Butterfly Bruises by Palmer Smith

Posted on by lynndellwatson

Reflective and visionary!

Butterfly Bruises book is different from most other poetry books I’ve read. I became lost and confused with some of the poems but others were insightful and healing. My favorite is found in the section “Short Stories: Miscellaneous” and it’s entitled “Grief”. This story shares a brother’s diagnosis and eventual death from cancer and the despair and grief that entails. I appreciate the author sharing her work with me and many readers will relate to the content of the poems and stories found within these pages.

For Every One by Jason Reynolds

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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Encouragement in poetry form!
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review For Every One by Jason Reynolds!
A quick read poetry book giving encouragement to dreamers and sharing the author’s own experiences with having a lifelong dream. 4 stars for the portrayal of the struggling that goes hand in hand with having a dream.

Bull by David Elliott

Posted on by lynndellwatson

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I voluntarily read and reviewed Bull by David Elliott. Thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the opportunity to read and review this book! Bull is a retelling of the myth, “Theseus and the Minotaur”. The author makes the characters as real and relevant as possible and broadens the story to explain more of Asterion’s life from birth to childhood to the complete transformation of his character and sanity and all of this is written in poetic form and in modern language that makes it easily understandable. 4.5 stars!

Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately by Alicia Cook

Posted on by lynndellwatson

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately by Alicia Cook!

This book consists of poems labeled Track One through to Track Ninety-Two. Each poem is followed by a song the author was currently listening to when constructing the poem.

My favorite poem is Track Fourteen:

“Just because I don’t trust you
doesn’t mean I have trust issues.
Just because I won’t commit to you
doesn’t mean I have commitment issues.
Just because I watch what I eat
doesn’t mean I have body image issues.
Just because people have left my life
doesn’t mean I have abandonment issues.
Just because I yearn to grow and evolve
doesn’t mean I have identity issues.

I know exactly who the hell I am.”

That is a slam dunk of confidence and well being!

There are two sets of ninety two poems. The first set is each full poem with a coinciding song. The second set is a remix of each of the previous poems, in order, with specifically chosen words to create new, smaller poems with a different song that matches the remake better.

This book is full of healing poems that feel like a balm applied directly to your heart! I plan on purchasing this poetry book for the patrons at the high school library because I know several students who will appreciate the heartfelt words pouring into each poem. 5 stars!