Reviews

Cast Away: Poems for Our Time by

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breakfastgrey's review against another edition

1.0

I loved the pitch for this and it came well recommended, but this collection fell absolutely flat for me. It ended up feeling repetitive, preachy, and dull. A couple of the poems connected with me, but the cover really shouldn't be the best part of the book. It is a great cover, though.

maycie_reads's review against another edition

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inspiring fast-paced

5.0

This poetry collection by Naomi Shihab Nye moved me. I loved every poem in here and felt inspired. As someone from a different background than the author, I found it interesting to see someone else's views on a topic I care about. This poetry collection is a series of poems about trash. Literally trash. Nye also talks about the uniting of people through experiences. My favorite poetry collection, and my new favorite poet.

patchworkbunny's review against another edition

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3.0

I'm not much of a poetry reader and this was for a challenge, so I can't really compare this to other poetry collections for young readers. I did like the idea of poems about litter, it can tell a story after all, as well as rubbish being a serious threat to the environment. I liked some of the poems, especially those focused on her litter picking walks, but others just seemed like random thoughts jotted down. And then there's the smattering of politics that felt a bit out of place.

librarianoliviarae's review against another edition

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3.0

I liked this one...and now I'm inspired to start doing trash walks.

Some quotes:

"I couldn't save the world, but I could pick up trash."

"Flatbeds and factories, making shiny newspaper inserts advertising what few people seem to want or need. How many of us throw them away before we look at a newspaper? How many glossy scraps? O magnificent giant trees, your lives were in vain."

"It's fine not to know how to solve everything, It's still a room to sit in."

"Who throws away water bottles still full? Insult to water. Three people on one block insulted water."

"Nothing a child ever does is trash. It is practice."

ebralz's review against another edition

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2.0

First poetry is really not my thing. Second, I was hoping to feel inspired by this book and I was not. I already know we are a wasteful society. Reading about someone else picking up trash and the trash they picked up does not move me to do it. Not saying the poems were poorly written, just not my scene. Plus I hate the cover. This is a book for young adults and older and the cover looks like it should be for a second grader.

annebennett1957's review against another edition

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4.0

I am completely charmed by this book and I'm also ready to run out and find oe of those garbage picker upper thingys and some gloves so I can join the project to make my neighborhood tidier.