These Are the Words

September 1, 2023
British Indian poet and playwright Gill's first work for young adults is a tender, feminist examination of hard topics that honors quiet moments of healing and connection. This poetry collection, organized around the four seasons, has sections that begin with a line of advice for each sign in the zodiac. Many of the poems focus on women's bonds and identity: There are meditations on the women who have come before and those who will come after, emphasizing enduring mutual support. Romantic love, with partners of different genders, and self-love are explored next. The family section delves into toxic family ties and different parental reactions to coming out. There's also a powerful meditation on colorism: "As a child, the aunties called my sister Coal. / Coal because of the colour of her skin, / not because of her ability to become fuel, / to glow so brightly despite them." The next few sections--on hurting, protest, and body image--are empowering, inclusive reminders of one's value. Topics like microaggressions, climate change, and the importance of voting are addressed: "You deserve a future filled with hope." The concluding pieces about healing, friendship, and found family are soothing and beautiful. The concise poems, many of which contain abstract ruminations that feel relevant to many moments of joy and pain, combined with Gill's black-and-white sketches, are accessible and welcoming. A gentle emphasis on hope and healing makes this a compassionate, restorative collection. (author's note) (Poetry. 14-18)

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October 27, 2023

Gr 9 Up-British Indian writer Gill, an "Instapoet" phenomenon, delivers a young adult poetry collection with a feminist perspective. Divided into seasons, each section begins with astrological predictions that are trite in comparison to the poetry. Several poems create all-encompassing second-person statements, such as "Survival," which presents a litany of how "you" feel after surviving brutal trauma, like rape. Pronoun usage is vital in such works, as in the exemplary choice of "you" in "When You Come Out To Your Parents And Are Met With Love" and its partner poem where "you" are not met with love: "Do not consider the closet again./ It is already overflowing." Powerful poems regarding toxic relationships, positive relationships, colorism, racism, microaggressions, protesting, voting, body image, the environment, social media messaging, and cultural influences speak directly to youth. Several of the poems are accompanied by black-and-white drawings that fill white space with moving images like doodles on homework. Often, Gill employs a prose and listing format, though free verse couplets are most frequent. A table of contents and a trigger warning is included, although Gill speaks in broad strokes, offering safe spaces in these poems. VERDICT Recommended for libraries serving young adults who are 15 and up, and especially for fans of Gill's work.-Rachel Zuffa

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