A Lion's Hunger: Poems of First Love

A Lion's Hunger: Poems of First Love by Ann Turner

Turner, A. (1998). A lion's hunger: poems of first love. New York: Marshall Cavendish

ISBN: 0761450351

Plot

This is a book of poems by one author that tells the story of first love. A girl meets a boy in September. By October, they are in love. The story progresses through the months of the year as seen through the girl's eyes. She documents each new discovery and thrill in her poems. As their love grows deeper, they experiment together. Unfortunately, they experiment with drinking and driving and are in an accident. They are told that they are lucky to be alive and are forbidden to see each other again. She longs for him and grieves for the relationship. They share secret moments, but the accident has damaged something that cannot be repaired.

Critical Evaluation

The poems are written in free verse. There is clarity in the sparseness of words. The feelings of first love are described in searing simplicity. The reader can easily relate to the desperate pangs of longing and joy that tweens experience while falling in love for the first time. This story is also a cautionary tale. When the two young sweethearts make the mistake of drinking and driving and are involved in an accident, the consequences are severe both from external sources and the emotional toll internally. "Somehow that accident smashed something inside, hurt something I did not know could be hurt." This is a well put-together journey through first love with obvious appeal to tweens.

Readers Annotation

If you've ever been in love, desperately, wonderfully in love, you must read this book. We meet a young couple who experience first love together through the seasons. No one can understand what they are feeling. When a terrible accident happens... can their love be saved?

About the Author

Ann Turner is the author of the novels Third Girl From the Left and Grasshopper Summer. She is also the author of several picture books. Her picture book Dakota Dugout was an ALA Notable Book. She lives in Williamsburg, Massachusetts with her husband and two children.

Genre: Romance, Poetry

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts

Booktalk Ideas: First love. Making good decisions.

Reading Level: Grade 5+
Interest Level: Grade 7+
Challenge Issues: Implied sexuality. There is no overt sexuality in this book. References to sexual attraction are not blatant or gratuitous.

This book is included because it has obvious appeal to the tween age group. It is also written as poetry in free verse. This age group needs to be exposed to poetry in all its forms.