A collection of original poems and creative writing exercises that will inspire teens to write about their own lives.""Since the very beginnings of the human race, we've been gathering in circles and telling stories because beyond the physical needs for food, water, clean air, and security, one of our most basic yearnings is to express ourselves, to share what we know, what we dream, what we imagine, and what we feel.""Experienced poet and teacher Kathi Appelt has written a wonderful collection of poems for young adult readers, accompanied by fascinating accounts of how and why the poems came to be, along with writing exercises to inspire readers to create their own poetry.A perfect gift and an excellent classroom resource, this book opens up the world of poetry in a way that is accessible and appealing to teens. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Finally, "In the Nurse's Office," "The Fat Girl" and "Notes Passed Back and Forth in United States History, Seventh Period" are just three of the more than 20 original offerings included in Poems from Homeroom: A Writer's Place to Start by Kathi Appelt. Divided in two, the book offers free verse in the first half; Part II uses the work to spark adolescent's own writing. (Aug.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr 8 Up-This is indeed a fine place for a writer to start. It is not about mechanics and the rhythms of poetry. Instead, Appelt covers where ideas, inspiration, and feelings come from and encourages their expression in verse. Her poems are at times sensual, dramatic, or violent, and always rhythmic. They are fascinating, smooth, and "with it." In them, readers meet real teens and in a few words get to understand their needs, fears, and longings. The format is similar to Appelt's Just People & Paper/Pen/Poem (Absey, 1996). The first section is composed of 26 poems. The style is mainly free verse with a few poem structures. The book's weakest element is that for a how-to manual there is little variety of style. The strongest poems are "The Tattoo Dragon," a short poem with high appeal about a tattoo; "What He Knew," about graffiti and a crush; "Homecoming," about a short tenth grader dancing with a tall girl; "Dumpling," about child sex abuse; and "What He Took with Him," about leaving home. The second section explains each poem and encourages readers to write. Questions, ideas, and writer exercises are given. Paul B. Janeczko's Seeing the Blue Between (Candlewick, 2002) features more styles and 32 renowned poets. Appelt's title will be great for schools, YA collections, budding writers, teachers, and homeschool providers.-Susannah Price, Boise Public Library, ID Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Gr. 7^-12. In the title entry of this collection, Appelt writes, "Poetry is a home for all my yearnings / each poem a separate room." She demonstrates what she means in her combination of original poetry and a prose section that explains her motivation for writing each poem and offers exercises to help young poets get started. The poems range in style from villanelles to acrostics to free verse, and almost every one features a character who yearns for something: Jimmy, lost in the blues of his air guitar; a clerk at a late-night food mart pining for a customer; the "twirling queen of Dogwood, Texas" who quietly leaves town because "it's hard to be a twirling queen and a person too." The poems frequently shine with humor and tender, memorable images: "the cream colored cat, wild in her loneliness," that's left behind when a boy leaves his childhood home. But it will be Appelt's prose encouragements to young writers that will draw readers most. Clear, thoughtful ideas for creating original work mix with a contagious, what-is-there-to-lose approach: "At the very least you'll write a really, really bad poem. I write lots of those." A warm, instructive resource for teens and teachers alike. --Gillian Engberg From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Kathi Appelt is the author of many picture books, as well as several books for older readers, including Kissing Tennessee: And Other Stories from the Stardust Dance, chosen as a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association. A graduate of Texas A&M University, Kathi teaches writing to both children and adults. She lives in College Station, Texas, with her husband and their two sons Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Poetry Is the Home for All My Yearnings	p. ix
Part 1 Homeroom: The Poems
Homeroom	p. 3
Lost in the Blues	p. 4
The Tattoo Dragon	p. 6
Good Job, Buddy	p. 7
Revelations	p. 14
In the Nurse's Office	p. 15
What He Knew	p. 16
Dreaming in Haiku	p. 17
Homecoming	p. 18
Elegies for Those We Lost Too Soon: Seven Acrostics	p. 20
The Fat Girl	p. 23
Cyberlove	p. 25
Coach's Son	p. 26
Cheers	p. 27
The Research Paper: A Sestina	p. 28
A Circle of Light: A Poem in Five Acts	p. 30
Ms. Dove and Mr. Edgars	p. 35
The Yearbook Photographer	p. 36
Dumpling	p. 37
Notes Passed Back and Forth/in U.S. History Class,/Seventh Period	p. 39
The Driver's License	p. 41
Apply Yourself!	p. 43
What He Took with Him	p. 44
The Science Fair	p. 45
The Twirling Queen of Dogwood, Texas	p. 46
Night Mares	p. 53
Part 2 Study Hall: Writing What We Long for
Homeroom	p. 57
Lost in the Blues	p. 59
The Tattoo Dragon	p. 62
Good Job, Buddy	p. 64
Revelations	p. 66
In the Nurse's Office	p. 68
What He Knew	p. 71
Dreaming in Haiku	p. 72
Homecoming	p. 75
Elegies for Those We Lost Too Soon: Seven Acrostics	p. 77
The Fat Girl	p. 80
Cyberlove	p. 82
Coach's Son	p. 84
Cheers	p. 86
The Research Paper: A Sestina	p. 88
A Circle of Light: A Poem in Five Acts	p. 90
Ms. Dove and Mr. Edgars	p. 92
The Yearbook Photographer	p. 94
Dumpling	p. 96
Notes Passed Back and Forth / in U.S. History Class, / Seventh Period	p. 98
The Driver's License	p. 100
Apply Yourself!	p. 102
What He Took with Him	p. 104
The Science Fair	p. 106
The Twirling Queen of Dogwood, Texas	p. 108
Night Mares	p. 110
Some Helpful Books on Writing Poetry	p. 113

Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.