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Poems from Homeroom: A Writer's Place to Start
A collection of original poems and creative writing exercises that will inspire teens to write about their own lives.
"Since the very beginnings of the human race, we've been gathering in circles and telling stories because beyond the physical needs for food, water, clean air, and security, one of our most basic yearnings is to express ourselves, to share what we know, what we dream, what we imagine, and what we feel."
Experienced poet and teacher Kathi Appelt has written a wonderful collection of poems for young adult readers, accompanied by fascinating accounts of how and why the poems came to be, along with writing exercises to inspire readers to create their own poetry.
A perfect gift and an excellent classroom resource, this book opens up the world of poetry in a way that is accessible and appealing to teens.
"Since the very beginnings of the human race, we've been gathering in circles and telling stories because beyond the physical needs for food, water, clean air, and security, one of our most basic yearnings is to express ourselves, to share what we know, what we dream, what we imagine, and what we feel."
Experienced poet and teacher Kathi Appelt has written a wonderful collection of poems for young adult readers, accompanied by fascinating accounts of how and why the poems came to be, along with writing exercises to inspire readers to create their own poetry.
A perfect gift and an excellent classroom resource, this book opens up the world of poetry in a way that is accessible and appealing to teens.
- GenresPoetryNonfictionWriting
128 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2002
4 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Kathi Appelt
55 books551 followersLives in College Station, TX with husband Ken and four adorable cats.
Two sons, both musicians.
Serves on the faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program.
Two sons, both musicians.
Serves on the faculty at Vermont College of Fine Arts in the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 24, 2018
I’m going to try a few of the exercises in here. Cute stuff and a good introduction into the poetry genre.
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May 8, 2012Sabrina Smith
This book offers up a collection of poems by Appelt in the first half, and then a deconstruction or each and advice for aspiring writers in the second half. There is plenty of variety in style and theme, including both humorous and serious poems, but also a common theme, which is explained by the author.
Appelt’s writing is clever and effective. My favorite is the one about a night-stocker at a super market who has a crush on a girl that comes in at the same time every night. The descriptions perfectly evoke the late-night atmosphere in the store. Her suggestions for teens wanting to write their own poetry are excellent and practical. This is indeed a “place to start.”
This book offers up a collection of poems by Appelt in the first half, and then a deconstruction or each and advice for aspiring writers in the second half. There is plenty of variety in style and theme, including both humorous and serious poems, but also a common theme, which is explained by the author.
Appelt’s writing is clever and effective. My favorite is the one about a night-stocker at a super market who has a crush on a girl that comes in at the same time every night. The descriptions perfectly evoke the late-night atmosphere in the store. Her suggestions for teens wanting to write their own poetry are excellent and practical. This is indeed a “place to start.”
February 10, 2021
Poems from Homeroom is a two-part book. The first part includes many different poems. The poems are all written in unique ways. There are also lighthearted poems, sad poems, and heartwarming poems. For instance, "Homecoming" is a hilarious poem about a short boy dancing with the tallest girl at Homecoming. "The Fat Girl" is a sad poem about a girl's self esteem issues and feeling of invisibility. "Coach's Son" is a heartwarming poem about a tough football player's love for his mother and her lullabies.
The second half of the book as explanations for each poem, as well as some poem prompts and writing tips. I really liked the inclusion of the poem explanations, I feel that the author explaining the inspiration behind the poems is a great way to help introduce students to writing poetry. The writing prompts would also be very helpful in teaching poetry writing.
This book is definitely written more for teenage readers. I think it would be most appropriately used in a high school English class. The prompts at the back would be great for asking students to write a poem, and the poems in the first part of the book would be relatable to most high schoolers. I can't imagine using this book in an elementary classroom. Middle might be appropriate, but I think the target audience of this author is probably for high school.
The second half of the book as explanations for each poem, as well as some poem prompts and writing tips. I really liked the inclusion of the poem explanations, I feel that the author explaining the inspiration behind the poems is a great way to help introduce students to writing poetry. The writing prompts would also be very helpful in teaching poetry writing.
This book is definitely written more for teenage readers. I think it would be most appropriately used in a high school English class. The prompts at the back would be great for asking students to write a poem, and the poems in the first part of the book would be relatable to most high schoolers. I can't imagine using this book in an elementary classroom. Middle might be appropriate, but I think the target audience of this author is probably for high school.
June 23, 2019
This collection of poems was so entertaining to read! As a high school teacher, it is humorous for me to read poems from the perspective of students about their experiences in school. I remember what it was like for me as well, and I imagine the types of "homeroom" poems I would have written.
The poems were engaging to read because they were relateable. Many of us, like myself, remember what it was like to go through high school. Some of the poems made me laugh because I remember being in similar situations. This would be enjoyable for students to read because they would be able to connect to the themes in the poems as well.
It would be a fun project to have the students write their own collection of homeroom poems after reading this collection.
I would definitely recommend this to teachers, current high school and middle students, and anyone!
The poems were engaging to read because they were relateable. Many of us, like myself, remember what it was like to go through high school. Some of the poems made me laugh because I remember being in similar situations. This would be enjoyable for students to read because they would be able to connect to the themes in the poems as well.
It would be a fun project to have the students write their own collection of homeroom poems after reading this collection.
I would definitely recommend this to teachers, current high school and middle students, and anyone!
September 27, 2021
This book has given me quite the surprise... I was expecting just poems about the high school daze and the haze of being 16. It came with an interesting surprise. Lots of these poems are rated for an older audience with sensitive and even inappropriate subjects. The author explains this book to be filled with poems that almost don't matter, being in homeroom they wouldn't be graded or judged. Just writing and stanzas of thoughts, ideas, and stories of a highschool student. I am reading this book as a 21 year old in college and it has reminded that there is so much that kids go through and do not talk about.
December 7, 2019
This set of poems was amazing! The author created poems that were highly relatable to many readers. Appelt included poems about everyday life for teenagers, as well as poems about the more difficult times. I believe that it is so important that teenagers know that it is okay to share and talk about the more difficult times of your life, no matter how big or small they may seem.
February 10, 2019
Really great poems and advice on writing! Really loved this book and the tips it provided.
October 10, 2023
Very interesting and I love all the prompts and ideas to get more practice in. Might have to just get a notebook and do all of them for fun.
Want to read
May 18, 2025Cutting is for Good Job, Buddy
By Kathi Appelt
By Kathi Appelt
November 21, 2022
This book is not bad. I liked how the author showed us her thought process through each poem at the end of the book, and how us, the readers can start writing poetry as well. However, I wish the poems could relate to each other in some way. Some of the poems did not make sense either, for example, the one about Romeo and Juliet just seemed like she paraphrased the play. But don't let my opinion sway you away from the book, the majority of the poems in this collection had really strong imagery and engaged me as a reader.
August 28, 2014
I really enjoyed this book, enough so that I plan to buy it at some point. I checked it out of the library here at school this time, so I was unable to write in it or to keep it for whenever I was in need of inspiration. And I do feel inspired after reading this book.
The thing I especially like about this book is the way it's structured. Frankly, it's very close to what I was trying to do with my poetry a couple years ago when I was writing a poem every day. In short, she writes a poem that appears in the front section of the book, and in the back of the book she includes an explanation of what she was thinking when she wrote that poem. She also includes 4 - 6 poetry writing prompts at the end of each of these explanations, which means that there are around 100 individual writing prompts, each of which is in itself pretty interesting. As I said, this would be a good book to keep on hand for those times I need inspiration.
As for the poems themselves, they are of varying quality (as which of ours are not). She writes in mostly free verse, but she also includes some more structured forms and explains why she chose to do these the way she did. Each of the poems has a different speaker – ideally, one poem each for all of the adolescents in the "homeroom" mentioned in the title. And of course, they all have interesting experiences, backgrounds, and viewpoints about the world. She writes in the beginning the some of these are real people and others she made up. It adds a nice sense of diversity and get fluency to the book that I find very effective.
If I were her friend and had offered her advice before she wrote the book, I would have suggested that she include the explanation immediately after the poem it referenced. I didn't read all the poems altogether and then read all the explanations: I read the poem and then went to the explanation and then went back to the next poem and then on to the next explanation, and this was a bit of a nuisance. I do not see a digital version of this book available, but if one does come available than I hope that she will provide a hot link at the end of each poem that will allow the reader to go directly to the explanation and then back.
Wonderful little book of poetry – I was impressed :-)
The thing I especially like about this book is the way it's structured. Frankly, it's very close to what I was trying to do with my poetry a couple years ago when I was writing a poem every day. In short, she writes a poem that appears in the front section of the book, and in the back of the book she includes an explanation of what she was thinking when she wrote that poem. She also includes 4 - 6 poetry writing prompts at the end of each of these explanations, which means that there are around 100 individual writing prompts, each of which is in itself pretty interesting. As I said, this would be a good book to keep on hand for those times I need inspiration.
As for the poems themselves, they are of varying quality (as which of ours are not). She writes in mostly free verse, but she also includes some more structured forms and explains why she chose to do these the way she did. Each of the poems has a different speaker – ideally, one poem each for all of the adolescents in the "homeroom" mentioned in the title. And of course, they all have interesting experiences, backgrounds, and viewpoints about the world. She writes in the beginning the some of these are real people and others she made up. It adds a nice sense of diversity and get fluency to the book that I find very effective.
If I were her friend and had offered her advice before she wrote the book, I would have suggested that she include the explanation immediately after the poem it referenced. I didn't read all the poems altogether and then read all the explanations: I read the poem and then went to the explanation and then went back to the next poem and then on to the next explanation, and this was a bit of a nuisance. I do not see a digital version of this book available, but if one does come available than I hope that she will provide a hot link at the end of each poem that will allow the reader to go directly to the explanation and then back.
Wonderful little book of poetry – I was impressed :-)
April 28, 2014
Interesting mix of poems here. I don't know if I'd actually use these as prompts on a daily basis (there aren't that many of them for that), but I liked how they were explained at the back of the book. I especially liked how the form of the poems were explained. I will be taking the sestina and villanelle into my AP classes as another example for my students.
You can also find a couple of really great story poems in this book that I think would make for a great one day lesson plan. Overall, a great resource!
You can also find a couple of really great story poems in this book that I think would make for a great one day lesson plan. Overall, a great resource!
May 6, 2013
Poems from Homeroom is a collection of poems from the Author as well a instruction side. This book was written for teenagers but It can be a great Inspirational book for all writers. The book not only shows her poetry but also explains each poem and the form it was written in. The book is extremely useful as well as well written
August 19, 2007
this is a great backup book full of prompts. the poems are very nostalgic, full of middle/high school memories. this book is a good one for learning from examples and interating personal experience with the universal experience.
September 2, 2008
The first section of this book provides 26 wonderfully expressive poems that are mostly about teens or young adults. In the second part of the book, Appelt provides some background information about each of the poems and ideas or starting places for the reader to write poems also.
November 30, 2011
Poems from Homeroom examines life from a teenage perspective. Each poem is accompanied (at the back of the book) by commentary from the author and suggestions as to how aspiring writers could use these poems as models for their own writing.
Want to read
April 4, 2023I enjoyed reading most of the poems. The one that captivated me was "the fat girl". I can relate. Feeling invisible, using food as a shield. I haven't forgotten. I am good at it. Maybe too good. I liked the exercises in this too.
June 8, 2015
I liked this one better than I thought I would. At first glance it looks elementary, but a close reading gave me the impression that this would be a good teaching as well as a source of inspiration for writers.
November 16, 2012
Really liked this collection and how advice was given about each different poem style. Great for those starting out in poetry a a writer or reader.
July 17, 2015
Greatly inspired me. By the time I finished I had ideas for more than ten poems! ^_^
April 20, 2017
Poems from homeroom is a poetry book by Kathi Appelt. I came across this book because I was on the hunt for something knew to read, and lets be honest... It's an easy read. I personally didn't like the book because poetry isn't really my thing. Although I didn't like it, I would still recommend it to other readers because they have a variety of different poems. On top of it being a very good learning source, it encourages readers to write and make their own poems.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews