Poems is less of an intro to poems, andmore--just what the title says. I carry it around with me wherever I go. Ijust wiah this one had also had more graphic elements, (photos,portraits)and maybe some comments by the poets? Also I would have liked tosee the poems in the original language as well as in translation--maybe inan appendix. The only thing that makes me mad is that I don't find thisbook in the bookstores more often! But then, I never find The NortonAnthology, either, and those are my two favorites.... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    2. Children's poetry    3. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    4. Collections    5. Poetry    6. Poetry - General    7. Young adult poetry    8. Juvenile Nonfiction / Poetry / General   

Editorial Review

"Poetry is a river / And solitude a bridge. / Through writing / We cross it, / Through reading / We Return." So writes Lebanese poet Kaissar Afif in Naomi Shihab Nye's aesthetically stunning anthology of poetry and paintings from the Middle East, Read more

Reviews (4)

Naomi Shihab Nye is a philanthropist, poet, educator...
We are living in a time where being Arab, Muslim, or Southeast Asian makes one a "terror suspect." In this age of fear and ignorance, it is more important than ever for educators and readers of poetry to take a look at Nye's touching portraits of Arab and Arab American life. If these poems reveal the beauty, intelligence, and vitality of Arab and Arab Americans, then -- to the seething reader from Denver, CO-- you may find Nye guilty of being truthful: All human life is precious, and all human beings are capable of exceeding our expectations. Looking at the space between our footsteps
This is a wonderful book. It is full of the imagery and feelings that in turn, delight, amuse and sadden. Naomi Nye has compiled a collection of writers from various countries within the Middle East. Although the writers come from many countries and competing nationalities, there is a common commitment to peace.Since the poems are translated,rather than presented in the original languages, the reader does not have the benefit of the natural rhythms of the languages the poems were taken from. What the translations lack in terms of rhyme is more than made up by the poets' use of Metaphor. One poet talks about "drinking in the melancholy of morning". Another talks about being passed by trains with eyes looking back at you. The language is effective and persuasive.Many of the poems deal with loss. They deal with the loss of loved ones, the loss of time, the loss of relationships, but more importantly, they deal with the loss of basic human rights and something as basic as a homeland. The book has many fine paintings that supplement the text. They are all very well done and add to the feeling of the book. The reader of this book will not only read, but will also have an experience. All the senses except hearing will be involved. I recommend this book to anyone, particularly to Young Adults.

Beautiful and sensitive collection not just for children
This book has room in its heart for the passions and longings of writers from all of the Middle East.It offers readers, in beautiful poetry, the longings for place, for a loved past, for a more secure future, felt byLebanese, Syrians, Israelis, Turks, Palestinians, Iraqis, Saudis,Egyptians, and more. Meticulously designed and printed, it offers art fromacross the Middle East that illuminates these poems and helps us learn withour children important lessons about that part of the world. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthologies (multiple authors)    2. Children's 12-Up - Poetry    3. Children's Books/Young Adult People & Places    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Collections    6. Middle Eastern poetry    7. People & Places - Africa    8. People & Places - Middle East    9. Poetry    10. Poetry - General    11. Translations into English    12. Young adult poetry    13. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (6)

bilingual poetry
I love this little book of Spanish and English poems that so well captures the experience of growing up bilingual and / or as an immigrant in the United States.Although that is not my personal experience, I have been an ESL teacher for 25 years, and Spanish is my second language.I have watched many students from a wide variety of first languages and cultures go through experiences similar to those expressed in the poetry.I think this inexpensive book is a great addition to the study of poetry in ESL, bilingual, or literature classes, and can inspire bilingual / bicultural students toexpress their own feelings and experiences in poetry.

Spice For All
If you like mild, medium, or hot there is something for anyone in Cool Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Growing up Latino in the United States, and just like nachos, there is a whole lot for everyone.This book is a compilation of first, second, and third-generation Latino writers, and it includes a diversity of writing styles and themes.The combination of the poems captures the essences of Latin rhythms and ways of life in America. Students of all races will relate to different aspects of this book, and two examples of poems that all students should be able to identify with are "Translating Grandfather's House" and "The Aquatic Show.""Translating Grandfather's House" depicts in a semi-sarcastic tone a very common situation.A teacher is looking at a student's sketch, and she tells him that it looks like a house from a Zorro movie instead of a picture of a real house.However, the student says he is drawing the house that his mother was born in and she was born in Mexico.On the finished picture of a Spanish style house in an elaborate natural wild grass setting of his grandfather's town, he titles the picture "GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE."The teacher realizes her error, gives the picture an "A+," and then displays the picture on the "green" blackboard.The teacher-student miscommunication battle is timeless, and the irony or confusion over why green chalkboards are called "blackboards" is classic as well. The "Aquatic Show" is a very charming and funny poem.A kid is talking about singing and sort of dancing in the shower.He explains how much he enjoys this activity.Also, he assumes that the bathroom fixtures, which are his audience, really enjoy it too. He mentions songs from different Latin countries, which is a nice form of cultural exposure for non-Latin Americans. In addition to the poetry, this book has an excellent glossary and an interesting "Biographical Notes" section that gives a brief synopsis of accomplishments for each poet. Just as it is named, Cool....
....Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & Latin American    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    3. Children's poetry, American    4. Children's poetry, Hispanic Am    5. Children's poetry, Hispanic American (Spanish)    6. Hispanic American authors    7. Poetry    8. Poetry (Young Adult)    9. Poetry - General    10. Spanish: Grades 3-4    11. Translations into English    12. Translations into Spanish    13. Juvenile Nonfiction / Poetry / General   

Features

• Abridged

Reviews (12)

Greatness and mediocrity mixed together
I tend to agree with a number of reviewers who have suggested that the over-representation of poets of lesser distinction tends to deprive the anthology of its special value.
The best poetry anthology I have ever encountered
When I saw some of the bad reviews this incredible volume received, I decided to add my opinion! Comes with politically correct message.
This is more of a politically correct statement.Read more

Subjects:  1. American poetry    2. Collections    3. English poetry    4. English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh    5. Poetry    6. English    7. Poetry & poets   

Reviews (1)

A terrific, tender book
This book is a well-organized and convincing look at Grandmothers.Told through the voices of well-known authors, it is an engaging, funny, and poignant mix of fiction and personal experience.The role of Grandmother as both disciplinarian and comforter shines through brilliantly, serving to portray the women in all their complexity.There are many more essays and stories than poems, however, and readers who want more poetry may not find it to their liking.In my opinion, the poems provide strong insight and solid transition from one theme to another. As with all good writing, the themes are not explicitly stated.This allows the reader to draw their own conclusions and reflect on their own experiences.Even as discipline and disagreements are discussed, respect and love for older women is evident throughout. Although this is a fairly good book for teens fourteen and up, adults may find it speaks more fully to their experience and perspective. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Family - Multigenerational    5. Grandmothers    6. Literary collections    7. Juvenile Fiction / Family / Multigenerational   

Reviews (2)

Ted Joans and Bob Kaufmann are my favorites
This is a great overview of Beat Poetics. Check out Ted Joans, who remains the most lucid of the Beat poets and who still writing and reading strong. He has just published a new collection of poetry called Our Thang, also available on Amazon. He and Bob Kaufmann are possible the two most extraordinary writers of this extraordinary generation.

a must for the new beat fan
after reading this selection many times, i have become enthraled the lives of kerouac, cassady, and ginsburg.for a new fan of these great poets, this book is a must.it will give you a great work of information that can allow you todiscover the works of many innovative poets ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. American poetry    3. Beat generation    4. Beat poetry    5. Children's 12-Up - Poetry    6. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    7. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    8. Juvenile Nonfiction    9. Poetry    10. Poetry - General   

Editorial Review

"A month ago/ in biology lab/ you sat close to me/ knee touching mine/ your sweet smell/ almost drowning out/ the formaldehyde stink...." Sound familiar? Ralph Fletcher's poems perfectly capture the intensity of teenage love--the thrills, the heartbreak, and the healing--taking place in everyday locales like the classroom, an aunt's house, the prom, and the beach. Read more

Reviews (2)

Truely Understanding "Us"
I am a teenager and I know what its like to feel like you can't breathe when your not with someone. The teen years are some of the hardest in my opinion and this book puts everything we feel into words that we normally cannot express.Being a teen is hard but its even tougher when your a teenwho is in love. This book made it easier on me and others as well Isuspect!So, to the author, thank you for putting our thoughts into abook!

Wonderful poetry! Easy to relate to and understand.
These poems are simpily and honestly about teenagers in and out of love. There isn't volumes of hidden meaning or deep messages, the words speak for themselves and easily touch you. If you have ever had a crush or been inlove, reading Mr. Fletcher's poems will seems like reading the emotions ofyour heart. I highly recomend this book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American poetry    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    3. Children's poetry, American    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile poetry    7. Love    8. Poetry    9. Poetry - General    10. Juvenile Fiction / Love & Romance   

Reviews (6)

An amazing collection of poetry
Wow. This book is amazing...This book seems to apply to life, no matter what is going on. The poetry in this book seems to span across so many issues, and so many age groups.I just keep coming back to it.

What Have You Lost?
This is a collection of poems about losing things, for all age groups.From losing pencils, keys, toys, parents, siblings, spouses, trust and freindship.A very moving book of poetry.It contains excellent black andwhite illustrations and I recommend it for students from the 5th grade up,as well as parents and teachers.

I was moved by this collection of poetry.
I purchased this book on a whim for my 9 year old son. He found some of the ideas very sad. We enjoyed talking about the different types of losses. I definately got more out of it than he did. I have enjoyed sharing it withmy friends. The poetry comes from many kinds of experiences and is a greatall around poetry experience. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Poetry    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Collections    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Loss (Psychology)    7. Photography    8. Poetry    9. Poetry - General    10. Young adult poetry    11. English literature: poetry texts & anthologies    12. Poetry / Anthologies (multiple authors)    13. Children's Books - Young Adult   

Reviews (1)

Makes you proud to be a minority!
I loved this book, it made me proud to be an African American. It makes you realize that the things you see on TV and the news are covering up the talent and greatness of African Americans. There are poems by various poets, all of them are great! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Afro-American authors    3. Afro-Americans    4. American poetry    5. Children's 12-Up - Poetry    6. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    7. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    8. Poetry    9. Poetry - General    10. Black studies    11. Juvenile Fiction / Ethnic / African American    12. USA    13. Works by individual poets: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (2)

i am wings
I have just read I am Wings and I thought that it was a great book. It is full of love stories about getting together and going through the heartbreak of breaking up but still getting through the heartbreak. I think that it was a good book because it taught you about love and how it feels to be in love from when you were a kid to when you were full grown and all the memories that you and your loved ones had.

Excellent Book
I read this book with my Language Arts class and have an absolutely fabulous teacher. Every day in class we have a quote of the day and then do a "quick write". After we do this we read one of Ralph Fletcher's I Am Wings: Stories of Love and evaluate based on the way the words are layedout on the pages and talking about it out loud; figure out what the poemmeans. It is a very realistic book and challenges young and old alike tothink about what the author is trying to say and talks in depth about thetypical middle school dating relationship. As my class got into the book Ifound myself looking forward to the poems and the saga of Lea and hisgirlfriend. Great book for anyone.~Amanda~ ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Poetry    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    3. Children's poetry, American    4. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    5. Junior high school students    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Juvenile poetry    8. Love    9. Love poetry, American    10. Poetry (Young Adult)    11. Poetry - General    12. Social Issues - Adolescence    13. English literature: poetry texts & anthologies    14. Juvenile Fiction / Love & Romance   

Reviews (1)

Unusually good for Teens
Janeczko is the master of creating mature anthologies for teen readers. This collection does not disappoint.Poems are included for readers from all different types of places. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American poetry    2. Children's 12-Up - Poetry    3. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    4. Children's poetry, American    5. Children: Grades 4-6    6. Home    7. Juvenile poetry    8. Poetry    9. Poetry - General   

Editorial Review

For this fascinating anthology of modern poetry, the editors grouped 196 poems into pairs, to demonstrate the different ways in which male and female poets see the same topics. Surprisingly, wonderfully, the end result shows as many similarities as differences. Even readers who normally don't like poetry may be intrigued by the thoughtful, accessible gems in this diverse collection. In a pointer review, Read more

Reviews (4)

This is a lousy book!
I like poetry, but the poems in this book are all written in the same style. There is no creativity shown, and no real variation. I have yet to find a person who liked this book. "Jump city", the poem from which the title was drawn, is the second worst poem I have ever read.

Poems,...
I suppose the reason I really didn't like this book was because I am not a fan of peotry. I prefer fiction novels, mysteries, adventures, etc. I did however appreciate the whole background of why the book was put together.

I feel A Little Jumpy Around You (poetry)
I enjoyed this books unique theme of giving two sides on the same topic.There is a male and a female speaker in a poem inspired about the same thing.The most interesting part of the book was to see how two people can thing of things in such a different way.At times when I couldn't identify with one, I could identify with the other.The great thing was when I could understand both and think, hey that is a great way to look at it.I felt that this book really caused me to open my mind and not to expect things so much.I also like the great emotions that were pulled out of me while reading the book.There were topics such as death, fathers, hospitals, relaxation, childhood, beliefs, common day existance, and objects commonly thought of as irrevelent.The fact the the book is made up of poetry also gave it chances to be open and the reader to find their own meanings. I felt that I could understand this poetry and that it is current.It was published in 1996, that is probally why.The poems also flow smoothly in general and have come sort of conclusive meaning.Other poetry is harder for me to read because it is too whimsical and I guess and comtemplate the meaning too much and never figure it out.The two views on the same subject seems to set this book apart from others.I think that it is great that it gives two ways for a person to look at something.When I write, I write as a matter of factly and a this is the only way solution.I enjoyed the legnth of the poems in this book because they were catchy and descriptive, yet not overbearing.One of my favorite poems in there is titled Conversation With A Fireman From Brooklyn.It envoked so many emotions from me.A part in it says, "Already he's telling me he dosen't mind women firefighters, but what/they look like after fighting a fire, well/they loose all respect."The male speaker goes on to act as if the only thing good about a women is how they look with a stay in the kitchen attitude.As a female I was disturbed by it.There are also great looks back at childhood.In the poem Dark Song a great part says, "Don't be scared of the dark:/ all night is the biggest shadow/ little kid in the biggest shadow. The book also includes interesting titles that made we wonder and keep reading.Such titles are Black Patent Leather Shoes, The Locker Room, and The Pyramid of Khufu. The whole idea behind the book I feel A little Jumpy Around You is a great example to readers and writers everywhere.Again, I would like to stress how much I enjoyed the different speakers in the poems, the giving of more than one view on the same subject,messages that are clear to understand, but you can interpert them in your own way, creative similies and metaphors that even youth can pick up on, modern subject matter, and poems that are a nice legnth to keep me motivated.The only dissappointment was that all the poems seemed to include a few choppy lines and I feel that there should have been different rhythms and structures used. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Poetry    2. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    3. Children's poetry, American    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Juvenile poetry    6. Male authors    7. Poetry - General    8. Women    9. Women authors    10. Juvenile Fiction / Love & Romance   

Reviews (1)

Excellent book of poetry
I first found this book in my highschool library... and much as I love librarys I "lost it" and had to pay for it. Since then I have gone back to read it at least twice a year. These poems will stick in your head and when you least expect it be brought floating back up again. Some leave you laughing, some may leave you crying. It's a mix. One you won't ever forget. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. American poetry    3. Children's 12-Up - Poetry    4. Poetry    5. Poetry - General    6. Young adult poetry, American   

Reviews (1)

Interesting
As it happens, I was indeed alone as I read the poems in this book.A mixed bag, indeed.However, in the final analysis, there are a handful of astonishing pieces and not a true clinker in the bunch. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Poetry    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Collections    4. Juvenile poetry    5. Loneliness    6. Poetry    7. Poetry - General    8. Young adult poetry