Poetry Review 2 - Spinning through the Universe

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Frost, Helen. 2004. SPINNING THROUGH THE UNIVERSE. New York:

Frances Foster Books. ISBN: 03743711598.

PLOT SUMMARY
Helen Frost joins different forms of poetry with the unique voice from each student in Ms. William’s 5th grade class. The book is divided into 2 sections; Explorers and Elm Trees with each section introduced by a piece of writing by Ms. Williams, the janitor, Mr. Carlson, appears at the end of the first section and Ms. Williams closes the story at the end of section two by revealing to us that she is expecting twins. The first section introduces us to the distinctive personality of each student while the second section reveals to us that the children are growing up and addressing the demons they face, such as the death of a father, finding a shelter, having a biracial baby sister, success in math, a breast cancer surviving mother, and an abusive father.
At the end of the book, Frost includes extraordinarily detailed notes on each of the forms used, it’s definition as well as the particular poem in which the form occurs.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The relatively small book is an easy, quick read, yet, on second glance, much deeper than originally imagined. To the untrained eye, the forms presented are subtly present.
The poems, including the brief Haiku, are bursting with emotion, experiences and imagery. The rhythm can seem sporadic at times, but is better understood after reading the ending of the book. The authenticity of voice and timelessness are continually present, giving the aspired “distilled” look at the souls, thoughts and experiences of these children. This book would appeal to an older elementary and middle/high school audience, due to the complexity of form and the visual imagery needed for a better understand of the student’s lives.







REVIEW EXCERPTS

Kirkus starred (March 1, 2004)

“Appropriate, original imagery and understated, natural voices make these poems sensitive and insightful. Since the students sometimes sound older than fifth-graders, the collection will appeal to readers and teachers in middle school and high school. The notes on how the form in each poem works are of particular value to teachers eager to guide students in their own poetry writing.”
Publishers Weekly (April 5, 2004)
“In this collection of brief, deceptively casual poetic monologues, Frost (Keesha's House) brings to life the voices and spirit of a fifth-grade classroom as she spotlights each member of room 214. Themes such as the disappearance of Jon's bike ("Without my bike, my legs are empty. It/ has tricks you have to know to ride it right") and newcomer Shawna's struggle to fit in are replayed from different viewpoints, allowing readers a glimpse of characters' internal conflicts and relationships. Cast slightly apart from her classmates is artistic Naomi, whose haikus about nature ("What's that squirrel doing?/ Naomi, pay attention!/ Nose twitch-tail swish-gone...") provide effective transitions between subjects and moods. Like Naomi, Mrs. Williams, the teacher, remains on the sidelines, wistfully observing her students. While jealousies, rifts and misunderstandings among classmates abound, the fifth-graders' ability to unite is poignantly conveyed after one student's father is killed. In a detailed afterword, Frost explains the exact poetic forms used in each entry (in Part I, anything from sestina to rondelet, in Part II, an acrostic whose "armature" is a phrase uttered by the same speaker in Part I). Readers may be surprised at the complexity of rules governing the writing, so naturally does the author seem to capture the poetic essence of the children's voices-and she makes it look like so much fun that readers may want to try out some of the forms themselves.”

CONNECTIONS
Great read for teachers, especially in lower socio-economic populations, to help provide empathy and possibly change perspectives without judging behavior so immediately.
I found this book enlightening because it cause me to see “behavioral/discipline problems” with a different lens
I learned so much more about the depth of the characters after reading reviews from others.
I feel empowered to strive to understand my students even better.