poetry Archives - Page 136 of 293

Call Me Athena: Girl from Detroit
by Colby Cedar Smith (Author)
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Booktalk: In this novel in verse is loosely based on the author’s paternal grandmother, Mary is the American-born daughter of Greek and French immigrants living in Detroit in the 1930s. Mary lives in a tiny apartment with her immigrant parents, her brothers, and her twin sister, and she questions why her parents ever came to America. She yearns for true love, to own her own business, and to be an independent, modern American woman–much to the chagrin of her parents, who want her to be a “good Greek girl.” Written from the perspective of three profoundly different narrators, Mary’s story is peppered with flashbacks to her parents’ childhoods in Greece and northern France. Their stories connect with Mary’s as they address issues of arranged marriage, learning about independence, and yearning to grow beyond one’s own culture.

Snippet:

A 2021 Cybils Poetry nominee

Red, White, and Whole
by Rajani LaRocca (Author)
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Booktalk: Reha feels torn between two worlds: school, where she’s the only Indian American student, and home, with her family’s traditions and holidays. But Reha’s parents don’t understand why she’s conflicted–they only notice when Reha doesn’t meet their strict expectations. Reha feels disconnected from her mother, or Amma, although their names are linked–Reha means “star” and Punam means “moon”–but they are a universe apart.

Then Reha finds out that her Amma is sick. Really sick. Her life is turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with leukemia

Reha, who dreams of becoming a doctor even though she can’t stomach the sight of blood, is determined to make her Amma well again. She’ll be the perfect daughter, if it means saving her Amma’s life.

Snippet:
Expectations

I am expected to focus on my studies,
which I do,
and I like them.
My family did not come to America
to be mediocre.

I am not expected to like boys.
I am not expected to date.

But all day long on the radio, people sing about falling in love,
about hearts breaking and mending
and breaking again.

And I wonder what it would be like
to follow mine.

A 2021 Cybils Poetry nominee