Life Poetry

When little Zanna's oldest brother died just before Christmas, she was left with the gift she had made for him - a picture that only he would have understood. Every Christmas, Zanna's gift is brought out and displayed as a way of including their lost brother in the celebration. This is the story of the life of that family, and of the many gifts they gave each other that could only be understood with love.

Did you know that Paul Laurence Dunbar originated such famous lines as "I know why the caged bird sings" and "We wear the mask that grins and lies"? From his childhood in poverty and his early promise as a poet through his struggles to find acceptance as a writer and his tumultuous romance with his wife, to his immense fame and his untimely death, Dunbar's story is one of triumph and tragedy.

"Moving, amusing, and thought-provoking" are regular comments–I give everything when performing Beyond Poetry, and it is not unusual for me to receive spontaneous hugs from audience members after the performance!

Meet the married Dads, the divorced Dads, the widowed Dads and the gay Dads; the gamblers, the firemen, the bankers, the nurses, the soldiers and the milkmen. They’re trying to guide their sons through the foothills of childhood into the bewildering uplands of adulthood. But it’s hard to know if they’re doing it right. Or what their sons’ mothers think... Wise and funny, touching and true, What We’re Teaching Our Sons is for anyone who has ever wondered how to be a grown-up.

Anke’s father is abusive. But not to her. He attacks her brother and sister, but she’s just an invisible witness in a house of horrors, on the brink of disappearing altogether. Until she makes the volleyball team at school. At first just being exhausted after practice feels good, but as Anke becomes part of the team, her confidence builds. When she learns to yell “Mine!” to call a ball, she finds a voice she didn’t know existed. For the first time, Anke is seen and heard.

Award-winning author Helen Frost takes us into the breathtaking Alaskan winter landscape in this thrilling adventure with a touch of fantasy. Twelve-year-old Willow - whose heritage is both Athabascan Indian and European - wants nothing more than to mush the sled dogs to her grandparents’ home. After pressing her parents for some time, she is finally allowed to go alone. But when she commits a critical mistake, Willow wonders how she’ll ever make things right again.

Anikwa and James, 12 years old in 1812, spend their days fishing, trapping, and exploring together in the forests of the Indiana Territory. To Anikwa and his family, members of the Miami tribe, this land has been home for centuries. As traders, James' family has ties to the Miami community as well as to the American soldiers in the fort. Now tensions are rising - the British and American armies prepare to meet at Fort Wayne for a crucial battle, and Native Americans from surrounding tribes gather in Kekionga to protect their homeland.

Ana Rosa is a blossoming young writer growing up in a poor seaside village in the Dominican Republic. At the young age of 12, she finds herself faced with turning points that will make up who she is, watching her brother's search for a future, learning to dance and to love, and finding out what it means to be a part of a community.

Born into the household of a wealthy slave owner in Cuba in 1797, Juan Francisco Manzano spent his early years by the side of a woman who made him call her Mama, even though he had a mama of his own. Denied an education, young Juan still showed an exceptional talent for poetry. His verses reflect the beauty of his world, but they also expose its hideous cruelty.

Written in free verse, Hidden is a compelling tale about an unlikely friendship between two girls. Darra Monson and Wren Abbott first cross paths when Darra’s deadbeat dad is arrested for theft and kidnapping after he steals a car - unaware that Wren was sitting in the back. Years later, the girls - now teens - attend the same summer camp, and are forced to confront the fateful event that changed their lives.

Finally, Amira is 12. Old enough to wear a toob, old enough for new responsibilities. And maybe old enough to go to school in Nyala - Amira's one true dream. But life in her peaceful Sudanese village is shattered when the Janjaweed arrive. The terrifying attackers ravage the town and unleash unspeakable horrors. After she loses nearly everything, Amira needs to dig deep within herself to find the strength to make the long journey - on foot - to safety at a refugee camp.

When Reena; her little brother, Luke; and their parents first move to Maine, Reena doesn't know what to expect. She's ready for beaches, blueberries, and all the lobster she can eat. Instead her parents "volunteer" Reena and Luke to work for an eccentric neighbor named Mrs. Falala, who has a pig named Paulie, a cat named China, a snake named Edna - and that stubborn cow, Zora.

This is a true story of growing up, breaking down, and coming to grips with a psychological disorder. When Samantha Schutz first left home for college, she was excited by the possibilities - freedom from parents, freedom from a boyfriend who was reckless with her affections, freedom from the person she was supposed to be. At first, she revelled in the independence...but as pressures increased, she began to suffer anxiety attacks that would leave her mentally shaken and physically incapacitated.

En este libro, Alejandro Ordóñez nos muestra las profundidades de cada una de las fases de una relación: desde el primer destello de posibilidad hasta la estabilidad romántica, explorando también qué sucede cuando una relación no puede dar más de sí y se decide separar los caminos, sin perder la fe en que llegará la persona correcta.

Isabella Castaspella, the happy little witch known as Izzy, just flew into town...and she’s here to cast a happy little spell on you! Isabella Castaspella tells the story of Izzy’s struggles with Lavinia LaMeanie, a nasty witch who is always trying to make life miserable for Izzy and her friends. Join Izzy and her friends as they use the magic of kindness, imagination, and love in their battle against the mean bully, Lavinia LaMeanie.

Based on the electric and historic appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, this poetic book from powerhouse jessica Care moore outlines the dreams of a young girl who wants to change the world one day. Regardless of the obstacles put into place, her crown shines brightly. A love letter to the Black women pioneers of the past and to the next little girl who will one day be crowned, this melodic anthem is a celebration of one woman’s story that will inspire generations to come.

What I Wish I Was Told, Part 2 is a sequel to Dr. Todd Gewant's first book of poetry. Dr. Gewant continues to explore valuable lessons in life pertaining to ending racism, promoting equality and self-esteem, keeping commitments, and realizing a better life for everyone in a more just and peaceful world.

In this story the child is invited on a journey where inner strength reigns supreme and shines through all fear, doubt, and concern. “The There Barely” offers a standing invitation to the child. The hunt is the beginning of an adventure that the child will naturally join in pursuit. The Child will be fascinated with the opportunity to see themselves as the strong, independent and fierce individual that they are. The child will learn that there is always hope, light, and support for them in their own internal Self.

Beauty for Ashes: Life Lessons in Verse is a redemptive journey told in three parts; the pain of trauma, the struggle to heal, and the beauty of overcoming. With more than 50 captivating poems, you’re sure to find several that will inspire you to push past your pain and seek healing for yourself. Written with raw emotion and told with a biblical slant, these are poems about real-life women who found the courage to keep going. Get lost with them in their ashes, struggle with them through their in-between, and come out on the other side of their beauty.

Ever since twelve-year-old Josh Kline found an antisemitic note in his family’s mailbox in third grade, he has felt uncomfortable about his Jewish identity. At a new school where he’s pretty sure he’s the only Jew, he’s hoping to just keep religion out of everything . . . until the morning someone sprays swastikas all over the building. That’s when everything changes.