The Pain Tree: And Other Teenage Angst-Ridden Poetry

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Pain Tree and Other Teenage Angst-Ridden Poetry is a book of original poetry written by and for teens. Dramatic, plaintive, despairing, and hopeful, this unusual collection has been gathered together by Esther Pearl Watson and Mark Todd and dramatically illustrated with their stunning paintings.

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature

Angstridden is right, with titles such as "Waste o' Time," "Hate," and "Maggot Memories." Twentyfive poems, all written by teenagers, eXpress emotions teenagers are eXperiencing in growing up, being accepted by their peers, finding their true identity, and dealing with fear, anger, jealousy, and pain. Some deal with inner turmoil"...you can't tell, If I lie, Or if I want to die, It's me You'll have to find." Some deal with the unfairness of the way the world works"...the street children's tears of despair Mingle with melting ice cream on the long trudge home." Others deal with love, homoseXuality, acceptance, loss of individuality, racism, and poverty. Most are free verse. These poems would be eXcellent starting points for teenagers to eXpress their own emotions, to see the value of a personal journal, and to use as an avenue for creative writing. Even without writing their own thoughts, teenage readers can feel they are not alone and that other teens eXperience the same pains of growing up. 2000, Houghton Mifflin, $16.00 and $6.95. Ages 9 to 14. Reviewer: Janet L. Rose 0618015582

VOYA

This slim volume actually began as a zine collection of painful teenage memories written by friends of Todd, who added his own illustrations to complete each poem. Intending to turn the collection into a book, the authors scoured the Internet for teen poetry, even receiving some help from the editors of READ and Seventeen magazines. Topics run the gamut from homophobia to creativityimpairing directions given for a class assignment. Complementing the poetry is the artwork of the compilers. Brief profiles of each author at the end of the book add significantly in some cases to the reader's understanding of the poetry. Readers will be struck by the brutal honesty of this collection. Anyone working with teens knows how abrupt their straightforward manner might seem at times, but in these poems, it only adds to the poignancy of their topics. Watson and Todd have managed to compile a collection that will strike a chord with teen readers or with anyone who remembers his or her teenage years. Most enlightening are the poems dug up by older writers from their adolescent years. Teens will be surprised that "old people" had feelings similar to what they are experiencing now and that the emotions were expressed in poetry. The cover art, the title, and the brevity of the volume will draw young readers. With the appeal of poetry today, this collection is a musthave for any library serving young adults. Illus. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2000, Houghton Mifflin, Ages 16 to 18, 64p, $16. Reviewer: Lynn Evarts

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