3 stars A beautiful collection of poems that incorporate storytelling, song, and reflection into stunning free verse. The poems explore themes of death, grief, birth, nature, creation, culture, dreams, lore, memory, and family. Each poem is followed by a blurb from Harjo that provides information on the context, inspiration, and/or reflection on the poem, which…
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by Joy Harjo Foreword by Sandra Cisneros 3 stars Spanning the first 50 years of her poetry publications, Joy Harjo shares some of her most well-known and influential poems in one collection. The selections cover many events in Harjo’s life, from romantic relationships to the death of her mother, 9/11 to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each…
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by Joy Harjo Art by Dana Tiger 5 stars A stunning edition of a powerful poem of grief and healing. It was nice having read this poem previously in An American Sunrise: Poems. Because I was already familiar with the poem, I could focus on its interplay with the artwork in this edition. The poem itself…
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4 stars Fantastically written, this collection explores history and the human connection to the land. Through stunning verse, Harjo shares stories and imagery of her tribe’s forced removal from their ancestorial home, her return to her family’s land, stories of her family’s legacy, her own personal experiences, and creative new tales featuring well-known characters from…
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Selected by Ella Risbridger Illustrated by Anna Shepeta 3 stars A nice anthology of poetry from a variety of poets from around the globe and across time. Includes some classic poets like Emily Dickinson, Sappho, and Christina Rossetti, more modern voices like Amanda Gorman, Joy Harjo, and Mary Oliver, and some new voices including poems…
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Illustrated by Michaela Goade 5 stars A truly beautiful book. This picture book adaptation of Joy Harjo’s poem, “Remember”, adds stunning illustrations to a powerful piece that highlights the interconnectedness of the natural world. Goade’s artwork is absolutely stunning. Wonderful use of color and imagery. Each page is a treat. The book wonderfully depicts themes…
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4 stars A wonderful collection of poetry and a great starting place for those interested in reading more Indigenous authors. This book features poets from around the country with a diverse inclusion of styles, themes, and heritages and tribes represented. It provides a nice sampling from which readers can explore more from the poets they…
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