Neil is such an amazing poet! I'll be reading his poems forever!

This has been a favorite of mine since I was in high school. I did several projects on it for my English classes in college. Eleanor and Park's story is so fluffy and I could relate to Eleanor. However, it has recently been brought to my attention through other people's reviews and analyses of the book that the way Rowell describes Park and his family is racist. She describes Park's struggle with the way he looks as if he wished he looked more white like his brother. Rowell didn't do any research to write from the perspective of an Asian American and she hasn't addressed it. People have been calling her out about it since the book was published. It's disappointing because I've loved this book for so many years.

Sierra is one of my favorite poets of all time. I will be reading Today Means Amen forever.

Reread it in 2025 after telling a friend about it. Just a phenomenal collection of poetry, Today Means Amen is one of my favorite poems ever. I get goosebumps when I read it.