Say Her Name (YA poetry)

     Now that's a genre you hardly ever see in this blog. Out of the nearly 3,000 books I've reviewed less than 20 fit in this category. Even though I write poetry I really don't like reading it. So you know that Zeta Elliott's Say Her Name: Poems To Empower gotta be something special. How do I love this book? This review in my attempt to count the ways.

     "This book is my way of bearing witness. I have not lost a loved one to police violence, but I have been changed by seeing my sisters and brothers shamed, shot, and slammed to the ground."

     Consistent with this mandate expressed in her introduction Elliott, writing directly to Black girls, is direct, passionate, nurturing, and affirming. She affirms their beauty, majesty, and strength. She urges dramatic action but also self care. She does not flinch from difficult subjects. Her haiku poems are especially hard hitting. 

"indictments are rare

like snow in the Sahara 

or cops behind bars"

and

"innocence belongs 

to other people's children 

ours are born condemned"

Her directness and eloquence and ability to direct her verses to her beloveds are the first reason. 

     The second reason is the wealth of information in her notes which are not the bland stuff we're usually given. For instance "The danger of 'driving while Black and woman' is a reference to Sandra Bland, who died in police custody after being pulled over in Texas for failing to signal a lane change."

     The third reason is the pairing of the poetry with Loveis Wise's vibrant illustrations: the founders of Black Lives Matter, standing strong and resolute beside their tribute poem, the graceful, powerful feline leaping through "Panther", the roses gracing "We Shall Overcome"...

     All I know is that this slender volume speaks truth to power directly and eloquently and is an important addition to public, school, and family libraries and a fine book club choice. 

On a purrrsonal note, the past few days have been pretty exciting. Sunday was the ride with Eugene and the new 🐈 😻 🐈‍⬛️ 😺 🐱 😸 shirt. Monday was my beautiful new tattoo. I  also had two accomplishments. I presented my two fundraising ideas for fall semester at Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund--a fall foliage mountain climb and a banned book readathon--and they were well received. That night I posted the review of my 3,000th book!!! That is quite a milestone. Yesterday was the first Community Garden work day of 2026. The weather was purrrfect, sunny 🌞 ☀️ and warm. We found a bed of delicious overwintered spinach and I took a bag of it home. 

A great big shout out goes out to my awesome tattoo artist, my Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund crew, this year's gardeners, and, of course, the love of my life, Eugene. 

Jules Hathaway 

     

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