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mxunsmiley's review against another edition
5.0
I first listened to the audiobook, but I fell asleep halfway through because that is unfortunately my nature with audiobooks at times (especially after lunch--mayhap I make bad decisions), and only woke up for the last two poems. So luckily the ebook was also available, which I checked out and read... and it hit me a lot harder and deeper. Ewing has the same emotional impact and force as Audre Lorde, I think, in typically short pieces. I especially loved the evocation of scenes as if they were lifted from a storybook, particularly those alluding to Exodus. She has a mighty use of language in those poems especially. Definitely interested in reading her other works. Sorry for falling asleep also... frankly her voice is engaging, I just listened to this at the wrong time as I said, so I do recommend the audiobook, because listening to poetry read by the author themself is always a treat and experience.
dinasamimi's review against another edition
4.0
I love a poetry collection that hits on one very specific focus. A lot of primary source information around the 1919 Chicago Race Riot builds the framework of the collection and Ewing sings her love of Black Chicago around it. Great range and style.
kdahlo's review against another edition
5.0
Strongly evocative, I really appreciated the interweaving of poems with shreds of historical context. The poems are all in dialogue with quotes from a report about 1919 'race riots' in Chicago. I was very moved by many of these poems, and there was a great variety of voice and structure. I had a few favorites but it seems silly to describe a poem since the poem itself is both more succinct and more beautiful. I recommend reading it yourself.
tessatea333's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Graphic: Racism
theseventhl's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely stunning, emotionally devastating collection of poetry that also functions as a history lesson and a warning that we as a society have not gotten better since 1919 in terms of the systemic abuse and violence against Black people in the United States. I hope people also read Ewing's GHOSTS IN THE SCHOOLYARD which is a non-fiction book about the way the Chicago public school system has failed Black youth.
cortingbooks's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Minor: Child death and Death