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Grace Notes: Poems about Families―Poems about Families in a Heartfelt Collection of Poems for All Ages Celebrating Family and Resilience
With themes of family, love, kindness, empathy, grief, growing up, and resilience, these one hundred never-before-published poems by the beloved poet, speaker, and teacher Naomi Shihab Nye will resonate with a wide audience.
National Book Award Finalist and former Young People’s Poet Laureate Naomi Shihab Nye’s Grace Poems about Families celebrates family and community. This rich collection of one hundred never-before-published poems is also the poet’s most personal work to date. With poems about her own childhood and school years, her parents and grandparents, and the people who have touched and shaped her life in so many ways, this is an emotional and sparkling collection to savor, share, and read again and again.
National Book Award Finalist and former Young People’s Poet Laureate Naomi Shihab Nye’s Grace Poems about Families celebrates family and community. This rich collection of one hundred never-before-published poems is also the poet’s most personal work to date. With poems about her own childhood and school years, her parents and grandparents, and the people who have touched and shaped her life in so many ways, this is an emotional and sparkling collection to savor, share, and read again and again.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published May 7, 2024
13 people are currently reading
2490 people want to read
About the author
Naomi Shihab Nye
134 books978 followersNaomi Shihab Nye was born to a Palestinian father and an American mother. During her high school years, she lived in Ramallah in Jordan, the Old City in Jerusalem, and San Antonio, Texas, where she later received her B.A. in English and world religions from Trinity University. She is a novelist, poet and songwriter.
She currently lives in San Antonio, Texas. She was elected a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets in 2010.
She currently lives in San Antonio, Texas. She was elected a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets in 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 18, 2025
Just not my thing too much ‘family’ and very repetitive
April 2, 2024
Beautiful and amazing. The author brings us right into her relationships as if we are family, too.
June 17, 2025
This collection of poems explores the poet's life and relationship to her mother, to her family, and to her heritage. Her poems reflect on her parents and how they met, her mother's mental health, and how her relationship to her mother has taught her about herself and the world at large. While I did not read all 100 poems, I sampled about 20 of them from different parts of the the book. The poems vary in length, from just a few lines to several pages. Generally they are free verse and focus on imagery, storytelling, and emotional impact. I enjoyed the variety of topics and themes and that the poet was very honest and open about her relationship with her mother and about her upbringing.
This collection would be best with students in grades 7 and up, and maybe most appropriate for high school. As far as the poems I read, there is nothing explicit or graphic in this collection, but I think high schoolers would better connect to the poems due to the subject matter. Some strategies teachers could focus on would be use of imagery and word choice, noticing the use of line breaks to convey meaning, and repeat readings to gain further understanding of a poem. Students could also use these poems as inspiration to write about their own experiences with their families and upbringing.
This collection would be best with students in grades 7 and up, and maybe most appropriate for high school. As far as the poems I read, there is nothing explicit or graphic in this collection, but I think high schoolers would better connect to the poems due to the subject matter. Some strategies teachers could focus on would be use of imagery and word choice, noticing the use of line breaks to convey meaning, and repeat readings to gain further understanding of a poem. Students could also use these poems as inspiration to write about their own experiences with their families and upbringing.
March 3, 2025
Naomi Shihab Nye tells stories via poems. My favorites are always the moments she shares in which a life rubs up against another life in an unexpected way and redemption and love and joy shine through.
August 21, 2024
I'm not sure I feel able to assess Naomi Shihab Nye's work, yet I want you to know about her new book of poetry. This is for mothers, about hers, but for all of us who are, who have, and who miss, our mothers. It's bittersweet, it's full of love and sad yearnings, and it's extraordinary. Don't miss finding a copy for reading, then re-reading, connecting with her memories in ways you might not have imagined you would.
April 6, 2025
What a wonderful way to eulogize a loved one.
February 25, 2025
Fate brought me this book. The last time I read a poem was for A levels Lit but my neighborhood library decided to feature English-y lit stuff next to the children’s section and so I picked this up. It was funny. It was touching. It was so relatable, as a mother myself. I can get why people are drawn to poems now, good poems I mean.
If I were any more sentimental I would have cried buckets reading.
If I were any more sentimental I would have cried buckets reading.
August 15, 2024
First sentence (from the introduction): Families. They're our first circle. We wake up to them as babies, clicking into focus, identifying, absorbing...forever discovering who they are. Who we think they are is only one little window.
First poem:
My whole life
would not have happened without
a man whose name I do not know
who died in the snow.
He was young,
had been married only three months
to my mama's best friend.
This one is a themed poetry collection; it is without a doubt POETRY. But is it also a memoir or autobiography??? I think one could argue that it might very well be. I believe the author is writing personal poems about HER family. But it's not described as a memoir in its description so I'm hesitant to say emphatically that all the poems are autobiographical and this is a memoir in verse.
The target audience? I think the target audience would be older and not younger. These poems are COMPLEX, layered even. Sure, the words themselves may not be mature in nature, but the meanings and themes are so deep--philosophical and/or abstract in nature--that readers need as much life experience as possible to unpack the meaning. The poems are also REFLECTIVE and best read in the context of how they were written--during the grieving process. The parent-child relationship can be complex no matter the age, but the parent and adult-child relationship is more at play in this collection. It is more a journeying alongside the author as she explores relationships in the family through more adult eyes.
I do NOT under any circumstance expect all books to be written with a Christian point of view. I don't. I don't think that would be fair in general, however, I will note that this one is a patchwork--piecework--of many, many, many religions and spiritual faiths, none of which are particularly Christian. So you have a very reflective, philosophical, abstract book of poetry without a christian world view. This is neither good nor bad--it just is. Again, I do not expect all books to be Christian.
Quotes
From "How Parents Ever Get Together Anyway"
The fact we exist at all
is a random grace note
of a forgotten symphony.
From "Mother Muscle"
Mother muscles become tough. They have to.
People pulling on them
all the time. Ferocious mamas
stomping through the tangled wilderness
searching for berries. Mamas worrying
night and day.
From "Sides of the Family"
These grandmas did not meet. But I think there were little lines
between them like dotted ripples in a star constellation diagram.
Big Dipper, small dipper, they both shone down on us
all our lives. They were constants.
From "Union Boulevard, St. Louis"
Life
is full of mysteries.
They're not mine, not yours.
They're life's.
From "Out"
No one is big enough to notice
all that might be noticed.
No one is small enough,
no one is big enough.
From "Every Age"
If you open the door
to happiness
what comes through?
Friends come through.
Something new comes through.
From "Every Age"
Is it possible
to be every age at once,
forever?
Some say so.
From "The Pleaser"
Why do we need someone to say
you make me happy,
you're great.
Is that a basic need
like sleeping and eating?
From "In Morning"
Each morning
we put ourselves together
Try to imagine
what we will do,
gathering tools and
thoughts.
We carry the mysteries
no one explains.
Title: Write a seven-word autobiography right now
Addicted to simplicity from very first day.
Ever hopeful, every growing always asking why.
So many places we haven't seen yet.
The space around the poem is best.
First poem:
My whole life
would not have happened without
a man whose name I do not know
who died in the snow.
He was young,
had been married only three months
to my mama's best friend.
This one is a themed poetry collection; it is without a doubt POETRY. But is it also a memoir or autobiography??? I think one could argue that it might very well be. I believe the author is writing personal poems about HER family. But it's not described as a memoir in its description so I'm hesitant to say emphatically that all the poems are autobiographical and this is a memoir in verse.
The target audience? I think the target audience would be older and not younger. These poems are COMPLEX, layered even. Sure, the words themselves may not be mature in nature, but the meanings and themes are so deep--philosophical and/or abstract in nature--that readers need as much life experience as possible to unpack the meaning. The poems are also REFLECTIVE and best read in the context of how they were written--during the grieving process. The parent-child relationship can be complex no matter the age, but the parent and adult-child relationship is more at play in this collection. It is more a journeying alongside the author as she explores relationships in the family through more adult eyes.
I do NOT under any circumstance expect all books to be written with a Christian point of view. I don't. I don't think that would be fair in general, however, I will note that this one is a patchwork--piecework--of many, many, many religions and spiritual faiths, none of which are particularly Christian. So you have a very reflective, philosophical, abstract book of poetry without a christian world view. This is neither good nor bad--it just is. Again, I do not expect all books to be Christian.
Quotes
From "How Parents Ever Get Together Anyway"
The fact we exist at all
is a random grace note
of a forgotten symphony.
From "Mother Muscle"
Mother muscles become tough. They have to.
People pulling on them
all the time. Ferocious mamas
stomping through the tangled wilderness
searching for berries. Mamas worrying
night and day.
From "Sides of the Family"
These grandmas did not meet. But I think there were little lines
between them like dotted ripples in a star constellation diagram.
Big Dipper, small dipper, they both shone down on us
all our lives. They were constants.
From "Union Boulevard, St. Louis"
Life
is full of mysteries.
They're not mine, not yours.
They're life's.
From "Out"
No one is big enough to notice
all that might be noticed.
No one is small enough,
no one is big enough.
From "Every Age"
If you open the door
to happiness
what comes through?
Friends come through.
Something new comes through.
From "Every Age"
Is it possible
to be every age at once,
forever?
Some say so.
From "The Pleaser"
Why do we need someone to say
you make me happy,
you're great.
Is that a basic need
like sleeping and eating?
From "In Morning"
Each morning
we put ourselves together
Try to imagine
what we will do,
gathering tools and
thoughts.
We carry the mysteries
no one explains.
Title: Write a seven-word autobiography right now
Addicted to simplicity from very first day.
Ever hopeful, every growing always asking why.
So many places we haven't seen yet.
The space around the poem is best.
February 13, 2025
Grace Notes is a spectacular collection of poems that truly make you feel. Naomi Shihab Nye's ability to tap into the raw, unspoken aspects of life is astounding. In this work, she explores a range of profound themes, including familial relationships, grief of all kinds, racial divides, tragedy, and much more. Each poem is a delicate balance of insight and emotion, weaving together personal and universal experiences.
What sets Nye’s poetry apart is her unique ability to open the eyes and hearts of her readers. Her words invite us to delve deeply into the complexities of grief, loss, and the overall human experience, presenting these difficult topics in a way that is compassionate and accessible. Nye’s language is gentle yet piercing, offering profound wisdom without overwhelming the reader. With each poem, she provides a space for understanding, making the most difficult subjects, such as Palestine and Gaza, not only digestible but also deeply moving.
What sets Nye’s poetry apart is her unique ability to open the eyes and hearts of her readers. Her words invite us to delve deeply into the complexities of grief, loss, and the overall human experience, presenting these difficult topics in a way that is compassionate and accessible. Nye’s language is gentle yet piercing, offering profound wisdom without overwhelming the reader. With each poem, she provides a space for understanding, making the most difficult subjects, such as Palestine and Gaza, not only digestible but also deeply moving.
December 29, 2025
I had the opportunity to listen to Naomi Shihab Nye read from this and previous collections. I loved her humor most of all because it was grounded in understanding. I also loved the vignettes form her childhood.
My favorites were:
Out, pg. 53-54 (…Distraction, a shaggy dog/ in the center of days/ always needing to go out. / A child’s job is to soak up details,/ crawl around rooms,/ move little things,/ touch./ A child’s job is to stared./ When speaking comes around,/ to take that *why* and use it,/ apply to everything,/ not let big people off the hook.”…)
Elsewhere, pg. 60
What was the secret in your house?, pg. 87
Evelyn, pg. 110
Everyone, pg. 138-140
Miriam at the Blue Barn, pg. 163
An Inch of a Word, pg. 196
My favorite poem may be “Generations” on page 152. I just love the moment in time; peace captured in a painting of words.
My favorites were:
Out, pg. 53-54 (…Distraction, a shaggy dog/ in the center of days/ always needing to go out. / A child’s job is to soak up details,/ crawl around rooms,/ move little things,/ touch./ A child’s job is to stared./ When speaking comes around,/ to take that *why* and use it,/ apply to everything,/ not let big people off the hook.”…)
Elsewhere, pg. 60
What was the secret in your house?, pg. 87
Evelyn, pg. 110
Everyone, pg. 138-140
Miriam at the Blue Barn, pg. 163
An Inch of a Word, pg. 196
My favorite poem may be “Generations” on page 152. I just love the moment in time; peace captured in a painting of words.
January 19, 2026
This collection of family-centric poems reveal the background and soup of love in which prize0winning poet Naomi Shihab Nye was raised.
The poems span her own youth and even years before, throughout the years leading to her mother's death beyond ninety years old.
There is both lightness and shadow within these revealing poems, and the title rightly calls them GRACE notes.
I enjoyed learning about her mother through the eyes of a daughter, and they revealed much about ways her upbringing and relationships would make her the poet we love.
There's plenty here to use as mentor text, not only for poetry writing or exploring small moments, but for considering our own connections with memory, the present, and our imaginations and emotional landscapes.
The poems span her own youth and even years before, throughout the years leading to her mother's death beyond ninety years old.
There is both lightness and shadow within these revealing poems, and the title rightly calls them GRACE notes.
I enjoyed learning about her mother through the eyes of a daughter, and they revealed much about ways her upbringing and relationships would make her the poet we love.
There's plenty here to use as mentor text, not only for poetry writing or exploring small moments, but for considering our own connections with memory, the present, and our imaginations and emotional landscapes.
June 23, 2025
I don't normally read much poetry, but have started reading some when I have a chance to hear the poet speak and attend a book club meeting to discuss it afterwards, which was the case with this book. I liked how many of these poems felt more simple and about everyday kinds of things. Someone in the book club pointed out that the back of the book indicated a children's division of the publisher, which probably explains why I didn't have trouble understanding these poems and found the book an easy read. Even though many of the poems seem more simple, I still found depth in them and they were thought-provoking.
September 25, 2024
A memoir written in poems. I could never choose a favorite but these lines from the poem ‘Healing’ are saving me today:
Lean into it, the breeze suggests.
Dig deeper, says the dirt.
Sometimes the hurt you feel
means you’re standing in the wrong place.
Move over.
This hurt wasn’t meant for people.
It wasn’t meant to land anywhere.
It’s the cosmic ache of the atmosphere
drifting through, the give-and-take,
the push-pull flow.
You know when it passes,
the lift of the air.
Hear the held note like
the quiet humming
an orchestra tunes to.
That’s for you.
Lean into it, the breeze suggests.
Dig deeper, says the dirt.
Sometimes the hurt you feel
means you’re standing in the wrong place.
Move over.
This hurt wasn’t meant for people.
It wasn’t meant to land anywhere.
It’s the cosmic ache of the atmosphere
drifting through, the give-and-take,
the push-pull flow.
You know when it passes,
the lift of the air.
Hear the held note like
the quiet humming
an orchestra tunes to.
That’s for you.
June 12, 2024
I absolutely loved this collection of poems, it's full of poems discussing family, growing up, grief and more. The poems span the spectrum of emotions and have an ease of rhythm that makes them flow naturally. There are poems for anyone and everyone in this collection, and it's something you could easily read in one setting while still taking them in, but you can also read them over time and sit with them to really absorb the emotions and impact of the poems.
October 5, 2024
Grace Notes is a beautiful collection of poems about families.
Some are happy, some are sad, as is normal with families. Readers will find something to identify with in these poems. We all have families of one sort or another with births, deaths, good times and some not so great. This is a wonderful read for readers in middle school and older, even adults.
Recommended purchase for school and public libraries.
M.P.
Retired Library Associate
Some are happy, some are sad, as is normal with families. Readers will find something to identify with in these poems. We all have families of one sort or another with births, deaths, good times and some not so great. This is a wonderful read for readers in middle school and older, even adults.
Recommended purchase for school and public libraries.
M.P.
Retired Library Associate
September 9, 2025
This just wasn't for me. I thought that listening to author read her own words would be the way to read this, but I think I may have liked it better on paper. It just felt really repetitive to me, and I didn't feel like the poems were relatable for kids or particularly interesting. It is marketed for children and middle grade, but I really feel like the audience should be older people who are also reflecting on their lives.
August 18, 2024
Grace Notes is a beautiful collection of poems about families. Some are happy, some are sad, as is normal with families. Readers will find something to identify with in these poems. We all have families of one sort or another with births, deaths, good times and some not so great. This is a wonderful read for readers in middle school and older, even adults.
June 17, 2025
Grad school read on families and the stories that make up our lives. Really beautifully done as the author navigated the impact her mom had on her life and the challenge of loosing her mom as well. This book included poems on adopted family and maternal figures in our lives. She also shared personal experiences from being a refugee and the perspective that gave her on life.
October 1, 2024
This was a beautiful book of poetry. I felt like I was sharing in the grief of both my grandmother's passing and this author's mother passing. There is so much about the little moments that shape us. I took as long as I could to savor the poems. Worth a reread.
December 28, 2024
Grace Notes is a beautiful-written collection of poems about family, growing up, grief, and more. The poems flow. Middle grade readers will find ordinary moments made special via Naomi Shihab Nye’s poems.
February 17, 2025
Poem: Mother Muscle
So many questions you will want to ask your mother.
Where all her dresses went.
How she knew so much, about every single subject...
Themes: poetry, family
Ages: 3 grade+
Pub year: 2024
So many questions you will want to ask your mother.
Where all her dresses went.
How she knew so much, about every single subject...
Themes: poetry, family
Ages: 3 grade+
Pub year: 2024
July 6, 2025
This is a wonderful collection of poetry celebrating the the rich and diverse tapestry that is family. From love and strength to deep family identity and connection. This would integrate greatly into a poetry unit, but heavy emphasis on family and family structures.
May 24, 2024
Naomi Shihab Nye has a gift for making the ordinary sacred. When I read her books I appreciate my own life and experiences tenfold.
Read
June 15, 2024See SLJ review after publication.
August 6, 2024
2024 Sealey Challenge, book #2
September 15, 2024
These were beautiful poems, but with an adult sensibility, not a child's. Should be of most interest to mothers and domestic poets.
October 26, 2024
Much of this collection is made up of notes Nye might have kept over years as memory aids for future reference. It’s like a memoir made up of notes and poems.
Read
December 18, 2024Read as part of the NCTE Children’s Poetry Awards Committee.
January 25, 2025
Wonderful tribute poetry for her mother
February 9, 2025
Beautiful, poetic view of the author’s relationship with her mother and various influences from family across decades of time. Beautiful and honest, interesting and compelling.!:
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews