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The Space Between
The Space Between is an anthology exploring the author's experience and journey of coming out as a queer individual. As with everything in life, it's a process, and there are ups and downs in every season of life. C. K. Jensen invites you to come on this journey of self-discovery with them. These poems and essays were written over the course of years, and this book has been a labor of love.
Unknown Binding
First published May 1, 2025
1 person want to read
About the author
C.K. Jensen
3 books13 followersCK Jensen is usually found reading or writing a book, if they’re not busy studying for their next biology exam. In addition to writing, CK is a university student studying biology with hopes to one day help the environment. While writing All Hail the Queen of Hearts, CK believed six impossible things before breakfast every morning. You can follow them on Instagram @ckjensenauthor to stay updated on their latest projects and new releases.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 13, 2025
What I find fascinating is you can see how the author grows as not only a poet and writer but also as a person throughout this body of work and sorry CK if this is a little too personal to point out, but poetry is personal and since you’ve been so kind to lend your heart to us I want to treat it with the care it deserves.
CK’s youthful and thought-to-page writing style will resonate with young teens and adults who struggle with mental health, particularly due to conflict within intersecting identities, but this is not just for them. For those in the church who cling to a belief that homosexuality is a sin (and a choice) this is also for you.
As a quick side note, for those who want to challenge me on this I’ll point you in the direction of Mormon and biblical scholar Dan McClellan who has made numerous videos on his YouTube channel on the dangers of Christian nationalism, the falsehoods spread by Evangelists, and misinformation perpetuated by the church specifically on the LGBTQ+ community. If you’re looking for actual evidence to guide your perceptions rather than mistranslations and a misbelief that the Bible is univocal, then you’ll appreciate what he has to offer in his videos and shorts. Or if you prefer, you can check out his published works here on Goodreads. He’s a great resource to answer questions you have, but that’s all I want to say on that. Dan’s great, but this isn’t about him. This is about CK. And they deserve the spotlight.
I myself am a Christian lesbian. Though I am not an active participant in the church, I do desire community. I do not believe God condemns sexuality and I pity those who do. I don’t believe religion is a black-and-white topic. I think there are positives to it just as I believe there are negative aspects to it. The community and rituals I believe have value. However, the controlling nature of religion itself proves inherently damaging.
Case and point: “The Space Between”.
CK delivers their journey over the course of their young adult life in a series of poems, essays, and musings. I believe there were two goals of this work: 1) to ease the loneliness of other queer people marginalized by society by showing them they are not alone in their feelings, 2) to be raw and real in a way that will show those in religious communities the harm their rhetoric does and hopefully foster empathy and, eventually, growth in society. Part of the healing process of trauma is sharing said trauma, even if it’s not with the world. This work begins as CK bringing the pain stored inside their body into the physical world where it can exist and be seen somewhere other than their mind. By reading their work, the audience opens themselves up to pain and goes on the healing journey with the writer themselves.
There is distance between writer and reader in the earlier parts. Stories shy away from getting too deep, too personal. Later we learn of the rejection of these emotions, which brings the whole work in context to how betrayal and fear of one’s identity being rejected cause emotional repression. This particularly stood out to me in “Things they tell you about depression” (Jenson 18-19) but the “they” is never clarified, leaving not a mystery but rather a sensation of “if you don’t know then you don’t know”. However, in it’s whole, “The Space Between” seeks to bridge that gap- “if you don’t know then read me and I’ll tell you”. In these earlier works, emotions are still being “untangled” as CK illustrates for us in their Braided Essay or “Unbraided Essay” as it’s later called. However, in the later works, these thoughts that were untangled begin to “re-braid” themselves in a lovely process of self discovery. This is when we really connect to the author.
Their craft grows stronger over the years, notably “something off” (42) written in 2021 stood out to me. All the first words in every line are capitalized except for one. God is written in lowercase “god”. Further back, CK referred to God in capital letters and even used “Him” written as such (refer to page 25, written in 2019). While I still believe in God and have a relationship with Him, this stood out to me in a way I resonated with. I’ve heard someone say “I didn’t leave the church, the church left me”. I’ve also heard “a father should be the first man who loves his child”. When God is referred to as the Heavenly Father, one who would reject His child for something out of their control but innate as who they desire when seeking partnership and companionship, how are we to expect that child to respond? Self-loathing and shame come natural at that point and the trauma and betrayal will eventually reach a breaking point. This is how we lose “children of God”. This is how we inevitably bury them.
The idea of loneliness versus being alone and a desire for a life partner (romantically rather than sexually) is a consistent theme in this body of work despite being written over a period of a few years (though argubly a lifetime) where there was no way of knowing this is what the work would eventually become. This in itself is powerful in showing the consistant pain those in the LGBTQ+ community face from isolation of peers in religious spaces. “When being alone lasts forever, what distinguishes it from loneliness? What prevents it from becoming bitter?” (Jenson 13). I still have inconsolable crying spells when I think about my imaginary future spouse. I’m left with two choices: risk it all for love and be willing to watch my family abandon me when I pursue a romantic partner I wont be disgusted by or be both alone and lonely. I feel the love of my parents, but I desire the love of a companion. If I seek the latter, I’ll have to be resigned that my father will never walk me down the isle and my mother will not pick out a wedding gown with me. That is the loneliness even when you’re not alone. The bitterness tasted is pain from being loved but not accepted.
In “the Intervention (21), CK shares a deep betrayal from past roommates at university. College can be terrifying enough without the threat of losing everything you’ve worked for thus far solely on the reality you’re attracted to the same sex. Something innate to them is weaponized by their roommates who fear the university’s religious policies will spark an investigation on CK for their sexuality and thus backfire on them (the roommates). They threaten to sic the Honor Code Office on them (CK). A hollow threat as it is revealed they (the roommates) have things they want to keep hidden. To keep that from happening, the used fear to put someone else “in line” for their own agenda. Thus, this illustrates how religion when for the sake of coercion loses is value as a community and crosses the line into cultic behavior.
“where is grace” (30) is a powerful turning point in CK’s journey. After diving deep into their pain, this is when the healing really begins. CK is keenly aware of their growth, notable in “an interview with myself” (Jenson 50-51) where they reflect on their past work and answer questions asked by their younger self. CK reveals their personal growth by sharing what they have learned over the years, including their coping strategy for overwhelming grief. This is a real process of going back to heal the inner, wounded child.
We close “The Space Between” with the final phase of healing: acceptance. “queer joy” (54) expresses the necessity of events like “Pride”. The pavement of Pride events is a rainbow cathedral. Just as Christians gather for fellowship and celebration, so do we. This is where the space between becomes filled.
If you’re open to new perceptions or if you’re seeking to ease your own loneliness, then you’ll enjoy “The Space Between” as a collection of work showing a young writer’s growth in not only their craft but path to self-actualization.
CK’s youthful and thought-to-page writing style will resonate with young teens and adults who struggle with mental health, particularly due to conflict within intersecting identities, but this is not just for them. For those in the church who cling to a belief that homosexuality is a sin (and a choice) this is also for you.
As a quick side note, for those who want to challenge me on this I’ll point you in the direction of Mormon and biblical scholar Dan McClellan who has made numerous videos on his YouTube channel on the dangers of Christian nationalism, the falsehoods spread by Evangelists, and misinformation perpetuated by the church specifically on the LGBTQ+ community. If you’re looking for actual evidence to guide your perceptions rather than mistranslations and a misbelief that the Bible is univocal, then you’ll appreciate what he has to offer in his videos and shorts. Or if you prefer, you can check out his published works here on Goodreads. He’s a great resource to answer questions you have, but that’s all I want to say on that. Dan’s great, but this isn’t about him. This is about CK. And they deserve the spotlight.
I myself am a Christian lesbian. Though I am not an active participant in the church, I do desire community. I do not believe God condemns sexuality and I pity those who do. I don’t believe religion is a black-and-white topic. I think there are positives to it just as I believe there are negative aspects to it. The community and rituals I believe have value. However, the controlling nature of religion itself proves inherently damaging.
Case and point: “The Space Between”.
CK delivers their journey over the course of their young adult life in a series of poems, essays, and musings. I believe there were two goals of this work: 1) to ease the loneliness of other queer people marginalized by society by showing them they are not alone in their feelings, 2) to be raw and real in a way that will show those in religious communities the harm their rhetoric does and hopefully foster empathy and, eventually, growth in society. Part of the healing process of trauma is sharing said trauma, even if it’s not with the world. This work begins as CK bringing the pain stored inside their body into the physical world where it can exist and be seen somewhere other than their mind. By reading their work, the audience opens themselves up to pain and goes on the healing journey with the writer themselves.
There is distance between writer and reader in the earlier parts. Stories shy away from getting too deep, too personal. Later we learn of the rejection of these emotions, which brings the whole work in context to how betrayal and fear of one’s identity being rejected cause emotional repression. This particularly stood out to me in “Things they tell you about depression” (Jenson 18-19) but the “they” is never clarified, leaving not a mystery but rather a sensation of “if you don’t know then you don’t know”. However, in it’s whole, “The Space Between” seeks to bridge that gap- “if you don’t know then read me and I’ll tell you”. In these earlier works, emotions are still being “untangled” as CK illustrates for us in their Braided Essay or “Unbraided Essay” as it’s later called. However, in the later works, these thoughts that were untangled begin to “re-braid” themselves in a lovely process of self discovery. This is when we really connect to the author.
Their craft grows stronger over the years, notably “something off” (42) written in 2021 stood out to me. All the first words in every line are capitalized except for one. God is written in lowercase “god”. Further back, CK referred to God in capital letters and even used “Him” written as such (refer to page 25, written in 2019). While I still believe in God and have a relationship with Him, this stood out to me in a way I resonated with. I’ve heard someone say “I didn’t leave the church, the church left me”. I’ve also heard “a father should be the first man who loves his child”. When God is referred to as the Heavenly Father, one who would reject His child for something out of their control but innate as who they desire when seeking partnership and companionship, how are we to expect that child to respond? Self-loathing and shame come natural at that point and the trauma and betrayal will eventually reach a breaking point. This is how we lose “children of God”. This is how we inevitably bury them.
The idea of loneliness versus being alone and a desire for a life partner (romantically rather than sexually) is a consistent theme in this body of work despite being written over a period of a few years (though argubly a lifetime) where there was no way of knowing this is what the work would eventually become. This in itself is powerful in showing the consistant pain those in the LGBTQ+ community face from isolation of peers in religious spaces. “When being alone lasts forever, what distinguishes it from loneliness? What prevents it from becoming bitter?” (Jenson 13). I still have inconsolable crying spells when I think about my imaginary future spouse. I’m left with two choices: risk it all for love and be willing to watch my family abandon me when I pursue a romantic partner I wont be disgusted by or be both alone and lonely. I feel the love of my parents, but I desire the love of a companion. If I seek the latter, I’ll have to be resigned that my father will never walk me down the isle and my mother will not pick out a wedding gown with me. That is the loneliness even when you’re not alone. The bitterness tasted is pain from being loved but not accepted.
In “the Intervention (21), CK shares a deep betrayal from past roommates at university. College can be terrifying enough without the threat of losing everything you’ve worked for thus far solely on the reality you’re attracted to the same sex. Something innate to them is weaponized by their roommates who fear the university’s religious policies will spark an investigation on CK for their sexuality and thus backfire on them (the roommates). They threaten to sic the Honor Code Office on them (CK). A hollow threat as it is revealed they (the roommates) have things they want to keep hidden. To keep that from happening, the used fear to put someone else “in line” for their own agenda. Thus, this illustrates how religion when for the sake of coercion loses is value as a community and crosses the line into cultic behavior.
“where is grace” (30) is a powerful turning point in CK’s journey. After diving deep into their pain, this is when the healing really begins. CK is keenly aware of their growth, notable in “an interview with myself” (Jenson 50-51) where they reflect on their past work and answer questions asked by their younger self. CK reveals their personal growth by sharing what they have learned over the years, including their coping strategy for overwhelming grief. This is a real process of going back to heal the inner, wounded child.
We close “The Space Between” with the final phase of healing: acceptance. “queer joy” (54) expresses the necessity of events like “Pride”. The pavement of Pride events is a rainbow cathedral. Just as Christians gather for fellowship and celebration, so do we. This is where the space between becomes filled.
If you’re open to new perceptions or if you’re seeking to ease your own loneliness, then you’ll enjoy “The Space Between” as a collection of work showing a young writer’s growth in not only their craft but path to self-actualization.
January 17, 2026
THE SPACE BETWEEN is an introspective collection of poetry and personal essays dedicated to a variety of topics ranging from identity, to upbringing, to religion, to sexuality, and more. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book, and really enjoyed reading it.
I found myself relating to many of the questions and experiences Jensen shared with us as a fellow queer person who’s worked hard to find myself and my community.
Stylistically, the book is easily digestible, split up into four sections, and switches often between poetry and essay. You are never faced with too large a wall of text.
I loved that Jensen took the time to validate each version of themselves, and to further reflect and learn from the traumas they faced. And speaking of trauma, this book lacks the heaviness that many similarly-structured collections contain. For that, I am especially thankful.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to its official release, as well as whatever else the author writes.
I found myself relating to many of the questions and experiences Jensen shared with us as a fellow queer person who’s worked hard to find myself and my community.
Stylistically, the book is easily digestible, split up into four sections, and switches often between poetry and essay. You are never faced with too large a wall of text.
I loved that Jensen took the time to validate each version of themselves, and to further reflect and learn from the traumas they faced. And speaking of trauma, this book lacks the heaviness that many similarly-structured collections contain. For that, I am especially thankful.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to its official release, as well as whatever else the author writes.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews