Bend, Don't Shatter: Poets on the Beginning of Desire (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781932360172)

An anthology of poetry for young adults that realistically and beautifully deals with what it means to come of age as gay, lesbian, transgender, or, as is perhaps more often the case in adolescence, totally confused

The anthology approaches the seemingly unnavigable territory of teenage sexuality and confusion with poems written by adults who keenly remember the turmoil, pain and excitement of adolescence and sexual coming of age. The poems are written with the insight and clarity of perspective and understanding that comes with years.

The book shows that teenage sexuality is more nuanced and complicated than it is often given credit for. It is valuable in that it not only provides a service of sorts--giving young adults a thing with which they can identify, a thing that might comfort, console, explain, entertain, and illuminate--but also just as importantly, it brings the pleasures of poetry to an audience for whom poetry itself might seem as unfathomable as adulthood itself.

Author: T. Cole Rachel
ISBN-10: 1932360174
ISBN-13: 9781932360172
Publisher: Soft Skull
Language: English
Published: 05/14/2004
Pages: 111
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.31lbs
Size: 8.44h x 5.46w x 0.34d

Review Citation(s):
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 07/01/2004 pg. 479
Lambda Book Report 08/01/2004 pg. 42
School Library Journal 01/01/2005 pg. 153