Bibliographic Data:
Janeczko, Paul B. 2002. Seeing the Blue Between. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 0-7636-0881-5
Summary:
Seeing the Blue Between is filled with letters of advice, support, and poems from thirty-two big names in poetry. It was compiled by Paul B. Janeczko and is intended to inspire writers, especially young adults, with stories of their challenges, triumphs, and trials.
Critical Analysis:
This truly is a compilation for everyone, however, it is aimed at a teen audience. The contriubutors seem to give consistent, similiar, and practical advice; read as much as you can, revise, revise, revise, and write a lot. The advice I found particularly moving was the notion of finding the beauty in things people normally take for granted. The poets are introduced with their names in bold, their letter to the audience, and then their accompanying poem. The poems as well as the letters are humourous, witty, and brimming with helpful and usually never-before-heard-of-advice. The layout makes for an easy read, the poets included signature makes it far more personal, and it is something that could easily be picked up and shared with a class, or privately enjoyed, as each poet has their own story. For the reader/writer not terribly interested in poetry, or the audience that does not really get it, this book helps tremendously. It speaks about certain poems, themes, and elements speaking to specific people, while others will just never really love them.
Reviews:
Publishers Weekly- "Love words play with them find the meanings of those you don't know," writes poet Michael Dugan. He, along with 32 other poets including Ralph Fletcher, Douglas Florian, Naomi Shihab Nye and Jane Yolen offer words of encouragement and a few poems of their own in Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets, ed. by Paul B. Janeczko. "Notes on Contributors" complete the handsome volume. (Apr.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Children's Literature-Budding poets need look no further to find a wealth of advice and inspiration to motivate and challenge them in their endeavor to write. Thirty-two renowned writers including Douglas Florian, Nikki Grimes, Karla Kuskin, X.J. Kennedy, Jane Yolen, and Lee Bennett Hopkins offer their support in the form of a Dear Poet letter followed by several of their poems. Over and over the message is clear; only readers become writers. Young poets are admonished to keep a notebook for recording their thoughts and to be prepared to edit, refine, rewrite, and read, read, read. As an anthology, this is an excellent variety of poetry from some of today's most respected poets, but when you add the motivational words of wisdom, the result is a superior book. Photos and notes on the contributors round out this crisply designed volume. In the hands of the right person it will be just the encouragement needed to experiment and take risks. In the words of Douglas Florian, there is only one rule to remember, and this is "Poetry Rules!" 2002, Candlewick Press, — Beverley Fahey
Connections:
This book is an excellent way to teach and motivate young writers. A creative writing or poetry class would benefit hugely from having an instructor present one of these authors a day, with their advice and their poem. It would be fun to see what a student could create with their inspiration.
Spotlight Poem:
Janeczko, Paul B. 2002. Seeing the Blue Between. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press. ISBN: 0-7636-0881-5
Summary:
Seeing the Blue Between is filled with letters of advice, support, and poems from thirty-two big names in poetry. It was compiled by Paul B. Janeczko and is intended to inspire writers, especially young adults, with stories of their challenges, triumphs, and trials.
Critical Analysis:
This truly is a compilation for everyone, however, it is aimed at a teen audience. The contriubutors seem to give consistent, similiar, and practical advice; read as much as you can, revise, revise, revise, and write a lot. The advice I found particularly moving was the notion of finding the beauty in things people normally take for granted. The poets are introduced with their names in bold, their letter to the audience, and then their accompanying poem. The poems as well as the letters are humourous, witty, and brimming with helpful and usually never-before-heard-of-advice. The layout makes for an easy read, the poets included signature makes it far more personal, and it is something that could easily be picked up and shared with a class, or privately enjoyed, as each poet has their own story. For the reader/writer not terribly interested in poetry, or the audience that does not really get it, this book helps tremendously. It speaks about certain poems, themes, and elements speaking to specific people, while others will just never really love them.
Reviews:
Publishers Weekly- "Love words play with them find the meanings of those you don't know," writes poet Michael Dugan. He, along with 32 other poets including Ralph Fletcher, Douglas Florian, Naomi Shihab Nye and Jane Yolen offer words of encouragement and a few poems of their own in Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets, ed. by Paul B. Janeczko. "Notes on Contributors" complete the handsome volume. (Apr.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Children's Literature-Budding poets need look no further to find a wealth of advice and inspiration to motivate and challenge them in their endeavor to write. Thirty-two renowned writers including Douglas Florian, Nikki Grimes, Karla Kuskin, X.J. Kennedy, Jane Yolen, and Lee Bennett Hopkins offer their support in the form of a Dear Poet letter followed by several of their poems. Over and over the message is clear; only readers become writers. Young poets are admonished to keep a notebook for recording their thoughts and to be prepared to edit, refine, rewrite, and read, read, read. As an anthology, this is an excellent variety of poetry from some of today's most respected poets, but when you add the motivational words of wisdom, the result is a superior book. Photos and notes on the contributors round out this crisply designed volume. In the hands of the right person it will be just the encouragement needed to experiment and take risks. In the words of Douglas Florian, there is only one rule to remember, and this is "Poetry Rules!" 2002, Candlewick Press, — Beverley Fahey
Connections:
This book is an excellent way to teach and motivate young writers. A creative writing or poetry class would benefit hugely from having an instructor present one of these authors a day, with their advice and their poem. It would be fun to see what a student could create with their inspiration.
Spotlight Poem:
Of all of the poems, this poem by Janet Wong was my favorite.