I Am Wings: Poems About Love

Arranged into two parts, Falling In and Falling Out, an anthology of poetry explores the many faces and forms of love, capturing the uncertainty, triumph, joy, and pain of first love.

Grade 7-12-Written from the point of view of a smitten young man, these 33 short, free-verse poems narrate the ups and downs of a teen romance. They begin with the "First Look" at the high school lockers, move to the beach, and conclude with the painful realization that the girl has lost interest in him. The last poem, "Seeds," suggests that the cycle is about to begin again. The collection includes an allusion to homosexual love in "Justin and Frank," which the writer observes with sensitivity and discretion. While this book tells a story that has been told before, it does so with fresh images and without cliches. A black-and-white photograph begins each section ("Falling In" and "Falling Out") and provides visual closure. Students will readily identify with this fine book, and fans of Mel Glenn's Back to Class (Clarion, 1988) will find similar satisfaction here.
Judy Greenfield, Rye Free Reading Room, NY
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 5-7. More dramatic monologue than poetry, these 33 simple pieces make up a kind of short story about a boy falling in and out of love. The short lines, everyday words, and contemporary imagery make this accessible to even reluctant readers; and the spacious design of the book, with clear type and a few photographs (including a cover picture in pink and blue), will lure readers of both sexes to the ever-popular theme. From "First Look" and "First Kiss" to "First Fight" and "Changing Channels," kids will recognize their world. The vignettes are immediate: passing notes in the classroom, talking on the phone, meeting at the beach or the video store, watching cable TV. Occasionally a line astonishes you with sound and sense--for example, when he explores her hand "notch by knuckle" in the movie dark. A few lines rhyme, but mostly the rhythm is casual and conversational, the feeling gentle. This is romance. Hazel Rochman