Spin!: 10 Exciting New Voices in Poetry

By Author / Illustrator

Joseph Coelho, Ruthine Burton

Genre

Poetry

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Otter-Barry Books

ISBN

9781915659187

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

07-03-2024

Synopsis

Working with Apples & Snakes, the "Spoken Word Trailblazers", Britain's Children's Laureate has chosen poems from ten debut poets, all from diverse/under-represented backgrounds. Selected for their qualities of originality, expression and style, they represent the best of a new generation of gifted young poets writing for children and young people.

These are poems intended to be read aloud and shared. Themes range from video gaming to ice skating and football, hair, holidays, sisterhood, generational memories, friendship, the sense of self, personal experiences, music, and family life. Fifty poems here open windows on a new generation's thoughts, dreams and desires, and on an exciting new wave of poetic talent.

The poets are Anneliese Amoah, Antoinette Brooks, Sadatu Futa, Eileen Gbagbo, Shagufta K. Iqbal, Gayathiri Kamalakanthan, Rowan Kiffin-Murray, Jay Sandhu, Ioney Smallhorne, and Jasmin Thien. Three new poems by Joseph Coelho are also included.

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Reviews

Spin is a new anthology featuring ten new poets from diverse backgrounds, selected by Jospeh Coelho who has also contributed three poems to the collection. A short biography of each poet and the illustrator, headed by their picture, is included at the end of the book, offering the reader a short introduction to each and the winners of the SPIN 2023 competition are also included.

The poems cover a wide range of styles and themes, offering plenty of choice and much to think about and enjoy. 'Books' by Ioney Smallhorne uses Kennings to capture the wonder of these 'imagination-captivators' whilst Jasmin Thien’s 'Why Do People Pray for Me?' is thought-provoking and poignant. Friendship and bullying are recurrent themes. One of the contributions from Joseph Coelho, 'The Gossipers', reflects on the dangers of spreading rumours and how easily the tables can be turned and the bully become the bullied. 'Mrs Dickinson Did Not Like That Word', another work by Jasmin Thien simply made me cry.

'There are Cats in the Mosque' by Shagufta K Iqbal, 'Butterflies' by Rowan Kiffin-Murray and 'What Hides in Your Hair?' by Eileen Gbagbo are other stand out poems for me, but there really is something for everyone in this collection with lovely illustrations by Ruthine Burton.

128 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher