Unbeknownst to me, I first heard Jasmine Mans’ work when I watched the spoken word peice “Footnotes for Kanye.” I didn’t realize, however, that that was the same artist whose book I had been highly anticipating all year, and I’m glad. Mans starts us out slow and easy, with clever wording and nostalgic memories, but at some point during the collection, there’s an obvious shift in tone, magnitude, and intention. I found myself rereadinig pieces, underlining and highlighting my favorite parts, tabbing multiple places in a single piece. This collection is nothing short of incredible. Within BLACK GIRL, CALL HOME, Mans explores identity, love, the mistreatment of Black women, disappointment, and hope. This is a poetry collection I see myself returning to, and it’s definitely earned a place on my favorites shelf.