The Aspiring Poet's Journal
Grade 9 Up—Friot offers a page-a-day crash course in the art of writing poetry. Every one of its 365 pages includes an inspiring quote from which a spin-off assignment is derived. On Day 2, for example, a quote by Jean L'Anselme reads, "We may not know what poetry is, but we recognize it when we see it." The task: "What does poetry mean to you? Give as many definitions as possible." The reader's journey unfurls from such early exploratory exercises into widely varied prompts, each designed to reveal a new facet of the creative process. They range from playing with form, sound, and space to creating an interpretive dance, observing street signs as inspiration, and rearranging parts of old poems. Ample white space is aptly balanced by Tullet's vibrant, mixed-media artwork. Different fonts enable young people to home in on the varied elements of each page, resulting in a playful, rather than frenetic, layout. Simply stated, the term "journal" doesn't do justice to the possibilities held within this treasure. Teen poets will undoubtedly embrace the opportunity to internalize, personalize, and take ownership of the poetry-writing experience. Teachers, if they're able to stop themselves from keeping this title for personal use, will find it a versatile, low-pressure tool for instruction.—Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CTCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.