Daniel Berenson

When kids are little, they love poetry. Think Dr. Suess, Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky. As they grow older, however, that love fades and by the time they’re in middle school, it’s just about gone. VOICES: An Owner's Guide to the Adolescent Mind brings back that excitement and joy.

Poems taught in middle schools or high schools usually come from textbooks or from some fancy schmancy “recommended” list—with no input by kids of course—and that means the poems are often dull and hard to understand. And do you think students want to read these poems aloud for fun? Fuggedaboutit! School poetry usually sends kids on a snooze cruise.

Not these poems! VOICES poetry is designed for sharing, performing, and videoing. All of them rhyme, have a good beat, and many come with multiple speakers or choruses that remind you of songs.

Not all of them are happy. That wouldn’t be realistic, would it? They are as different as people are different. But here are some of the roles you can play from our VOICES poems:

·       Being a cool, confident geek. Really!

·       Going out on your very first date (Will you be a master or will it be a disaster?)

·       Letting people know what it’s like to be bullied

·       Arguing whether teachers are good or bad

·       Declaring what a world-wide success you’ll be when you grow up

·       Being homeless and trying to hide that fact from everybody

Get ready for poetry that rocks, people! Poetry that speaks straight to kids. Think you can handle it?