Please Excuse This Poem: 100 New Poets for the Next Generation

Gr 10 Up—This eclectic mix of poetry from some of the most up-and-coming poets provides a glimpse into contemporary life. Poems include the heart-wrenching and the hilarious, the bitingly sarcastic and the utterly stoic. Some titles may be familiar to fans of modern poetry, while others, such as "Talk," will likely inspire readers to delve deeper. The poems tackle a variety of difficult topics, including sexual abuse, racial profiling, drug use, and family problems, as well as more hopeful subjects—"Tonight You'll Be Able"—and highly relatable ones like "High School Picture Re-Take Day." Appended are short biographies of each of the authors and their answers to insightful questions (the last book of poems they read, their idea of misery). Teens will find the afterword, where the editors explain their reason for creating the collection, a valuable bonus. The poems are not organized in a way that require readers to explore the titles in order, which will appeal to busy teens and reluctant readers. Those with an interest in poetry will devour these relatable selections. A recommended purchase for most nonfiction YA collections.—Ellen Norton, White Oak Library District, Crest Hill, IL