moeshasdiary's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
i am obsessed with the book. especially dinosaurs in the hood and lion king in the hood
i am obsessed with the whole thing but especially the need for expressions of black joy.
i am obsessed with the whole thing but especially the need for expressions of black joy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Homophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs
lovelynovellas's review
emotional
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, and Police brutality
woolgatherer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Smith unflinchingly shares the harsh, violent reality that Black communities face using movies to deliver their message, these poems dripping with heartbreak and frustration. I especially liked how they broke the fourth wall at times to make the reader self-aware of their own identity, especially those who identify as white. I especially think of the line: “reader, what does it / feel like to be safe? white?” which really packs a punch. “Dear White America” does something similar.
For such a short collection (and I so wish there were more poems), so much was evoked, so much was presented, and these poems are well worth reading again.
Some favorites: “Lion King in the Hood,” “Short Film,” “Dear White America,” and “Dinosaurs in the Hood”
Read for the Sealey Challenge.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Grief, Homophobia, and Violence
alexus_sb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Racism
niniwa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Racism
Moderate: Gun violence
spiritedfaraway's review
emotional
reflective
5.0
There are not words to describe how amazing this is. Danez Smith has such a fantastic way of weaving things together and if you only read some poetry, definitely let it be theirs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Gun violence, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Violence, and Murder
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