Erica Martin

The poetry in Poemhood is gorgeous. I loved the variety of themes and authors, and how the editors wove them all into volumes to create a sort of "wave" or "arc" between the poems. Given that it is geared toward a YA audience, this would be a perfect collection to study, even parts of, in school. The poems themselves, as well as the way they are organized, encourages the reader to explore deeper into the history of the poems and cultural significance of the various elements presented.

I was show more quite conflicted on the outros, however. Some of them were wonderful and provided context behind why/how the author wrote that poem, while others simply restated the poem itself or seemed to be a bit prescriptive in meaning. show less

A simple but powerfully written novel in verse that takes the reader through the 50s and 60s Civil Rights Movement Era, showcasing some heroes of that era that were rarely, if ever heard about. The visual impact of the way the author writes the poems will stick with the reader. The repetitive use of words impresses upon the reader of the never give up attitude of blacks of then and even now. Rosa Parks’ quote stayed with me after finishing this book “the only tired I was, was tired of show more giving in”. This is a love note to those unknown and known heroes of the Civil Rights movement. show less

And We Rise is a powerful telling of the Civil Rights Movement in verse. Words matter and these poems go beyond just Dr. King and Rosa Parks; they tell of the marches, the murders, the mayhem, the injustices and more. Told in a linear fashion, the poems march right alongside the movement that they are discussing. The layout of the poems is meaningful and add extra layers to the intensity of what is being said. Peppered throughout the poetry are photos from the Civil Rights Movement. show more Extremely powerful. show less

I read this in 15 minutes and each of those minutes was well spent. An incredible poetry book that gives a clear understanding of the Civil Rights Movement in an easy to understand timeline. The poetry was so well written, the formatting was great, and it includes some photographs to actually show events and key people.