It’s National Poetry Month, so members of the BMCC Reads team are sharing our thoughts about works of poetry we are reading!
Candice Iloh’s novel in verse, Every Body Looking, is a coming-of-age story that explores themes of identity, belonging, and self-discovery. The book follows Ada, a Nigerian-American teenager who is trying to navigate her way through college while also struggling with the expectations and pressures placed upon her by her family, peers, and society. She constantly struggles to appease to her traditional Nigerian upbringing with her desire to pursue her own dreams and ambitions of becoming a dancer. Along the way, she must confront the trauma and emotional scars of her past, including her strained relationship with her father and the loss of her mother.
Every Body Looking is written in verses, flashing back and forth between different points in Ada’s life, which gives a deeper connection to her character through her experiences and emotions. The words, message, and tone of the story are deep, but the language makes it easy to understand. It makes it easier to build a connection with the character. Physically, the verses change shape, font, and size when emphasis is placed on the message being conveyed, making the story interesting to read. For example, a page can contain verses that go back and forth on different areas of the page, or vertically curve around the page. I feel like this type of format deepens the tone of the story.
Having been a black girl myself, I’d recommend this book, since it’s a celebration of the beauty and resilience of black women. With its important topics and messages, this book can appeal to readers of all ages and backgrounds, including those concerned with identity, family expectations, and self-discovery.
Get the book! Check out Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh at the New York Public Library, the Brooklyn Public Library, or the Queens Public Library.
About the author Linda is a young Brooklyn native who developed an interest in books during the pandemic. Her creative mind makes her an avid reader of young adult, fiction, and romance novels.
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