Kevin Young Book order

In this lyrical picture book from an award-winning poet, a young boy cherishes a neighborhood field throughout the changing seasons. With stunning illustrations and a charming text, this beautiful story celebrates a child's relationship with nature. There was a boy named Emile who fell in love with a field. It was wide and blue-- and if you could have seen it so would've you. Emile loves the field close to his home--in spring, summer, and fall, when it gives him bees and flowers, blossoms and leaves. But not as much in winter, when he has to share his beautiful, changeable field with other children...and their sleds. This relatable and lyrical ode to one boy's love for his neighborhood field celebrates how spending time in nature allows children to dream, to imagine...and even to share.

**SHORTLISTED FOR THE T.S. ELIOT PRIZE 2021** A book of loss, looking back, and what binds us to life, by a towering poetic talent, 'one of the poetry stars of his generation' (Los Angeles Times). 'We sleep long, / if not sound,' Kevin Young writes early on in this exquisite gathering of poems, 'Till the end / we sing / into the wind.' In scenes and settings that circle family and the generations in the American South - one poem, 'Kith', exploring that strange bedfellow of 'kin' - the speaker and his young son wander among the stones of their ancestors. 'Like heat he seeks them, / my son, thirsting / to learn those / he don't know / are his dead.' Whether it's the fireflies of a Louisiana summer caught in a mason jar (doomed by their collection), or his grandmother, Mama Annie, who latches the screen door when someone steps out for just a moment, all that makes up our flickering, precarious joy, all that we want to protect, is lifted into the light in this moving book. Stones becomes an ode to Young's home places and his dear departed, and to what of them - of us - poetry can save.

Across a turbulent history, Black poets created a rich and multifaceted tradition that has been both a reckoning with American realities and an imaginative response to them. One of the great American art forms, African American poetry encompasses many kinds of verse: formal, experimental, vernacular, lyric, and protest. The anthology opens with moving testaments to the power of poetry as a means of self-assertion, as enslaved people voice their passionate resistance to slavery. This volume captures the power and beauty of this diverse tradition and its challenge to American poetry and culture. Here are all the significant movements and currents: the nineteenth-century Francophone poets known as Les Cenelles, the Chicago Renaissance that flourished around Gwendolyn Brooks, the early 1960s Umbra group, and the more recent work of writers affiliated with Cave Canem and the Dark Noise Collective. Here too are poems of singular, hard-to-classify figures: the enslaved potter David Drake, the allusive modernist Melvin B. Tolson, the Cleveland-based experimentalist Russell Atkins. The volume also features biographies of each poet and notes that illuminate cultural references and allusions to historical events-- adapted from dust jacket

The book delves into the complexities of organized and spontaneous violence in sports, advocating for an expanded definition of 'sports-related violence.' It addresses various issues, including criminal activities by athletes, abuse within sporting environments, and exploitative labor practices, highlighting the multifaceted nature of violence associated with sports.

Exploring the challenges of daily life, this book offers a philosophical perspective on Christian living amidst distractions and struggles. It addresses the superficiality that often fills spiritual voids and encourages readers to reassess their perceptions of the world. By identifying barriers to personal growth, the narrative guides individuals toward a deeper understanding of their spiritual journey, emphasizing the importance of recognizing their value as creations of God and the possibility of overcoming the influence of evil.

Exploring the depths of grief and the beauty of new beginnings, this collection captures the author's emotional journey a decade after his father's death. Through poignant two-line poems, Young conveys the haunting silence of loss and the transformative power of life events, particularly the birth of his son. His vivid imagery in "Crowning" stands out as a remarkable celebration of life. The concluding sequence emphasizes acceptance and the importance of embracing both sorrow and joy, offering profound insights into the complexities of existence.

This book emphasizes the necessity of global cooperation to tackle pressing 21st-century issues like the global economy, environmental destruction, and nuclear proliferation, highlighting that no single nation can address these challenges alone.

The narrative unfolds through a haunting chorus of voices, capturing the experiences of African Americans involved in the Amistad rebellion. It explores their captivity, education, and struggles for language and freedom, highlighting their hopes and dreams amidst adversity. This powerful account delves into the fight for liberation and the resilience of those who endured this historical injustice.

This collection delves into the South's legacy, exploring themes of African-American grief and resilience. The poet's distinctive voice, characterized by flexible and blues-inflected lines, offers a unique perspective on cultural and personal passages. Celebrated for its liveliness and depth, the work reflects the profound emotional landscape of the African-American experience, showcasing the author's ability to stand out in contemporary poetry.

Set against a film noir backdrop, this collection features a "soft-boiled" private eye, A.K.A. Jones, and the enigmatic femme fatale, Delilah Redbone. Their journey through Shadowtown is filled with intrigue, aliases, and a cast of colorful characters, including The Killer and The Snitch. Young's five poetic "reels" blend detective lingo with dark glamour, creating a playful yet poignant exploration of passion and mystery. The work showcases his signature originality and stark lyricism, making it a captivating read.