FALLING HARD: 100 LOVE POEMS BY TEENAGERS by Betsy Franco

Bibliography

Franco, Betsy. 2008. Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers. Cambridge: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763634377

Critical Analysis

The poetry in this collection covers a wide spectrum of styles and rhythms. Some poems are just a few lines, some cover a few pages. Most are free verse. There are a few poems that rhyme or have a noticeable pattern and structure. Being a collection of poetry written by teenagers, it is easy to tell the difference in maturity and life experience from poem to poem, but that in no way takes away from the level of poetry contained in the collection. Each author has a clear voice and different interpretation of what falling in love is like.

I will say that some of the poems in this collection were very surprising. This is definitely a collection for older children. 

Example

While the poem is short, it is rich with imagery and emotion. The author does a great job of capturing the differing emotions love can bring out in just a few well chosen words. What I enjoyed about the collection as a whole is how different poems will resonate with different readers depending on where they are personally and what speaks to me may even be different from reading to reading.

Love is Like

the sweetness of honey
falling from a bee hive.

You have to be careful
not to get stung.

~Hector Jasso