Scan barcode
f18's review
3.0
I love graphic storytelling and I love poetry but I don't know that I like the two together, at least when they weren't originally conceived as one whole from the start. Much of the artwork felt like it added nothing. I wanted more conversation between words and images.
FYI The discussion questions were solely focused on the poems and not the illustration.
My star ratings are not a reflection on the poets or the quality of the artwork but how well I think the artists interpreted the poems and translated them to a different medium.
2.9 ⭐ average
3.5 - Voyages by Miller Oberman, illus by Rye Hickman
There were some panels I really loved.
cw:
2 - You know what living means? Tits... by Diane Seuss, illus by Liana Kangas
Poem was good however the choice of imagery BAFFLES me. Its playing off the nostalgia of lost youth sure but clearly the author and I had very different connections to the poem. Is it supposed to be a shock by contrast thing?
cw:
4 - Good Bones by Maggie Smith, illus by Carola Borelli
The imagery chosen was simple but effective, and not a direct translation. What I like about poetry is the openness of interpretation and having multiple meanings at once and I think the comic acheives that.
3 - Soft Landing by Sokunthary Svay and Annie Heath, illus by Mia Casesa
cw:
4 - Rubble Girl by Jenn Givhan, illus by Sara Wooley
cw:
3 - Poem by Kenzie Allen, illus by Weshoyot Alvitre
cw:
3.5 - Gender Studies by Caroline Hagood, illus by Stelladia
cw:
2.5 - A Love Letter to the Decades... (excerpt) by JP Howard, illus by Soo Lee
2 - Units & Increments (excerpt) by Shira Dentz, illus by Jessica Lynn
2.5 - X by Khadijah Queen, illus by Ashley Woods
4 - Tapestry by Khaty Xiong, illus by Morgan Beem
5 - Half Girl, Then Elegy by Omotara Jones, illus by Ayşegül Sınav and Alexia Veldhuisen
3 - To the Cherry Blossoms... by Kayleb Rae Candrilli, illus by Hazel Newlevant
2.5 - Bassan by Ruth Awad, illus by Emily Pearson
cw:
Obviously the imagery isn't literal but I felt like the comic too literally regurgitated that imagery :/
4 - Speak-House by Carolina Ebeid, illus by Marika Cresta and Gab Contreras
cw:
The doll page felt a bit too straightforward imo.
3.5 - University Toxic (excerpt) by Laura Hinton, illus by Kaylee Rowena
cw:
I really liked the use of the lettering and paneling to convey someone's space and boundaries being violated.
1 - Incantation by Paul Tran, illus ny Jude Vigants
Where is the end of the poem?! Those last few lines are important! Its not even listed as an excerpt but even if it were I don't understand why youd only cut a few words.
2 - Capitalism Ruins Everything, Even Witch Craft by Kendra DeColo, illus by Ned Barnett and Lesley Atlansky
cw:
Didn't love the lettering (Cardinal Rae)/panel layout.
4 - Drown by Venus Thrash, illus by Y Sanders
cw:
2 - Les Anées de Guerre by Virginia Konchan, illus by Takeia Marie and Gab Contreras
cw:
Feels reductive.
2.5 - Settlement by Angélica Villarreal, illus by Ronnie Garcia
cw:
2.5 - Dancing with Kiko on the Moon by Rosebun Ben-Oni, illus by Rio Burton
DNF due to sensitivity to content - Birth by Wendy Chin-Tanner, illus by Miss Lasko-Gross
cw:
thearthoewiththesocks's review against another edition
2.0
This rating is of the concept itself. Such a strong idea in concept that unfortunately, in application, fails to capture the beauty of the poems. My personal favourite was Capitalism Ruins Everything, Even Witch Craft by Kendra DeColo.
shay43geek's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Pregnancy
sophie_sciuto's review against another edition
3.5
i picked this up at my local library because i love graphic novels but have a hard time with poetry sometimes. i think the illustrations did help but i think i need to accept that poems maybe just aren't for me.
em_harring's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!
I loved this collection. The artwork is *gorgeous* and I loved how the artists interpreted the poems they worked on. I think this is a perfect book for those who may not feel as comfortable reading poetry on its own, because they have the guiding interpretation of the poem in the comic.
I also loved how each of the contributors wrote about bodies and identities. This is such an important contribution to the growing non-binary and trans literary canon.
Would highly recommend!
I loved this collection. The artwork is *gorgeous* and I loved how the artists interpreted the poems they worked on. I think this is a perfect book for those who may not feel as comfortable reading poetry on its own, because they have the guiding interpretation of the poem in the comic.
I also loved how each of the contributors wrote about bodies and identities. This is such an important contribution to the growing non-binary and trans literary canon.
Would highly recommend!
kaylielongley's review against another edition
3.0
As an intersectional feminist and writer myself, this anthology touches my heart, giving space to cis female, trans, and non-binary artists is an important task. But this feels unfinished. Many poems take new life by accompanying drawing, coloring, and lettering by more non-cis male artists. The execution is sloppy, though, as the book strays from gender and sexuality topics as promised by its title. I cheered for "Cherry Blossoms", adventured along to "Dancing with Kiko on the Moon", and was left befuddled by "Good Bones." Though editing team Wendy and Tyler Chin-Tanner wisely share the poems without graphics to give space for the original words, some of these poems are longer than the graphics or are only exurbs of larger works. In addition, the artist bios and discussion questions are at the very end of the book, and are poorly edited, with only a handful of prompts for future learning. I'm disappointed by this book, but adding an editing/peer reviewing team outside of the Chin-Tanner duo (ie, me?) could make the next edition more thematically sound and therefore more thoughtful and empowering for both readers and contributors. This was a fun way to honor Womxn's History Month!