ALA Booklist (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CST 2005)

Rosenberg and her former university student November have both struggled with debilitating depression, and in this personal project, the poets have brought together poems that, as Rosenberg writes, address various aspects of sanity and madness. The organization is loose and a bit chaotic. Categories include moods, the madness of love, the deranged world, and the relief of finding stability. There are works by famous writers, such as Shakespeare, Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson, and Rumi, as well as contemporary poets, such as Naomi Shihab Nye, whose poem Kindness is unforgettable. Many selections extend the dark humor of the collection's title, and there are contributions by young writers who, in the words of a 19-year-old autistic poet, view the world called normal with a mind called abnormal. These raw, honest words from peers may speak most directly to teens. Comprehensive poets' biographies close this deeply affecting, sophisticated collection, which will resonate with readers in all states of mental equilibrium.

Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2004)

Fourteen-year-old Staggerlee's growing feelings for her cousin confirm her own suspicions that she might be gay. Resisting the less subtle exploration of girl meets girl and falls in love and lives happily ever after, Woodson crafts a more complex examination of gayness in the emerging adolescent in this welcome reissue of a reflective, lyrical story.

Kirkus Reviews

<p>This intelligent anthology will accomplish two amazing feats: It will please teen readers and simultaneously satisfy their teachers. Poet, children's author and anthologizer Rosenberg, with former student, November, collect verse that sensitively addresses those readers who are susceptible to emotional downdrafts and uptakes. The poems range from the classics (Wordsworth, Blake) to the contemporary (James Wright, Gerald Stern, Stephen Dobyns) to the just composed (Das Lanzilloti, Deena November)a"which guarantees the teen authenticity. Moreover, the poems, organized in five sections, "speak" to one another across time and through generations, addressing theme and subject and giving young readers a sense of immediate connection and belonging. They also lay a foundation for young readers to begin to see for themselves how one work of literature may spark another. For example, included here is Paul Laurence Dunbar's "Sympathy," which features the line "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." Unforgettable characters such as J. Alfred Prufrock and Richard Cory make their appearances here as well. Handy backmatter includes poet's biographies and an index of first lines. A must have for teachers who need the just-right book for their eighth-graders. (Poetry. 14+)</p>

School Library Journal (Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2005)

Gr 9 Up-The poems in this diverse collection range from classic (Shakespeare, Lord Byron) to modern (by the compilers themselves). While some of selections might be too complex and antique for reluctant readers, most of the pieces are powerfully written and easy to understand. Sylvia Plath, Dorothy Parker, and Rumi are among the poets included. Two short introductions explain the inclusion of many of these selections and the significance of each of the book's five sections. A biography section gives interesting summaries of each poet's life. This efficiently organized, concise, and interesting collection is an excellent choice for libraries serving teens. However, as November states in her introduction, This book is for everyone and anyone. Jessi Platt, Auburn Public Library, AL

Voice of Youth Advocates

This unique collection of poetry will attract aspiring poets, practicing poets, and lovers of poetry. Readers, including teens who have experienced bouts of depression or other mental illness, will find solace in the fact that fellow sufferers, including poets such as John Berryman, William Blake, Jane Kenyon, Sylvia Plath, and Dorothy Parker, managed to write their ways out of depression or to eventually use the experience of it creatively. The anthology is divided into five sections titled Sadness Without Reason: Moods; Wild World; Lopsided Love; Rapid Tumble; and Wish You Were Here: The Return. Rosenberg collaborates with her former Binghamton University student and fellow poet November to come up with a collection of work inspired by sadness, madness, and joy. Many of the poems, however, are a reflection of the insanity in the world and the poet's interpretation of war, injustice, and cruelty. Others represent the sadness one feels enduring difficult periods or universal experiences of love, suffering, and loss. Brief biographies of each poet give readers insight into the lives of these poets who come from different cultures and eras, and who like Rosenberg and November, are of different generations. This interesting and rich collection of poetry will have special significance for teen readers.-Lois Parker-Hennion.