Nelson, Marilyn. How i discovered poetry. New York: Dial Books, 2014.

This Coretta Scott King honor book was a lovely surprise. First of all, how amazing to this AP literature teacher, that all of the offerings here were sonnets. What an exercise in poetic discipline and lyrical language - so well done that I didn’t even realize what was happening for a long time. I really can’t wait to show this to my AP kids. This book makes poetry relevant in a very real way - an amazing teachable moment. Thanks Marilyn Nelson.

Further, this slim, yet powerful novel is an historical one. Students will learn about bomb drills, 1950s TV, and life as a military child. Students will process the civil rights movement through a young Nelson’s experience. Sometimes she is the first and only African American in her class; sometimes she has to bravely and quietly fight discrimination and bullying. She has to process major historical events like the desegregation in Little Rock. She draws parallels in her travels to what has happened to the native Americans in our nation. I have this great history teacher who requires his students to read a historical novel each quarter. I look forward to recommending this one to them.

And even more, Nelson crafts a beautiful coming of age story. I loved reading how her teacher loaned her poetry books: Hughes, Cullen, Johnson, and Gwendolyn Brooks. She reads long past lights out. Sounds familiar. She describes reading poetry out loud as “soul kissing.” She wonders ( and fears) that there may be “a poet behind her face.” So glad she grew that poet into the author of this collection that I get to share with my kids.

I will be able to book talk this in so many ways. My students love novels in verse. I can add this to my collection of them in book talks. I often do civil rights specific book talks. Certainly this is a creative and thoughtful addition. And, when I can, I spotlight books about writers and readers for my avid readers and my aspiring writers.