Franco, Betsy (Ed.). 2008. FALLING HARD: 100 LOVE POEMS BY TEENAGERS. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763634377
SUMMARY:
A collection of honest poems from teens. They express the love hate relationship many experience during those short years of life. First love can be felt through the poetic words of youth. Heart aches shared as those first loves don't turn out as we once hoped and dreamed. Curl up with this great book and be inspired by the hope of love, or comforted during heart breaks. Find hope for new love as life goes on.
QUALITY & APPEAL:
Age Range: 15 and up
Older students will relate to the raw nature of the poems, and enjoy reading published poems from young adults like themselves. They will enjoy the humor many of the poems express. Real issues, real feelings are expressed and shared in many of the poems. Passion, obsession, anger, and desperation are feelings that are shared. Young adults will have many of their feelings validated as they read the poetic treasures this book holds.
Teacher will appreciate the authentic poetry found inside this book. Students will be more engaged as they listen and interact with poetry that relates to them in one way or another. Sharing the poems and allowing students to use them to inspire their own writing will help struggling students who might be highly intimidated to writing poetry. Librarians and teachers should be cautious about their target audience's ages and the specific poems they use. There are some mature subject matters and inappropriate language shared in some of the poems.
SPOTLIGHT POEM: (Excerpt from page 83)
THE PERFECT GUY
by Valerie Garcia, age 16
He gives me flowers,
Rings and notes,
Jewelry, makeup,
Other things.
I return the favors;
Anything for him.
I smile with joy --
No girl could ever be so lucky --
Until reality slaps me in the face.
It's fun to pretend,
But I must remember:
It's for her, not me.
CONNECTION:
- Share select poems with older students from Franco's poetry book.
- Read the above poem several times aloud to the whole group.
- Ask students to brainstorm their ideas of the "perfect guy" or the "perfect girl".
- Student will pick out 20-30 key words or phrases that describe their perfect guy/girl.
- They will create a Visual Poem using www.imagechef.com.
- Students will print their Visual Poem out and create a decorative background that reflects them and their poem.
- Select poems will be framed and entered into the local art show and put up for auction during school fundraiser.
LINKS:
- Jaylene Clark performing her poem, "Detrimental to My Success", found on pages 118-119
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