Author: John Grandits
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Sandpiper (May 21, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0618851321
ISBN-13: 978-0618851324
Synopsis: Jessie likes blue lipstick, hates her brother (most of the time), doesn't like trophy-zombie jocks or pep rallies, can get a little cranky and loves her kitty. All these things are revealed in John Grandits' funny, sarcastic splice of high school life called "Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems."
Review: Grandits uses concrete poetry, poetry in which the words have been arranged in such a way as to form images, to both tell and illustrate the story of Jessie, a high school girl who marches to the beat of her own bagpipes (or cello, as the case may be). Grandits' use of letters and words to create images reveal his sly sense of humor and make the reader want to laugh out loud (especially the way he uses the word "bOObs" to illustrate the cheerleaders' "attributes" in the poem "Pep Rally"). Grandits' use of one long line of flowing, bouncing text to illustrate the movement of a volleyball in "Volleyball Practice" is inspired. His use of unconventional text placement really helps the reader see inside the protagonists head and see what she was thinking as she "wrote" it.
Awards/Reviews:
- American Library Association Notable Books for Children
- Nominated for Beehive Children's Poetry Book Award
- Nominated for Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award
- Nominated for Garden State Teen Book Award
- Nominated for SCASL Book Award
"This irreverent, witty collection should resonate with a wide audience." - School Library Journal review
"Grandits playfully, and quite effectively, channels a teenage girl's dreams, anxieties, and pet peeves." - The Horn Book review
Prior to meeting with the class, the teacher should transcribe "Bad Hair Day" into a regularly formed free-verse selection. Use the projector ported to a computer to show both forms of the poem side by side. Ask students which one they feel is more powerful. Why? How does the text "illustration" help tell Jessie's story?
Have students think about writing their own concrete poetry. What types of things would they want to write about? What images could they use to correspond with their poem?During the class's next computer group time, have students go to http://www.wild-about-woods.org.uk/elearning/concretepoetry/ and create their own concrete poem to print out and turn in. (Don't forget to remind the students to write their names and class periods on the paper!)
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