A beautiful, raw, emotional collection of poems from Christopher M. Tantillo.

In this first volume (of 3), Chris bears his heart and soul in every poem included. Poems that speak of first meetings, young love, longing, ended relationships, hope(s) for love (even rekindling of former love), body dysmorphia, regret.....and also hope, forgiveness, retrospection, and growth.

I appreciated the candor, the honesty, the titles--some made me chuckle. Tantillo gives us whimsy with some title names, like "The Grasshopper Sings to the Sleeping Fool" and "They Said to Plow but the Snow is Deep and I'm Unable to Keep Up," but both poems pack a punch to the gut with emotion and vulnerability.

I do enjoy modern poetry, and I very much enjoy with the formatting of a poem(s) goes outside the norm--not always left to right, or top to bottom.
Tantillo uses formatting in several poems of this collection to keep our attention and accentuate a word/phrase/point or a feeling....the letters in the word "descending," where each letter is separated by several spaces and they appear to be "falling" over several lines, for example.
I also appreciated the many styles of poems in this collection: rhyming, free verse, sonnet-esque, some haiku, and longer poems that are mini-short (ha) stories.

I feel like we see both a younger version of the author/poet at times, moreso in the earlier poems....and then we see the older, wiser author/poet, as if they are looking back and reflecting on their life or events or relationships. The separation of the poems in two parts: Sprain (Part One) and Crack (Part Two) also seems to group feelings and emotions or ideas in the poems together. Maybe this is a progression we should be anticipating? Sprain-->Crack-->Break(???)

Some standouts in this volume for me:
"Why I Prefer to Walk Alone"
"Hyper-Focusing to Distract from Looking Inward"
"Tick" (the formatting)
"Why I Hate Scales"
"Necrophilia"

Highly recommend this volume, and the upcoming Volumes 2 and 3 later this year (July 15, Volume 2 and September 2, Volume 3).
Well-worth the read and you'll very likely see yourself--whether that's a "current you" or a "younger you" that you recognize in these poems.
Hoping we all heal and grow and learn.

Thanks for sharing your poetry with us Chris!

This was a great story…fun, I was entertained throughout. 

Interesting story and premise with a unique spin on and an amalgamation of what may await us in the afterlife.

The main character, Lucidia, is a twin who is responsible for her brother, Milton’s, death. She experiences nightmares for months about Milton’s current state of unrest in death, and makes a plan to rescue him—since it’s her fault he’s there. 
Lucidia’s own fate comes in to question on her journey to save Milton.  With the help of a young devout girl, Magdalene (Mags), and a high school football star, Dom, this small Scooby gang try to crack what’s gone amiss in the afterlife and try to save themselves (their souls, their own eternities) in the process. 

The banter is top-notch. Fun pop-culture and historical references and jokes. 
Medium to fast-paced throughout. Story does get a little darker about 75-80% in, but still remains in teen (14-15+)/YA realm. 

Like that the story had twists and kept me guessing and some surprises.

Look forward to Book 2!

Fight for Your Rights!

Brief synopsis: 
Zeke Thompson has never thought of himself as a "good gay." He's felt forced to hide his sexuality by his Dad, a prominent attorney in their small Alabama town. He's not been able to be a full member of his high school's Queer Straight Alliance (QSA), whose president is Sawyer, his best friend for years--after their initial relationship was that of bully (Sawyer) and bullied (Zeke). Zeke's just never been able to be his true authentic self...until his parents' divorce is finalized and he and his mother move to their own place in town. His mother opens her own mechanic shop--something she's always wanted to do--and uses Zelda Fitzgerald, the first American flapper (and ex-wife to a famous American author) to inspire her. Zelda is also the inspiration for Zeke's name--and what he chooses to be called after the divorce. No longer Anthony, like his Dad, whom he refers to as JACass.
Zeke wans to be a "bad gay," i.e., all the stereotypical things associated with a young gay male. 
He's now able to be a part of the QSA, and just in time to help Sawyer and the other members, Cohen--a former flame of Zeke's--and Kennedy, a popular, African-American cheerleader and graphic artist, and Sawyer's girl-crush/wannabe girlfriend, to organize Beggs, Alabama's first official Pride celebration. 
Unfortunately, on the date--actually a few minutes prior to the start of the official first Pride event--Beggs' mayor puts a stop to the event, with Zeke's Dad there at the mayor's side, with a proclamation that the Pride event will go against the Mayor's newly introduced "Family First" initiative. 
This upheaval leads Zeke to suggest the idea of speakeasies (again, using Zelda Fitzgerald and the 1920s as inspiration) in the month of June to allow those LGBTQIA+ people of Beggs and their supporters to celebrate....Mayor-initiative be damned!

Matthew Hubbard does an amazing job of writing diverse and related characters--both the main LGBTQIA+ teens and adults at the center of the story and those on the opposite side: the Mayor, the "anti" townspeople. Even secondary characters are relatable and likely trigger every reader to an "I know someone just like them" (in real life). 

Zeke is not a "perfect" main character--his aforementioned want to be a "bad gay" to mostly get under his Dad's skin and sully his reputation, but also to figure who he is & just "be." 
Zeke's want to live an authentic life leads him to speak up (to his own and others' surprise) at the Pride event, after it is cancelled, with that speakeasy idea. Though, at the time of that outburst, he has no idea how it will happen!
There are many trials and roadblocks--BUT through the support of Sawyer, Kennedy, and reluctantly, Cohen (also  affectionately called Coco by Zeke), and MORE through his own guile and determination, the town of Beggs is changed from Zeke, his courage, and his desire for a life out loud. 

This story of Pride-bans, stripping LGBTQIA+ individuals of rights or flat out refusing their rights, unfortunately continues to take place--not just in small-town Alabama, but everywhere. 
Matthew's story, Zeke's story and journey, are important, timely, powerful and inspiring!

Rebel's Guide is relatable and fun, and addresses the hard-hitting discrimination, hate, and more head-on--No shying away from that in Matthew's book. 
The "relationship" with Zeke's Dad is quite tennuous and strained. Watch out for the billboards, ya'll!!
Zeke's relationship with his Mom is strained at times; however, Matthew does show their relationship evolve and grow--pre- and post-divorce--and she becomes a major source of stability and LOVE for Zeke. I love that Matthew's characters have at least one, if not both, supportive and caring parents and MANY adult figures and role models in their lives. The adults aren't perfect & shouldn't be, and they often grow and evolve with the main characters--BUT that the majority are loving and supportive and reasonable is just so amazing to have in these stories, and we need more of these people in real life...EVERYWHERE!!

This book also offers a little more romance than Matthew's first book! A welcomed edition--not too spicy, now, but hints and openness regarding sex, for sure!

This book and story is very much a Pride/queer-positive story for teens, YA, adults--everyone!

Look forward to more writing and stories from Matthew Hubbard!! 

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for this eARC of Matthew Hubbard's second novel, "The Rebel's Guide to Pride."

I enjoyed Volume 2 of Watching and the interesting take in non-corporeal time travel. 

This story centers on stolen Jewish Art, specifically “The Portrait of an Innocent Girl.”  Our time-traveler, Josh, again experiences more (and new) “Watchings” and “Visits” to assist and guide FBI Special Agent Star(ling) Hebert to hopefully recover this missing art. 

This time, however, the journeys back in time affect our Protagonist more profoundly—with a few health scares. 

Josh’s wife, Adrian, is there for support—and some great comic relief. Also, a French Interpol Inspector DuBois joins with Agent Hebert to share information to track down the missing art and those suspected to be involved—including present-day Nazi sympathizers, and possible inside FBI agents!

The writing is very clear and concise, with great banter between the spouses, Agent Hebert and Inspector DuBois, and with Josh, Adrian, and Star—a found family. Many fun quips and story is conversational throughout. 
Josh and Adrian’s marriage and relationship is depicted as loving, open communication and very supportive…they seem like a truly happy and fun couple. I do love that Adrian had more involvement in this story, and played a big part in keeping Josh safe and cared for. 

The entire idea of this story and how the author explains the possible reason for the time travel is such a unique spin. 

This volume includes more paranormal events, with the unexpected, cryptic “visits” for Josh, along with his typical watchings. 

The villain—outside of Hitler and his hired art thief, is quite disturbing. I didn’t expect his level of psychosis. 

If there’s a Volume 3, hopefully Dr. Silver can come up with a less disgusting elixir for Josh and his pre-watching routine.

Thank you for the eARC copy, Mr. Levin.