Hey, Girl

Hey, Girl by Rachel Rooney. (Otter-Barry Books) Illustrations by Milo Hartnoll.

This new collection by award-winning author Rachel Rooney had a dual purpose; exploring what it means to be a girl in the 21st century and encouraging the reader to reflect on the process of writing poetry for young people. Poems like Battle Call and Freedom make clear her intention. In the era of Greta Thunberg young readers are spurred by messages like
”I want to find the voice to speak the words …And when I’m done I want the world to hear my battle call”
and “Won’t be held in your palm or grip Or under anybody else’s thumb”.
Her day job as a a teacher of children with special needs and the mother of an autistic son (Milo Hartnoll whose fantastic illustrations enhance his mother’s message) she knows all too well the insecurities of childhood and how to draw out the inner strength of children to cope with them.

AB

The Poetry Zone

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