Someone Else in the Dark

by Kimi Freeman

With her self-reflective and inspirational words, award-winning teen author Kimi Freeman makes her poetic debut in a thought-provoking collection about her journey to becoming a young adult.

Growing up is tough. There is no guide to dealing with the anxiety, heartbreak, and depression that often accompanies adolescence. Someone Else in the Dark is a poetry collection that doesn’t shy away from the rough parts of growing up. It embraces them.

Divided into five sections, each exploring a different facet of her growth, Freeman shows readers that the only way to overcome adolescence is by going through it. With a deep dive into her early childhood and teenage years, she explores the themes of love, young womanhood, race, and the need to fit in.

No stranger to the craft of writing, sixteen-year-old Freeman is able to inspire readers with the same assured storytelling that earned her debut novel a nod in both Publisher’s Weekly and People Magazine. With her introspective and heartfelt words, Freeman takes us on a poignant journey through her own coming of age.

Genres: Poetry, Young Adult

124 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 28, 2024

About the author

Kimi Freeman is a teen writer of both fiction and poetry who debuted with her novel, 'Tis the Damn Season, at just sixteen years old. A northern New Jersey native, she is often found enjoying a toasted cinnamon raisin bagel or taking trips into New York City, a short distance from her hometown. Her debut poetry collection, Someone Else in the Dark, will be released in May 2024. Follow her on her social media platforms for updates and additional information.

Reviews

[Seher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this.

This collection was not it; the author sounds like everyone else trying to write modern poetry.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part 1: Innocence - 4 stars
Part 2: Hallways Are Hell- 5 stars
Part 3: Eruption- 3 stars
Part 4: There Are Monsters In Our Closets- 2 stars
Part 5: Clarity- 2 stars

I really really liked the first half of this and was connecting with so much of it on such a deep level, unfortunately that didn’t last.
There was a few poems scattered throughout, though mostly in the second half, with some mistakes.
The author is very very clearly inspired by Taylor Swift which for the most part I really did not mind ( love Taylor’s music with all of my heart), but there came a point specifically with the poem titled ‘There are monsters in our closets’ where it just became way way too much.
I truly cannot wait to see what future poetry Kimi Freeman writes, and I will definitely read it. If this is her debut poetry collection and written as a TEENAGER, I can only imagine the brilliance she will write as an adult.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

[HyacintReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite being only 16 years old, these poems have a bucket load of emotion from life experiences in them. These poems will definitely resonate with a lot of teenagers and teenagers of colour. This collection portrays the emotions of enjoying the innocence of childhood and the sadness of becoming more self conscious as you get older and have to deal with outside influences. The poems are easy to read and relatable. I also really liked the simple illustrations. If this is what the author is writing at 16 I look forward to seeing where her future works take her.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review! Note: I rate the poems based on literary aspects and not on the personal story behind them.

3⭐

I was in the mood to read a poetry collection, and I grabbed this one hoping it will hit the right spot. It somewhat did, but it also missed.

😍 The good:
Some of the poems were better than others in structure and style, discussing relevant and powerful personal topics that readers can relate with. I liked the addition of illustrations: I do not know if this was inspired from "Milk and Honey" by Rupi Kaur, but it definitely had that vibe and that was nice for me.

😅 The not-so-good:
Despite being grouped in several parts throughout the book, the poems still seemed scattered and the book was not that cohesive as a whole for me. I also felt like the poems touched too lightly on some aspects, as they did not delve more into those specific things despite being quite long (I understand that the author just went with the flow, but it would have been nice to have more of a clearly illustrated perspective).

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to start by saying that I don't usually rate poetry because I know that it's too personal for the author. That being said, I'm going to give my honest opinion. This didn't surprise me at all, it's a lot like any other contemporary poetry book that goes viral. So it is not the best in terms of structure and originality. But still, there were some poems that hit me. I think because the author is so young, the collection seems very juvenile but, at the same time, very real. I wish I didn't relate to so many of those things because sometimes it's embarrassing to have so many feelings eating you alive when you know, deep down, that you shouldn't care so much.
As always, I think when you rate or review poetry you generally say more about yourself than anything else and I think that's the point.
So, it's not a perfect book by any means, but it was enjoyable and some parts had their impact.
Also i don't know if it was me but i noticed a lot of music references like Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodigro, etc. Not complaining though.
"Why do i look foward to going back to you just so that my life won't feel like a constant cycle of waiting?"
*Thanks to NetGalley uk, the publishers and the author for the ARC*

[Emi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Publishing date: 28.05.2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Parson Press for the ARC. My opinions are my own. 

The book as a meal: I decided not to eat anything today as I felt uncomfortable in my own skin
The book left me: Reliving my teenage years

Negatives:
Couldn't relate as much as I wanted to

Positives:
You can see how the author grew and changed throughout the collection 
Emits strong emotions

Features: 
Illustrations with each poem

Why did I choose this one?
More poems for the poem hungry goblin. 

Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?
Devourable. Very short and concise book. Doesn't overstay its welcome, but leaves a little earlier than expected. 

What was the vibe and mood?
A lot of anger, uncertainty, and fear permeates this book. You feel like you are not enough, like you are too much, and not the right one all the way through the book. 

Final ranking and star rating?
3.5 stars, B tier. I would give this a higher score if I had read it a few years earlier. I am simply not the right age anymore to relate to this. I did recognize myself in a few of the lines and poems, so I will bump it up a bit there. The illustrations are also gorgeous and go well with the content. 

Favorite poems: 
Please
Friends
Chameleon
You
Clarity 
Glory

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the privilege of reading SOMEONE ELSE IN THE DARK early. As an avid poetry reader, I feel this collection is something special. Freeman’s ability to reach that raw part of humanity, that uncertainty and loss of innocence we all experience, is simply outstanding. This collection is heartfelt along with heartbreaking, highlighting the ways in which we grow from children with carefree tendencies to adults second guessing every little thing about ourselves—how race, appearances and accomplishments weigh on us in ways we were not prepared for. As a creative, the pressure to do great things, pressure from ourselves and our critics along with our fans, builds to an ear splitting crescendo, overtaking our thoughts and our dreams. I could feel the emotions on each page, I have felt them in my youth and in my adulthood, and I hope the ones who need this collection, who want to be seen, find this beautiful compilation.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic collection. I was worried that since the author is so young it would feel like a bad high school poetry project but it was far beyond anything I imagined and I am so happy I picked it up. I can't wait to watch out for more writing by this author and I plan to go back and read her debut novel. With the exception of a few poems, I really couldn't believe someone so young wrote most of these poems. This author is talented and going places and I can't wait to see what they write next. Phenomenal collection for a 16-18 year old to write and I am so happy to have read this book

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. As a young adult myself, I really resonated with this poetry and found it to be very meaningful and powerful. I recognized feelings of nostalgia, self-doubt, letting go, a desire for validation, and the essence of girlhood itself in the writing. The personal nature of the writing also added to its impact, and the illustrations inside the book were beautiful, enhancing the imagery of the text. I look forward to future works by this author!

[Anastasiya M · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title of this collection drew me to it but all I found was the same tone that most of the modern poets use when putting pieces together, adding them to a book and expecting magic to just happen. I felt a lot of the pieces to be showing and not telling, and there's where much of my attention was lost and I stopped trying to find any underlying meanings I hoped would already be present.

Read more here: https://annietheinkdrinker.wordpress.com

[Emily Regier · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick read that is very beautifully written. It feels very real and I can see teens especially being able to relate to it. The only thing I didn't like was the poems that made it seem the author needed the approval and love of men. I would have like a little more insight into how she felt whole on her own included in those poems.

[Liz Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Positively gutting, but in the best way. These poems deeply resonate with me personally, and even while they address romantic and sexual love, the themes within those were applicable to most types of close relationships. Freeman had wisdom beyond her years, and I will definitely be auto buying all her other poetry works when they come.

[Kimi Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited that this book is finally available for people to read. Someone Else in the Dark is the most special project I’ve ever made! It is an illustrated poetry collection all about growing up & the pains that come with that. I remember starting to write poems back in freshman year with absolutely no intention of ever putting them out into the universe. But once I finished some of what later became the last section of this book, I knew I was ready to share my words with the world. this collection came from a place of such vulnerability & I can’t wait for you guys to read it. <3

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read !! Couldn’t stop once I started, highly recommend.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

i related to these sooo much omg! loved it. especially brown skinned girl.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a collection of poems about growing up. It is quite empowering to read about the whole process of finding your own voice and feet in the world.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the book after falling in love with her first book and absolutely loved this too.

Great read!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kimi Freeman killed it with this one! I read her previous work and have become a quick fan. This collection shows just how versatile she is as an author.