A review by serendipitysbooks
Above Ground by Clint Smith

emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

 Parenthood is a key focus of Above Ground and I was instantly transported back to my days as a new parent and the parent of a young children. Smith beautifully captures the love between parent and child, the wonder at experiencing the world again through their eyes, of learning more than you ever thought possible about whatever their latest passion happens to be, and of course the exhaustion that so often accompanies those early years. He’s a master of humour with gems like Ode to Electric Baby Swing and Zoom School with a Toddler. And he’s also a master at delivering a punch to the gut with poems highlighting racism in America and the fears justifiably held by Black parents especially for their sons. The juxtaposition of how society views Black toddlers (cute) with how society views Black male youth (a dangerous threat) was startling and effective. 
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