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.

Wicked Poems

Wicked Poems edited by Roger McGough

McGough, R. (2004). Wicked poems. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

ISBN: 0747561958

Plot

The poems in this book share the theme of wickedness. Some are scary like Unstable Mable by Brian Patten: "Her eyes are ablaze, like cinders, like fire, And her dark hair is tangled like razor sharp wire." Some are tragically poignantly like The Stones by Brendan Kelly in which an old woman is mistaken for an imaginary creature used by parents to scare their children into obedience. The children "Stalking the little weary traveller -- Ten, twenty, thirty, forty. Numbers gave them courage..." stone the old woman. Some are merely fun like By the Pricking of My Thumbs by George Szirtes: "By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes." All are enjoyable.

Critical Evaluation

This is an excellent collection of wicked poems by poets past and present. The content is varied, but the theme maintained. This would be an excellent book to recommend at Halloween. The subject matter is perfect for tweens.

Readers Annotation

This is the perfect book for those seeking instant gratification in chills and laughs. There are funny poems, scary poems and some poems that are scary and funny. This is the poetry book for those who don't like poetry. There's something for everyone in this entertaining collection.

About the Author

Roger McGough was born in Litherland, England in 1937. He is a well known English performance poet. He began as a lyricist for his rock band competing with The Beatles for attention in Liverpool in the early 60's. He has gone on to publish several books of poetry. He is a Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University. He is a Vice President of The Poetry Society of London.

Genre: Humor, Horror, Poetry

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts

Booktalk Ideas: Scary themes.

Reading Level: Grade 4+
Interest Level: Grade 4+
Challenge Issues: Individual poems could be challenged. But there is no real overt, gratuitous violence or controversial language.

This is a fun and scary book that is a good introduction for tweens to substantial poetry. Exposure to poetry in an entertaining way is important for this age group.

Broken Hearts... Healing: Young Poets Speak Out on Divorce

Broken Hearts... Healing: Young Poets Speak Out on Divorce edited by Tom Worthen, Phd.

Worthen, T. (2001). Broken hearts... healing: Young poets speak out on divorce. Logan, Utah: Poet Tree Press

ISBN: 1588761509

Plot

Children of divorce express their feelings about it in poetry. The book is divided into chapters. Each chapter describes a step in the emotional stages experienced in a divorce. From the initial shock of the announcement of divorce, to the eventually acceptance of the situation, the experience is described from the child's perspective.

Critical Evaluation

This book provides a unique perspective on divorce from the voices of children. It is poignant, heart breaking and, ultimately, hopeful. It is an excellent resource for tweens experiencing divorce in their own lives. These messages from their piers, let them know that they are not alone and that what they are feeling is okay.

Readers Annotation

Broken Hearts... healing reaches out and grabs your heart. Told from the perspective of children experiencing the divorce of their parents, this book will speak to both parents and kids alike. It is a healing tool for those in need.

About the Author

Editor Dr. Tom Worthen received his Ph.D. in Interpersonal Communication from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He teaches at Utah State University and works as an editor for a poetry publishing company.

Genre: Poetry

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts

Booktalk Ideas: Dealing with separation, divorce

Reading Level: Grade 4+
Interest Level: Grade 4+
Challenge Issues: None

This book is included because, unfortunately, divorce is a subject with which many tweens need help.

A Light in the Attic

A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

Silverstein, S. (1981). A light in the attic. New York: Harper Collins.

ISBN: 0060256737

Plot

This is a collection of amusing poems and illustrations by Shel Silverstein. In this book are characters such as the Meehoo with an Exactlywatt and the Polar Bear in the Frigidaire. There are adventures with a frisbee and a mountain that snores. Find out what happens when someone steals your knees and much more.

Critical Evaluation

Shel Silverstein's poems and illustrations are whimsical and truly funny. He turns a phrase with ease and his rhymes describe situations which many of us may ponder, but few of us vocalize. He has a great imagination that children and tweens will relate to.

Readers Annotation

Ever wonder what your reflection is thinking? Want to talk with the Broiled Face? Who cleans up the stars? If you've ever wonder any of these things, or even if you haven't, you will enjoy Shel Silverstein's delightfully imaginative collection of poems and illustrations.

About the Author

Shel Silverstein (1930-1999) began as a cartoonist for Pacific Stars and Stripes as a G.I. His first book was a compilation of his cartoons for that newspaper. He was a playwright and a song writer. His songs include "A Boy Named Sue," sung by Johnny Cash and "The Cover of the Rolling Stone" sung by Dr. Hook. His early career as a writer did not include children's books. He began writing for children at the suggestion of one of his editors at Harper Collins. He discovered that he liked writing for children, so he continued. His poetry books were immensely popular upon publication. A Light in the Attic spent 182 weeks on the New York Times List. He admits that he never studied poetry, so he developed his own style.

Genre: Humor, Poetry

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts

Booktalk Ideas: Imagination

Reading Level: Grade 3+
Interest Level: Grade 3+
Challenge Issues: None

This book is widely enjoyed by children of all ages, including tweens. It is a great introduction to poetry.

Falling Up

Falling Up by Shel Silverstein

Silverstein, S. (1996). Falling up. New York: Harper Collins

ISBN: 0060248025

Plot

This collection of wacky poems includes such characters as Allison Beals and her twenty-five eels; Danny O'Dare, the dancing bear, Long-Leg Lou and Short-Leg Sue. There are poems about the Spoiled Brat in the Boilin' Vat and Shanna in the Suana. Equally wacky illustrations by the author accompany each poem.

Critical Evaluation

Shel Silverstein's poems and illustrations are whimsical and truly funny. He turns a phrase with ease and his rhymes describe situations which many of us may ponder, but few of us vocalize. He has a great imagination that children and tweens will relate to.

Readers Annotation

Come and wander through the Nose Garden, visit the People Zoo (Do Not Feed the Kid!), and Fall Up into the wacky world of fantasy that could only come from the mind of Shel Silverstein. These poems will tickle your funny bone and trigger your imagination.

About the Author

Shel Silverstein (1930-1999) began as a cartoonist for Pacific Stars and Stripes as a G.I. His first book was a compilation of his cartoons for that newspaper. He was a playwright and a song writer. His songs include "A Boy Named Sue," sung by Johnny Cash and "The Cover of the Rolling Stone" sung by Dr. Hook. His early career as a writer did not include children's books. He began writing for children at the suggestion of one of his editors at Harper Collins. He discovered that he liked writing for children, so he continued. His poetry books were immensely popular upon publication. A Light in the Attic spent 182 weeks on the New York Times List. He admits that he never studied poetry, so he developed his own style.

Genre: Humor. Poetry

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts

Booktalk Ideas: Using your imagination

Reading Level: Grade 3+
Interest Level: Grade 3+
Challenge Issues: None

This book is included because tweens love the humorous writing and silly drawings of Silverstein. This book is a good introduction to poetry.

The Rose That Grew From Concrete

The Rose That Grew From Concrete by Tupac Shakur

Shakur, T. (1999). The rose that grew from concrete. New York: Pocket Books

ISBN: 0671028448

Plot

Poems handwritten in notebooks from the time he was 19 by Tupac Shakur are reproduced here. These 72 poems encapsulate the life of Shakur who was murdered in 1996. The poems examine love, life, dreams, conflict, hate and death.The book ends eerily with the poem In the Event of My Demise.

Critical Evaluation

These poems are a window into a soul struggling to make sense of a violent, imperfect world.  Some are sweet and innocent about love. Others are prophetic such as In the Event of My Demise with the words: "I hope I die for a principle or a belief that I had lived 4. I will die before my time, Because I feel the Shadow's Depth." Tupac Shakur's murder was, of course, senseless. Shakur writes in a language that older tweens will be able to relate to. Hopefully they learn a lesson about senseless violence when they reflect upon how his voice was silenced.

Readers Annotation

Tupac Shakur's most honest and intimate thoughts were not uncovered until after his death. Handwritten journals were found containing his poetry. The 72 poems reproduced here represent a window into his complicated, often contradictory, world. They are a deeply personal portrait of a talented recording artist and actor whose time on this earth was ended too soon.

About the Author

Tupac Shakur (1971-1996) was an American rap artist. He has sold over 75 million albums. Shakur was also a gifted actor who appeared in 7 major motion pictures. He was a social activist and his work promoted economic, social and civil rights. Shakur was shot on the night of September 7, 1996 in Las Vegas. He died 6 days later, another victim of the mindless East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry.

Genre: Poetry

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts, Social Studies

Booktalk Ideas: Did Tupac's death have meaning?

Reading Level: Grade 7+
Interest Level: Grade 7+
Challenge Issues: Tupac and rap are controversial. This book is not. It is surprisingly thoughtful and sweet.

This book is included because Tupac is a well known rap figure to many tweens. His legend has grown since his death. I want tweens reading poetry. Some who may not otherwise open a book of verse, may open this book.