Banned Poetry Books to Treasure
In honor of Banned Book Week 20204, here’s a list that showcases some poetry anthologies, memoirs and novels-in-verse that I treasure. Each of these titles highlight points of view that deserve greater representation - but unfortunately, they have all been subjected to censorship in this era of unprecedented book bans.
THE FLAG OF CHILDHOOD: POEMS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST is a thought-provoking anthology featuring powerful poems (including translations) selected by Poet Laureate Emeritus Naomi Shihab Nye and written by poets from or with connections to the Middle East, including Palestine. Re-reading this book felt particularly relevant to me at this time of terrible violence in Gaza - and I will be sharing a few of the poems this Thursday at the Rochambeau library, during an event hosted by the RI ACLU. Nye has won numerous prestigious awards and honors, including four Pushcart Prizes and the Paterson Poetry Prize.
As this image shows, Young Peoples Poet Laureate Emeritus, Jacqueline Woodson's memoir in verse (about this esteemed poet's childhood in Brooklyn in the 1960's and 70's) for middle grade readers is one of the most highly decorated books to have been published in recent times. BROWN GIRL DREAMING swept the award lists the year it was published; among the many shiny stickers that grace its cover are the National Book Award Gold Medal, Coretta Scott King Award, Newbery Honor etc. This beloved book has already become part of the literary canon for young people. B,ut despite (or perhaps because) it is surely destined to become a classic, BROWN GIRL DREAMING has also unfortunately been subjected to book challenges.
Another important, powerful and at times searing memoir-in-verse, ORDINARY HAZARDS is targeted at young adults. Winner of a Printz honor and a Siebert honor, this is a story about surviving and surmounting abuse and hardship. Poet, artist, novelist and woman of more talents that I can count with the fingers of both hands, Nikki Grimes is a New York Times bestselling author, recipient of the 2020 ALAN Award for outstanding contributions to young adult literature, the 2017 Children's Literature Legacy Award, the 2016 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and the 2006 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children.
Aida Salazar’s debut novel celebrates growing up and rejoices in it, in the voice of a girl whose body is changing as she experiences puberty and her first period. It has won the author comparisons to Judy Blume; but unfortunately, Salazar’s work has also been pulled off bookshelves in school libraries, just as Blume’s books were. Salazar’s work has received critical acclaim and won numerous awards including: a Caldecott Honor, the Malka Penn Award, the Américas Award, Tomás Rivera Book Award, International Latino Book Awards, California Library Association Beatty Award, Northern CA Book Award, Jane Addams Peace Honor, an NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor among other distinctions.
OCTOBER MOURNING: A SONG FOR MATTHEW SHEPARD by Lesléa Newman is a heart-breaking and ground-breaking book which speaks eloquently about anti-LGBTQ2+ bigotry and hate. Seven of the poems from this collection are included in the libretto Considering Matthew Shepard, a fusion oratorio composed by Craig Hella Johnson. Newman has received numerous literary award, including a NEA poetry fellowship, two ALA Stonewall Honors, two National Jewish Book Awards and more. And she is unfortunately no stranger to book bans - her picture book classic, Heather Has Two Mommies, was banned several years ago, as has this tribute to Matthew Shepard.
A WREATH FOR EMMETT TILL is a soul-searing collection of sonnets that honor the life of Emmett Till, a young teen who was brutally murdered in 1955. Nelson is a professor emeritus at the University of Connecticut, the former Poet Laureate of Connecticut, a winner of the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, a Printz honoree, and a National Book Award Finalist - to name a few on her long list of stunning achievements. This book remains, for me, an eloquent demonstration of the way in which poetry can help us find our way through the chaos, hate and pain that may threaten to overshadow our lives and our world.
