Get Lit Rising: Words Ignite. Claim Your Poem. Claim Your Life

Gr 9 Up—A coveted stash of poems written by the slam poetry troupe the Get Lit Players, part of Lane's "Get Lit-Words Ignite" Common Core—aligned English and Performing Arts curriculum program. Each of the 20 short chapters profiles a member poet (the last features Lane) through eloquently written essays that recount personal struggles, with an emphasis on the transformative power of poetry. The poets each explain why they chose to claim a particular piece (selected from poets who range from the canonical to the radical and contemporary, like Saul Williams and Marge Piercy) and provide a response poem. For the teacher in us all, there are writing prompts and suggested verses for further reading, organized by teen-centered themes such as "Race, Urban Poverty, Life Force" and "Owning Your Own Worth, Keeping an Open Heart." The final chapter outlines a detailed process of how to create a poetry group, with a list of "200 Poems To Crack You Open."