A Child's Anthology of Poetry

A Child's Anthology of Poetry, edited by Elizabeth Hauge Sword with Victoria Flournoy McCarthy

Do you find poetry boring? Dull? Dreary? If so, then you have not yet read this book. It is an anthology of some of the most interesting and entertaining poems I have read. They range from light-hearted poems by such authors as Emily Dickinson, to dark tragedies like the famous poem, “The Highwayman.” All in all, this book will give you a round diet of some of the best poetry written. Even people who strongly detest poetry might just change their mind after reading this collection.

Inspirations 4 Writing

After reading some of the poems in “A Child’s Anthology of Poetry” try your hand at writing a poem or two of your own.

Stuck? Here are some suggestions to get you started. Study the rhythm of the words in “The Highwayman.” Why is it as haunting is it is? How can you infuse this style into your own poetry?

Read a poem by Emily Dickinson and then write your own poem from the unique outlook of life that she possessed. See if you can see things in a new and whimsical way, like she did. Keep studying the other poems in the book for inspiration. Who knows? You might even become the next Robert Frost!

Book Review of "The School Story" by Andrew Clements

Natalie Nelson is a normal 6^th grader…and she intends to stay that way, even though she has just written a novel that her best friend Zoe insists should be published. At last Natalie gives in a little and lets her English teacher read it. Her English teacher loves it almost more than Zoe. The next step is getting published. Natalie’s mom is an editor for a publishing company and the obvious thing to do would be to give it to her. But Natalie knows that if her mom’s boss once found out that Natalie wrote the book, she would never let it get published. That is when Zoe comes up with a harebrained scheme. Natalie can turn the book in using a pen name and Zoe can pose as her agent. Their English teacher promises to help.  The only question that now remains is will it work?

This book has been a favorite of mine ever since I  read it several years ago. I was about Natalie’s age and, like Natalie, a writer who deeply desired to have a book published. This book reminded me that my young age does not have to be a barrier to this dream. Andrew Clements writes in a compelling style that makes it very hard to put the book down. When you do finish the book, rest assured that you will someday want to pick it up and read it again!    

Inspirations 4 Writing

One of the best pieces of encouragement an author can give is that you are never too young to become a writer or even a published author. “The School Story” inspired me in this way, and I hope it inspires other young writers as well!

Book Review of "The Ides of April" by Mary Ray

Hylas is a Greek slave. His master is the affluent Caius Pomponius. One day Hylas wakes to discover that his master was murdered in bed while asleep in a room in his villa. Suspicion instantly falls on the household slaves; who else in the villa could have committed the vile crime? In Rome when one slave was suspected of murder every single slave in the house was executed, whether man, woman or child. Soldiers soon arrive, arrest the slaves, and herd them to prison. Hylas, however, manages to escape arrest and flees the house. It is only a matter of time before he will be missed and the soldiers start searching for him. Hylas is frantic, and for good reasons. His own mother is one of the slaves facing torture and death in a Roman prison. Trusting his life into the hands of people he hardly knows, Hylas must somehow prove that the murderer was not one of the slaves while evading capture himself.

This exciting mystery set just after the time of Christ is so thrilling that I could not put it down. The author connected me emotionally with the characters and compelled me to pause a moment to imagine how it might have felt like to be a slave in Rome. I found myself growing exceedingly angry at the distorted form of justice displayed by the Roman Empire in such murder cases.

At the same time, I was moved by the mercy showed to Hylas by people who are virtual strangers. When an author can invoke so many different emotions while juggling a complicated cast of characters I cannot help but be greatly inspired. 

                       

 Inspirations 4 Writing

How does it feel like to be a slave? How does it feel like to be an escapee with your life on the line? Ponder these questions and try to imagine yourself in such circumstances. Then write feelingly about a character who is either a slave, an escapee running from some danger, or both.