19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East

Summary: Within these verses, we meet a cast of characters, each a brushstroke in the vibrant canvas of life. From Fowzi, the domino maestro, to Ibtisam, aspiring to be a doctor, and Abu Mahmoud, the gardener with an intimate knowledge of eggplants and peaches. Nye's poetry dances through the lives of these individuals, offering glimpses of their dreams, resilience, and the enduring peace within. Whether it's a girl in a red sweater, Uncle Mohammed on the mountain, or the enigmatic Sitti Khadra, each poem weaves a tale that echoes with universal truths.

Pros:

In the wake of September 11, Nye collected in one volume her old and new poems about the Middle East--about her Palestinian-American identity, the immigrant experience in her family, and the people and places that have been torn by war. Her voice is powerful and important: In the introduction she writes, "It always felt good to be rooted and connected, but there were those deeply sorrowful headlines in the background to carry around like sad weights" (xiv), a feeling that will surely resonate with children of immigrants or refugees. Her poems peel back those sorrowful headlines to reveal the human stories underneath. ("Are people the only holy land?" asks one titled "All Things Not Considered" [135].) In narratives rich with lyric show more imagery she introduces fascinating characters in her father the dreamer, her uncle the mountain man, her grandmother who lived to 106, and many more.

My VOYA ratings: 4Q ("Better than most, marred by occasional lapses") and 2P ("For the YA reader with a special interest in the subject"). Nye's style is dense with imagery and figurative language that I sometimes found difficult. And because she writes from an adult perspective, I do not see this particular collection holding wide appeal for young adults. But those who already like her work or have a special connection with the topics she addresses will not want to miss it.

As for myself, well, the Publishers Weekly review in my library catalog has an unfortunate typo in a poem title: "Football" for "Footfall." So I felt rather let down when I reached the end of the book without encountering any serious poetry that included a soccer element. ("Footfall" is, however, a solid poem.) There you have my reading experience in a nutshell: expecting a lot and feeling mildly disappointed when it did not consistently draw me in. The flashes of brilliance I connected with best involved personification: "Like clothes on a line saying / You will live long enough to wear me" (39), or the entire poem that makes skin an active grammatical subject ("Two Countries," 104), or the "fragrant nouns and muscular verbs" of "Jerusalem Headlines 2000" (129). But much of the time I confess I would rather have been rereading graphic novels by Marjane Satrapi and Joe Sacco. show less

5Q 3P (my VOYA code) This was an extremely beautiful collection of poetry. Exquisitely written. Perhaps not the most popular YA poetry collection but would definitely be of interest if suggested. I think that this is such an important text for youth, and all readers, today. Especially in our culture of Arabophobia and Islamaphobia. Negative stereotypes about the Middle East are reinforced by the media, our peers, and even sometimes educators. This collection of poetry uses beautiful language and metaphor to create a space for someone to look at another and possibly very different culture and feel compassion for a fellow human being. I loved the strong themes of family.

A book - and author - I come back to repeatedly. For comfort in the face of hate, for sanity in the face of madness. For the beauty of the words.

5Q, 3P. This collection of poems of the Middle East was stunning. I do not usually sit and read through a book of poetry, but this one had me hooked starting from the introduction (I don't often read those either). Such compassionate and moving poems about family, cultural identity and assimilation, Israel and Palestine, war and peace, and love of humanity. An important book for fostering understanding of Middle Eastern culture and peoples.

5Q, 3P

This collection is exceptional and I found myself bookmarking more than one poem for future reference. Her descriptive interpretation of the many voices and characters you'll find in the Middle East are honest and sincere. I felt as if I were transported to this far away place and was being introduced to them all. I even imagined the taste of a juicy sweet fig.

This is a lovely collection of powerful poetry. My impression is that it is a fairly small group of teens that read a lot of poetry. I hope I'm wrong. Readers will find many gems that will speak to them directly, regardless of their culture or religion. Covering topics from memories of her grandmother to traveling to the West Bank and reflecting on the difference between the value placed on books in the US and the Middle East, the author has a strong authentic voice.