Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 2002 (Vol. 70, No. 16))
Appelt, best known for her books for younger readers (Bubba and Beau, Best Friends, p. 328, etc.), has also taught poetry to children and adults. Her own poems here describe the lives and longings of high-school students. From the boy who secretly washes the name of the girl he has a crush on from the boy's room stall to the girl who can't get over getting her driver's license, Appelt focuses on the large and minute dramas of teenage life, giving readers a springboard for their own writing. The 26 poems in the first section are followed by a page about each poem-describing Appelt's inspiration and techniques, and suggesting starting points for poems about a similar longing. Though most of the poems are free verse, there are a few in standard forms, or which employ some device. There is a villanelle, a sestina, and haiku, as well as a series of acrostics, and a "poem in five acts," with a voice and imagery evocative of Shakespeare, about the two teenagers who are playing Romeo and Juliet in the school play. Occasionally, Appelt's adult sensibility comes through too strongly (in a poem about what a boy takes with him when he leaves home, in which the nostalgia feels like the mother's; or in a series of elegies for "those we lost too soon": Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain . . . ; but most of her poems will speak directly to her readers, who will also appreciate her suggestions, and her excellent bibliography of adult books on writing. 2002, Henry Holt, $16.95. Category: Nonfiction. Ages 13 up. © 2002 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Monica Irwin (The Lorgnette - Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 15, No. 2))
This book is divided into two separate sections. The first is several wonderful poems filled with the yearnings, beliefs, and humor found in the everyday life of teens everywhere. With titles such as "In the Nurse's Office," "The Fat Girl," and "The Yearbook Photographer," one is bound to find something with which to relate. The second section could be used by future poets wishing for advice and additional training. However, it could also prove to be very useful to English teachers wanting more information and ideas for writing poetry and stories in the classroom. This is a book that will prove to be popular with students and teachers alike. It should be found in every high school and middle school poetry collection. Nonfiction (811), Highly Recommended. Grades 7 and up. 2002, Holt, 114p, $16.95. Ages 12 up.

Lucy Schall (VOYA, October 2002 (Vol. 25, No. 4))
As in the author's acclaimed Just People & Paper/Pen/Poem: A Young Writer's Way to Begin (Absey & Co., 1997), Appelt's poems are presented in a captivating and multifaceted collection. The first part, Homeroom, contains her description of process. Suggestions for writing appear in the second section, Study Hall. Topics range from the private-love, abuse, and dreams-to the public-cultural icons, performance, and appearance. Tones vary from whimsical to tragic. Exercises suggest and explain sophisticated structures such as sestina, sonnet, and villanelle, as well as the simpler forms of limerick, pun, and acrostic. Most poems are subtle, sophisticated, and respectful perceptions of high school life to which teenagers will enthusiastically respond. Characters such the boy who plays an imaginary guitar wherever he goes, the girl whose tattoo transforms her into the "Dragon Girl of Dogwood High," and the would-be boyfriend who erases his love's reputation from the bathroom stall are appealing and poignant. The opener, "Homeroom," compares writing poems to establishing one's refuge. "Elegies for Those We Lost Too Soon" honors cultural heroes such as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Kurt Cobain. Appelt's gentle suggestions sustain eager writers and encourage more tentative ones. Pairing familiar subjects and challenging techniques builds a useful bridge to difficult and complex classical works. The list of helpful books on writing poetry should add Paul B. Janeczko's books How to Write Poetry (Scholastic, 1999/VOYA August 1999) and Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets (Candlewick Press, 2002/VOYA June 2002), both excellent sources with similar approaches and complementary perspectives. Further Reading. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2002, Henry Holt, 144p, $16.95. Ages 12 to 18.