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FALLING HARD





BIBLIOGRAPHY

Franco, Betsy, ed. (2008) Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Falling Hard is a poetry compilation written by teenagers and anthologized by Betsy Franco. The poems are free verse and the kids provide a mosaic of diversity. The poems are honest, sometimes graphic. Kids share their emotions across gender, sexual orientation and race. It’s a heartfelt glimpse into the deep emotional well of the teenage mind. Adult readers will walk away with an appreciation of the complexities of teenage emotion, and perhaps a bit of nostalgia for their own memories of the teen years.

The poems were primarily from kids in the United States and were submitted via e-mail to Franco. The names and ages are given with the poems.

SPOTLIGHT POEM AND LESSON

These poems are for high schoolers. I would not share them with a middle school or elementary audience. They are mature in both nature and theme. This is a great collection to introduce as an engage piece to encourage students to write their own poetry. I would start by asking the simple question, “What is love?” Discuss their thoughts and then share a poem. After sharing a poem, allow the kids some time to write on their own. 

This is one of my favorites and I think a particularly good one to launch a discussion and writing piece:

Tilt the halo over my head
I don’t care what the caution tape read
It’s time to get a little dangerous
Let’s fall in love.

Forget the scriptures, forget the past
Conscience and common sense never last
It’s time to get a little curious
Let’s fall in love.

RACHEL McCARREN, age 15

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