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Cover of BLESSINGS AND DISASTERS
3.82

Based on 139 Goodreads ratings

BLESSINGS AND DISASTERS

by Okeowo’s account, many of Alabama’s Native Americans, few but politically astute and relatively affluent, seem as wary of their Black neighbors as of their white ones, while the white mayor of Montgomery permitted the erection of historical markers relating to slavery only because he reckoned that they would draw tourist dollars. Okeowo ventures theses that Alabamians and others will find fascinating and provocative, among them the thought that the Lost Cause myth was in good part crafted by “certain white women” and that much of the ugliness of Alabama’s past—“Indian removal, the slave trade, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow”—is absent by design from official histories and “public stories.”"

Book Details

Publisher:Of
Published:2024-01-01
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9781250206

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This collection of contemporary poetry explores the complex terrain of adolescence through alternating moments of profound insight and chaotic emotion. The poet captures the raw intensity of teenage ...

Our Review

This collection of contemporary poetry explores the complex terrain of adolescence through alternating moments of profound insight and chaotic emotion. The poet captures the raw intensity of teenage experience, from the quiet blessings of self-discovery to the dramatic disasters of first heartbreaks and fractured friendships. Each poem serves as a snapshot of youth in transition, balancing lyrical beauty with unflinching honesty about the challenges of growing up. The verses navigate identity, belonging, and the search for meaning with remarkable authenticity.

What distinguishes this work is its refusal to romanticize or simplify the teenage journey, instead presenting both the luminous and shadowed aspects with equal conviction. Young adult readers will find their own experiences mirrored in these pages, while parents may gain valuable perspective on the emotional landscape of modern adolescence. The collection's power lies in its ability to validate the full spectrum of teenage feelings without judgment, making it particularly resonant for readers navigating their own coming-of-age stories.

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