PRAISE FOR PLEASE EXCUSE THIS POEM
“This eclectic mix of poetry from some of the most up-and-coming poets provides a glimpse into contemporary life. Poems include the heart-wrenching and the hilarious, the bitingly sarcastic and the utterly stoic. The poems tackle a variety of difficult topics, including sexual abuse, racial profiling, drug use, and family problems, as well as more hopeful subjects, and highly relatable ones. Appended are short biographies of each of the authors and their answers to insightful questions (the last book of poems they read, their idea of misery). Readers will find the afterword, where the editors explain their reason for creating the collection, a valuable bonus. The poems are not organized in a way that require readers to explore the titles in order, which will appeal to busy and reluctant readers. Those with an interest in poetry will devour these relatable selections.” — SLJ
“Incisive and occasionally brash, the selected works by these poets on the rise showcase the challenges of 21st-century living for readers who are ready for them.”–Kirkus Reviews
