Jessa Sexton shares a collection of sonnets that explore the "extremes of life" the moments of extreme grief and greatness - and how these two personas walk together in many avenues of life. Each poem is coupled with a reflection, and Jessa gives plenty of other ways to engage with this (mostly) lost (but definitely not dead yet!) art form. If you're looking for an accessible way to enjoy poetry - this is it! For poetry buffs - this book gives me hope that poetry - especially that of more rigid, challenging forms - most certainly, most definitely is. not. dead.

This collection of sonnets absolutely blew me away. As I turned the pages, reading poem after poem, I knew that I was holding something of greatness, something that has potential to last on well after people grieve our own passings. Jessa's writing and style makes poetry accessible, relatable, but still challenging to us artsy, poetry-loving types. Jessa's deep faith and incredible empathy are evident as she reflects and writes in this form - there are things she articulated that made me feel less alone in my own grief and my own struggles in this thing called life. I don't say this lightly: these sonnets are prophetic. These sonnets are worship. "My Exodus" especially will remain etched on my heart probably until I die.

I usually don't rate books where I know the author, but honestly, this edition was so fabulous I couldn't help myself. I'm hoping Jessa continues to wield this clearly God-given ability she's been given.