Into the Forest and All the Way Through

I wasn't sure what to think about a book of True Crime poetry, but these short poems packed a mighty punch. Ms. Pelayo is a wonderful poet, and each poem gave you an understanding of the victims and the crime in a way that was wholly unique to the True Crime genre. The poems were completely focused on the victim in a way that made each poem personal, yet provided very few details leaving the reader to fill in the blanks. It made it a much more intimate and personal experience.

How do you write a review for a book like this one? It’s so difficult to find the right words. My heart shattered in hundreds of pieces. The ache I felt deep in my heart still throbs. My heart is broken for the women, the girls, their families, their friends, in the stories and poems. I was surprised that the author chose from across the United States, even going to Puerto Rico. I’m just as sad that she had so many to chose from. Some of the cases I knew of. I was living in Chicago when little Diamond and Tionda Bradley disappeared. I was a mother at the time. I can still feel the fear and sorrow I felt then. I am now in Alaska where I see the pleas for Tracy Lynn Day. My heart breaks for these girls, women, daughters, mothers, show more sisters, friend. It breaks for the families who wait for news, wait for justice, every day. All these stories are important because someone does know something. There are stories of Jane Doe and unknowns. These just shatter my soul. I pray advances in DNA will bring these women home, though for some it may be to distant relations. The author wrote sensitively, and, in my opinion, honored them all.

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. No review was required. I chose to review it voluntarily. It is a book that needs attention because these women deserve more than just to be discarded. Someone knows something and they need to help bring these woman justice. show less

Heartbreaking, but respectfully told. I don't read or watch a lot of true crime, but these poems mostly only hint at the violence as opposed to most true crime I've seen which give all the gruesome details.

Only stopped reading for my mental health. This book is important and heartbreaking. I only got 30% in but I just couldn’t do it anymore. This book is so sad