Coaltown Jesus by Ron Koertge

Koertge, Ron. COALTOWN JESUS. 2013. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763662288.

Poet Ron Koertge has written a beautiful, poignant verse novel. It is a newer book, published in 2013. It is on YALSA's 2014 list of books for "Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers". Young Walker and his mother are mourning the tragic and unexpected death of Walker's brother Noah.

Written in honest verse, this novel will let the reader get a bird's eye view of Walker, his mom and the patients at the care facility they own in tiny Coaltown. The reader will be able to experience Walker's anger, sadness, and grief over his brother Walker's unexpected death. Through his humorous and sometimes irreverent conversations with Jesus, Walker comes to understand who he is and how he can help his mom recover from her own grief over Noah's passing. 

Most of the verse seems to be dialogue between Walker and Jesus, but there are moments of beautiful imagery. Koertge sets a beautiful scene using third-person narrative. At least for this author, the third-person point of view worked, because the omniscient narrator paints a vivid picture of all the characters, including the little dog Shadow, whom Walker adopts. Towards the end of the novel is a beautiful verse titled "The Sky was Black and Blue". Here is an excerpt:

The Sky was Black and Blue

when Walker, Jesus, and Shadow set out. 
The night lay ahead of them. It rolled in
like an ocean tide, and they went into it.
Ankle-deep, then waist-deep. Then all 
the way. 

(Koertge, 104) 

This verse is a beautiful representation of Koertge's style. The imagery and poetic devices used in these five short lines is brilliant. Throughout the novel there are other similar verses. Since this excerpt is from a larger verse novel, it would be best to introduce this verse novel by posting some of the different titles of the entries. Some of these entries could be written on a dry erase board, smart board or in a document from a tablet or computer projected onto a screen or the wall. Additionally, the librarian, teacher, parent or other adult could print out the titles of the entries onto small strips of paper and task teenagers with creating original poems using the entry titles. 

Some of the entry titles are:

His Mother's Voice Startled Him
Walker Bolted
In the Kitchen
When the door closed, Jesus said, 
Hanging around with you
A siren pierced the air like a lance
That afternoon
After dinner
All of a Sudden

As teenage readers participate in this activity, they will be able to explore different themes and phrases from Koertge's verse novel. After creating their own poems with the entry titles from the novel, teenage readers can dive into the novel with a hint of what is in store. 

Coaltown Jesus. JPEG. Retrieved from http://candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763662283&pix=n

A Foot in the Mouth: Poems to speak, sing, and shout

Janeczko, Paul. (selected by). A FOOT IN THE MOUTH: POEMS TO SPEAK, SING, AND SHOUT.2009. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. Ill. by Chris Raschka. ISBN 9780763606633.

A foot in the mouth: Poems to speak, sing, and shout is a delightful poetry book, featuring three dozen poems selected by award-winning poet Paul Janeczko. The poems fall under the following categories: poems for one voice, tongue twisters, poems for two voices, list poems, poems for three voices, short stuff, bilingual poems, rhymed poems, limericks, and poems for a group.

The illustrations by Chris Raschka were created using watercolor, ink, and torn paper. In an introduction, Janeczko states that he chose the poems for this collection because they are "terrific candidates for reading aloud".

Though the poems are written by authors spanning a myriad of cultures and writing styles, all of the poems have their own unique voice. The quality of the poems are very high-level, drawing on the expertise of poets who have unique styles. This deceptively simple poetry collection is ideal for introducing some 'classic' poets like Walt Whitman, William Shakespeare, and Lewis Carroll to young children. It is also a great resource for teachers and librarians wanting to introduce young readers to specific format poems like the limerick or list poems. Many of the poems are silly or light-hearted and will appeal to younger beginning readers.

I really enjoyed the poems for two voices. One of these is Georgia Heard's "Fishes". Reading the poem silently, alone, does not do the words justice. This poem is one that begs to be read by two people, aloud! It is so fun.

Fishes

Atlantic blue tang
                            Zebra pipe
Royal gramma
                            French angel
Cuban hock
                           Golden butterfly

We            We
are             are
fishes        fishes

We             We
shimmer     swim
under
                  water

Our             Our
mouths        mouths
open
and
               close

Our         Our
gills        gills
sift

air
             from
             water

Our       Our
fins       fins  
steer
us        like
            wings

We       We
are        are
fishes   fishes  

We         We
shimmer  swim

This poem is ideal for two voices. A fun way to introduce this poem to a group of young readers (probably 2nd grade to 5th grade age kiddos), would be to listen to an audio recording of it read by two different people. Before listening to the recording of the poem, the teacher, parent, or librarian working with the kids could explain that this poem is specifically written for two voices.

After listening to the audio recording of the poem at least three times, the adult could separate the children into two groups. Working with each group, the librarian, teacher or parent could help one group learn the first voice part (on the left hand column) and the other group learn the second voice part (the words in the right hand column). Especially when working with young children it is important that the adult have patience and remember that reading poetry aloud is fun! It will take time and practice to get this poem performance ready, especially with two groups reading.

A foot in the mouth. JPEG. Retrieved from http://candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763606634&pix=n

Tell the World: Teen Poems from WritersCorps

WritersCorps. TELL THE WORLD: TEEN POEMS FROM WRITERSCORPS. 2008. New York: Collins/Harper Teen. ISBN 9780061345050.

This is an awesome book of poetry written by teens ages 12-18 of WritersCorps, an organization operating in New York (Bronx), Washington D.C., and San Francisco (California). The poems are grouped into the following categories:

Tell the World who we are
Tell the World where we're from
Tell the World what we love
Tell the World what we think
Tell the World how it feels
Tell the World why we hope

With a foreword by acclaimed author and poet Sherman Alexie (and a poem written by him!), this is a book of poetry every adult working with teens (and 'tweens') will want to share! At the beginning of each section of the book is a short poem-writing challenge for teens. These writing challenges could easily be incorporated into a poetry writing session or ongoing workshop in the school or public library.

The topics of the poems are so interesting, and many of the poems have such a profound emotional impact on the reader. There are some haikus and many free verse poems. It is fascinating to read page after page of emotionally raw, honest, funny, sarcastic and melancholy poems. The teen writers really put their heart into their writing, and it shows in the poems in this book of poetry.

There are so many different poems in this collection that it was difficult to choose just one to review; they are all wonderful! One of my favorites is "Voices of Wonder". It is written by a 14-year-old from San Francisco. I play cello, so this poem really has a soft spot in my heart!

Voices of Wonder

The lone Flower dreams as it listens
to the song sung by Flute,
accompanied by the echo of Trumpet
parading through the night as Cello
begins to move.

Sleep leaves the fountains and disturbs
the thirsty trees, hungering for the
touch of the collapsing bridge breaking
under the weight of the world.

The voice of Clarinet whispers a
song to the breezy morning,
walking those of the sleeping, ruffling,
the blankets and bed leaving them to wait
for you to return, allowing pillow
to recuperate from the weight being
lifted from its body.

The keys of Piano begin to leap with joy
as they exchange their love with Viola,
through their singing before the
eyes of hundreds, admiring their beautiful duet.

The voices of Cello soften
bringing darkness to a new level
as the requiem dies out completely
in voices of wonder.

(WritersCorps, p. 42-43)

A fun, interactive way to introduce this poem would be to play some music featuring the instruments talked about in the poem: flute, trumpet , clarinet, piano, and cello. Even better would be to host a mini-music and poetry listening party. The teacher, librarian or other adult working with teenagers could invite (well in advance) the teenagers to create and record their own music using real musical instruments.

For a technology spin, youth could record music using a musical instrument application on their smart phone or device. After listening to various types of music and reading the poem in partners, the teenagers could write their own poems on "what they love", whether it is music, a sport, a hobby, etc. It would also be helpful for the teacher, librarian or other adult to read aloud (or have the teens read them aloud!) other poems from the same section of the book focused on what the teens love.

Tell the world. JPEG. Retrieved from http://www.harperteen.com/books/Tell-World-Writerscorps/?isbn=9780061345043

Review: Under the Mesquite

McCall, Guadalupe Garcia. UNDER THE MESQUITE. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc. ISBN 9781600604294.
Guadalupe Garcia McCall’s beautiful verse novel Under the Mesquite is the winner of many awards and honors. One of the more recent awards is the 2013 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award for Poetry. The audience for the book is middle to high school-aged readers. It is written in six parts, and also includes a glossary of "Names, Spanish Words, and Cultural References" at the back of the book.

Each verse entry has a title, so that is helpful for the reader to get an idea of what the entry is about. McCall uses many Spanish words throughout the novel, so it is a great choice for English language learners whose first language is Spanish.

McCall’s poignant verse style is both simple and profound. The story of the verse novel follows Lupita, the oldest of eight children, on her journey through high school. Lupita's voice is given strength and depth of character through her interactions with her mother, father and seven younger siblings (5 sisters!). The novel follows Lupita and her family as they move from Mexico to south Texas and the trial they face as Lupita's mother is diagnosed with cancer. Lupita dreams of going off to college and becoming a writer or actress, but she is cognizant of the traditional Mexican lifestyle of her parents and ancestors. McCall's verse style is honest and emotionally captivating.

Because the poems are all very well written, it was difficult for me to choose just one to review. The poem I chose is "a mesquite in the rose garden". This poem is in the story during the summer after Lupita's junior year of high school. It is as follows:

In the squint of morning,
before anyone else is awake,
when the roaring sounds
of unbridled verses
rush furiously through my head,
the mesquite is my confidant.
I lean back against its sturdy trunk
and read aloud every word
imprinted en mi corazón

The mesquite listens quietly-
as if the poems budding in my heart,
then blossoming in my notebook,
are Scripture-and never tells a soul
the things I write.

(McCall, 123)

This poem entry falls at a key place in the novel. It occurs while Lupita is taking care of her younger siblings while her mother is receiving chemotherapy treatment in the hospital. Since Lupita is the oldest child and her father is caring for her mother in the hospital, she really does not have anyone else she can turn to. This verse exemplifies McCall's powerful style.

A teacher, librarian or parent sharing this novel with middle-school age readers could give some background information on the towns Lupita lives in (both in Texas and Mexico). Before reading the poem aloud, the adult could ask any readers who speak Spanish if they could explain what the word corazón means with the group. This is crucial to understanding this poem, as corazón means heart.

After the adult reads the poem aloud once for the group, the readers could practice reading to each other in partners; one reader could read the poem aloud as Lupita, the other listening as the mesquite. Then the partners could reverse roles. It may be helpful for the adult to share pictures of actual mesquite trees with the children before reading the poem aloud.

Under the Mesquite. JPEG. Retrieved from http://www.leeandlow.com/books/391/hc/under_the_mesquite

Review: What the heart knows: Chants, charms, and blessings

Sidman, J. WHAT THE HEART KNOWS: CHANTS, CHARMS, AND BLESSINGS. 2013. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 9780544106161. 

Sidman, J. WHAT THE HEART KNOWS: CHANTS, CHARMS, AND BLESSINGS. 2013. Ill. By Pamela Zagarenski. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 9780544106161. 

This brand new book of poems by Newbery Honor winner Joyce Sidman is magical. I was able to hear Sidman read from this book at the Texas Library Association Conference on April 11th. I was able to meet her and get this book signed! This book was published in 2013, and is a truly joyful book of poetry with beautiful, unique illustrations by Pamela Zagarenski. 

Sidman wrote a wonderful author’s note to the readers, featured at the beginning of the book. This note helps readers to understand why she chose to write the various poems in this collection. The book is divided into the following four sections: chants and charms, spells and invocations, laments and remembrances, and praise songs and blessings. The beautiful illustrations by Zagarenski add life to the poems. The illustrations were made using mixed media painting on wood, and computer illustration.

In all, there are twenty-nine poems which vary in style, form and rhyme scheme. Sidman’s poems a myriad of different feelings, whether that is happiness, despair, mourning, thanks, praise or remembrance. Sidman is a well-known and well-loved author and poet, and these poems will delight any reader. I was able to share this book with some seventh grade students and they loved reading the poems aloud to each other. 

Two of the poems are in the ubit sunt style, while one poem is a triolet. These poems function on a precise form and rhyme scheme, so it would be fun to have readers create their own triolets and ubit sunt poems. According to The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms, the triolet is a French verse form of eight lines, with the first two lines of the poem repeated as the last two lines (p. 489). Also, the fourth line is the same as the first line. This unique form presents a great opportunity for young readers to try creating their own triolets, in the school or public library setting. 

The ubi sunt verse form comes from the Latin words meaning “where are”, and is often used to lament the loss of people, things or ideas of the past (Murfin and Ray, 2003, p. 491).  This style would also be fun to have readers create their own ubi sunt poems, after reading Sidman’s “Lament for Teddy”:

Where is that softest of bedfellows,

whose battered nose hung askew?

Whose slack head lolled

but whose eyes sang through the dark

to buttress my dreams?

Whose tongue lapped the lint

of many beds?

Whose scent swallowed all nightmares?

Whose balding ears drank in

secrets and wonderings,

passion and venom equally

without a shiver?

Whose fur unfurred,

whose plush unplushed,

whose thread of claws

spindled and popped,

all in service to this queen?

Where is the one

whose mute love followed me

all the days of my life?

The one I boxed up and packed away?

The one I thought I didn’t need?

The one I felt

      I had outgrown?

(Sidman, 35)

This poem is powerful! A parent, teacher or librarian working with middle-school age readers could introduce this poem by explaining what an ubi sunt actually is. The adult could ask readers to think of songs or other media (TV shows, movies, games, etc.) that they think qualify as an ubi sunt.

This poem lends itself to using the refrain style of sharing poetry aloud. The adult can read the poem once aloud and then have the children read it silently to themselves. After that, the children could read the poem aloud with a partner, and then the whole group could join in and read aloud the words and phrases: where, whose, and the one. After the reading aloud, the readers could work with a partner or a team to create an ubi sunt together, perhaps about multiple people, ideas or objects.

Bibliography
Murfin, Ross, and Supryia M. Ray. The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's. 2003.

What the heart knows. GIF. Retrieved from http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/What-the-Heart-Knows/9780544106161#

Review: Mirror, Mirror: a book of reversible verse

Singer, M. MIRROR, MIRROR: a book of reversible verse. 2010. New York: Dutton Children's Books. ISBN 9780525479017.

Singer, M. MIRROR, MIRROR: a book of reversible verse. Ill. by Josee Masse. 2010. New York: Dutton Children's Books. ISBN 9780525479017.

Singer's delightful book of "reverso poems" is a fun book of poetry! As Singer points out in an author's note, a person can write a reverso poem about anything, but in this book the author chose to focus on fairy tales. This is a great book to incorporate with middle grade to 8th grade-age readers in the school or public library. Since the reverso poems tell two sides of the fairy tale, they are great for having readers perform! Josee Masse's beautiful artwork compliments the poems well.

Singer presents poems from different fairy tales, including: Cinderella (her double life!), Sleeping Beauty (and the wide-awake Prince), Rapunzel and her luscious locks, Little Red Riding Hood (and that big scary wolf!), the Ugly Duckling, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Jack and the Beanstalk, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, the Princess and the Frog, and Beauty and the Beast.

With such a plethora of poems to choose from it was difficult to choose one which shows Singer’s great reverso poetry style. All of Singer's poems are high quality, though they vary in length and tone, they are all interesting because of the same reverso form. One of the poems I liked best is “Rapunzel’s Locks”: 

No wonder she felt snippy.

Sweeping the floor

it took forever to manage-

all that pale, tangled, dangling hair.

Cut off,

shut up in the tower,

who was

that strange girl with the weird name?

You know,

someone said her mother was a witch.

It figures.                                                                                                                                                    
It figures.

Someone said her mother was a witch.

You know

that strange girl with the weird name,

who was

shut up in the tower,

cut off

all that pale, tangled, dangling hair?

It took forever to manage

sweeping the floor.

No wonder she felt snippy.

The illustration that accompanies this poem shows Rapunzel with half of her long, beautiful locks cut off by the evil witch and the other half still there. In the background you can see the mean witch walking off with Rapunzel's hair. A fun way to introduce this poem to middle-grade readers (about 3rd-6th grade-aged children), would be to read the poem (both 'versions') aloud once through. After that, the parent, teacher or librarian could invite readers to read the poem silently.

Then the adult could divide the readers into two groups, with one group reading one version of the poem and the other group reading the reverso poem. After the readers are comfortable reading both versions of the poem aloud in two groups, they can then meet with a partner to practice reading the poem aloud as 'two voices'. The 'two voices' method will take much practice, but as the readers practice reading the two poems at the same time, they will be able to see how the lines overlap and work together. It really is the highlight of performance, and it will be fun as readers work up to performing the poem aloud.

Mirror, mirror book cover. JPEG. Retrieved from http://www.us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780525479017,00.html?Mirror_Mirror:_A_Book_of_Reversible_Verse_Marilyn_Singer

Review: The Freedom Business

Nelson, M. THE FREEDOM BUSINESS: Including A Narrative of the Life & Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong. ISBN 9781932425574.

Nelson, M. THE FREEDOM BUSINESS: Including A Narrative of the Life & Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa. Art By Deborah Dancy. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong. ISBN 9781932425574.

Marilyn Nelson's biographical poems on the life of slave  Venture Smith, known at birth as Broteer Furro. This wonderful book of poems features illustrations by artist Deborah Dancy. In a note featured at the back of the book, Dancy notes that she used a combination of watercolor, ink, collage and acrylic paint to create the illustrations.

This book of poems is suitable for middle school-aged to high school-aged readers. In addition to the illustrations and poems, the book also features the text of the "A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa", the biography of Venture Smith which was printed in New London, Connecticut in 1798.

Nelson's poems show a depth of beauty in relating the events of Venture's life. What is so interesting about this book is that in addition to the poems, the reader can also read the actual words of Venture Smith himself. The text of his biography is placed side-by-side the poems. The reader almost experiences a dual sense of tragedy and relief as they are able to digest both Nelson's poems which reflect Venture's life, and the events in his own words.

As a caution to adults working with youth in homes, schools and libraries, some of the poems contain some graphic material. The beatings and abuse suffered by Venture and his family at the hands of their masters is painful to read. A couple of the poems also contain swear words. This biographical poetry collection will be invaluable to use in a study of the early slave trade. It could even be paired with other biographical poetry collections or historical fiction novels of the same time period.

A great poem from the collection to share with students is titled "How I came by my Name":

Four casks of rum and a bolt of calico.

(A quarter of the list price. A terrific deal, 

a steal for the ship's steward who bought a boy

onboard as two-legged cargo was being loaded 

and stowed.) Four casks of rum and a piece of cloth.

(For breath, dreams, heartbeat.) The boy who was Broteer

disappeared. A business venture took his place. 

Same face, same eyes, but inside utterly transformed,

harmed past healing by the cheapening of human life. 

Breath, dreams, pulse, traded for cloth and alcohol, 

were capital. There was profit in the pain, 

the chains. Venture. There were whole worlds to gain. 

(Nelson, 29)

This poem is a turning point in the collection of poems, but also represents the new life that Broteer, now known as Venture, will have to endure. The reality of his being bought and sold as if he had no life in him, as if he is not even human is painful for the reader. The use of italics on the words capital, profit and Venture give emphasis to the inhumane treatment of Broteer and other slaves who suffered the same fate. Though the poem mentions alcohol, this poem could be introduced using props: four casks (bottles) of soda (in place of rum of course!) and a bolt of fabric (This would represent the 'bolt of calico', referred to in the poem. This may require some research done on the part of the adult to explain to the readers what type of fabric this is.). 

These items could be set out on a table, and youth readers could be asked to think about the value of these items. After writing their thoughts down on paper, the parent, teacher or librarian could read aloud the poem. After reading the poem aloud, the adult could have the children reread the poem in pairs and discuss their thoughts on trading slaves for cheap objects. 

The freedom business book cover. JPEG. Retrieved from http://www.boydsmillspress.com/books/wordsong/freedom-business