Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers

by Betsy Franco (Editor)

"The teen poets in this lively anthology knock greeting-card clichés even as they celebrate their romance and their passion...From the pain of breakup and denial to affection and desire, the feelings in these poems will ring true to gay and straight teens alike." —  Booklist

"But what I'll really mean is
are you ready to dive in?
This is not falling,
this is landing."

— From "Gift" by Portia Carryer, age 16

The poets are straight, gay, lesbian, bi, or transgender. They live next door or across an ocean; they are innocent or experienced; their lyric explorations range from new love to stale love, obsession to ennui, ecstasy to heartbreak, and every nuance in between. Whether the romantic escapades described are touching, comical, or tragic, whether the feelings expressed are tender and sweet or brutal and biting, readers will find the love these young poets openly share to be exquisitely, excruciatingly, endlessly fascinating. Here is a collection to turn to again and again, because life and love keep on changing.

Genres: Poetry, Young Adult, Romance, Teen, Anthologies

144 pages, Hardcover

First published December 9, 2008

About the author

Betsy Franco is an accomplished and versatile author whose body of work spans over 80 published titles, including fiction, young adult novels, picture books, and poetry collections. Known for her creative, collage-like approach to storytelling, Franco has also written a screenplay for each of her novels, with Naked optioned for film and The Art of Love currently in post-production.
Franco has a strong background in film and theater, having served as the screenwriting mentor for Metamorphosis, Junior Year, a film adaptation of her novel and play. The project was a family collaboration involving her sons James and Tom Franco, and it was well received at major festivals including Cinequest and Mill Valley, earning recognition as a top ten film by the San Jose Mercury News.
Her creative partnerships with her sons continue across various mediums: she appeared in James Franco’s film The Broken Tower and on General Hospital, while Tom Franco has illustrated her books and co-produced films with her. She also works closely with her son Dave Franco, who assists with her writing projects and participated in the audiobook of Metamorphosis, Junior Year alongside James.

Reviews

[Sara ➽ Ink Is My Sword · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,8 Teenagers Falling Stars

This collection of poems shows the power of words, and how people from all ages can learn to use it. Is a tool of expression of our thoughts, emotions and opinions. I was quite surprised to see the huge age gap this poems are written by, one of the deepest and rawest poems, written by a 13-year-old, I couldn't believe it! I am grateful for the opportunity this book gives to the youth, especially when sometimes we tend to overlook the feeling of this group age as "nothing serious".
Some poems were not of my liking, thus I couldn't give a full 5 stars, but you can certainly find some gems, either through understandment, humor or a different view .

Favorite Poems:

Tilt the halo over my head
Gift
Reminisce
I Love You
Making Love to Shakespeare
Untitled
Love poem
Jump. Don't trip
Like sex, an orange is best enjoyed slowly
Jellybones
Clouded Vision
Love only works in the winter
The last day of our lifetime together
.direction south or north.
Love poem ?
Ramen noodles and hot chocolate
The truth of this love
My apologies
Fat kid
Or not
Denial
Detrimental to my success
Crave
Ode to her skin
Tonight

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I admit it! I thought this would be a laugh riot. C'mon -- teen poems? I'm a dork! Sure there were some funny ones, and I'm not sure it was intentional humor:

You are the flour
in my tortilla,
baby!

But so many more were so much deeper. Anger, passion, desperation -- every emotion.

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not really good at interpreting poetry, but I believe these teenage writers are outstanding and insightful.

[Dr. T Loves Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

The following is from a response written for the class for which I read this book:

This week, the additional book I read was Falling Hard - 100 Love Poems by Teens, edited by Betsy Franco.

Before this week, I would have said that I enjoy reading poetry. This week had me rethinking that belief a bit. Crank was okay, but for me was more about the story than the verse; Inside Out and Back Again was quite good, both as story and as verse; Brown Girl Dreaming started so slow that I forgot how much I enjoyed the second half. And then I got to Falling Hard.

I knew when I picked this book that there would probably be some stand-outs, and probably some clunkers. Having written more than my share of horrendous teen poetry, I figured the stuff that was chosen for publication would hopefully raise that bar a bit. And there were a few truly stellar pieces.

This one particularly grabbed me:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bfkO4B2C0FA...

It’s much more worldly and sophisticated than I would have expected.

And this one was a great piece of teen poetry:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/pDY77xd2nFm...

It’s wonderfully poignant, and nicely direct.

But there were pieces like this:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/b8LcvijC352...

Ugh. I can see the velvet cape and smell the incense being burned while this poem was written by candlelight (with a quill) while Justine shouts, “God, Mother, just leave me alone!”
But in a way, that’s what’s great about this collection of poems. Even the worst pieces perfectly capture teen-dom, particularly that weird slurry of feelings that wash over you when you’re sure you’re the only one who has ever felt feelings that feel like THIS.

I tend to come at works from a middle school perspective, and there are a few pieces in here that made me a bit uncomfortable in terms of having this available to 12 and 13 year olds, like this:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JySdFxJzMVB...

Do they really need poetry that references bondage? But then there are pieces of such wonderful honesty and bittersweetness that I desperately want all students ever to read them, like this:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fWeIOSk6Rpf...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ev8au2AMEiJ...

So, all in all, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. There are some "playas" in here, but the majority of it is raw and real, with varying degrees of awkwardness in gradations ranging from "intensely" to "sweetly" It’s a great nostalgia romp for the older folks, and definitely a great piece for a high school collection.

[Jessica Carrillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this book out at the library because I wasn't finding anything else that I liked, and it was pretty darn good. It's crazy how much talent such young people can have in them. I'd recommend it if you're getting into poetry (or you're feeling a lil sad over relationships and stuff)

[A Sad Friendless Person]

This is really cute
and sad

I liked it

It made me happy
and sad

[A. Mickey Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful poems from a wide variety of poets (including a large number of LGBT poems, my personal favorites.)

[Marlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in the mood to read some love poems and my library either had this or a book of love poems for married people. Well, I'm not, have never been, and am no where close to married, so teenagers it is.
I think so often, depictions of young love are written as reflection. They have the benefit of hindsight to know things like "this felt like the end of the world but it was a blip" or "this love felt all encompassing but I barely think about this person now." There is none of that in this collection.
I found the sincerity so refreshing. There were a few I chuckled at, knowing that that same hindsight would come for them one day, and these poems may one day make the poets cringe. But there were more that struck me as earnest and profound.
Part of this may come from being a woman in her 20s only just discovering her own queerness, and that brings a sort of freshness back to crushes and all that jazz. I'm also a hopeless romantic, so that doesn't help.
There were a few poems that felt tired or cliched, but across the board I really loved and enjoyed this collection, and I am very impressed by the young poets it features. I hope they keep writing.

[Madi Nation · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Then they'll
run with you
out to the lawn
Run their fingers
Through your hair
Brush your forehead
With soft lips
Beneath the starry sky
While whispering
Of sugar-coated tomorrows--
Orange-sherbet sunsets,
Purest white picket fence so,
And Crystal clear oceans
With shells of undented texture."
(C. Salas, pg. 103)

[Madeline Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fairly enjoyed the poetry in this. There was lots of variety of different emotions and types of love. Maybe it’s because I’m not an avid poetry reader but I felt myself having a hard time getting through this. I had to take lots of breaks between poems in order to be able to get through it. The teen writers were very talented however and huge props to them!

[Carissa Lee Zaffiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was delighted, surprised, intrigued by, and often concerned for these teens with their angsty, big feelings as they discovered the nuances of love. I would have liked to hear how the anthology came together though; I wonder if the standard for work could have been higher.

[Mercedes Luna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The books was filled with relatable emotions that one may feel when experiencing love of romantic feelings towards another person.

[Savsbooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. I like the poems but I didn’t catch myself wanting to reread any of them over and over.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Children’s Literature
Crystal Rodriguez

Title: Falling Hard Poetry: Upper
Edited by: Betsy Franco
Place of Publication: Cambridge, Massachusets
Date: 2008 Pages 144

When I read Falling Hard, I was very impressed with the writing talent of young teenagers, some as young as twelve. The book is a composite of poems sent to the editor mainly via email from teenagers of various sexual orientations and from lands around the world. Each poem has a different style and tone, while at the end, listing the child’s name and age.
Some of the poetry is very intense and almost breathtaking. It’s hard to believe that people of that age can already tell of such experiences or share of such imagined experiences. They seemed mature beyond their age. But, then, I look back at my teenage years. It was about 15 years ago; I was too feeling such intense feelings. I think people forget that love can actually happened to those under twenty! Many cases, it is not just puppy love, but the development of true feelings, of passion, desire, and the longing to be loved. It’s a time in your life when love is enough. That is all that is needed. There is often no worry of social status, previous baggage, finances, and careers. There need not be a quarrel over whose turn it is to wash the dishes or mow the lawn. The only focus is each other, with the willingness to please and be pleased.
I enjoyed the reading of the Surrender Tree more so than this particular book, although it was interesting. I think it’s great that this editor created a book using children’s work. It sends a strong message that they deserve to be heard and that their work is valuable.

[Laurie Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reads winner. I love poetry and am very interested in reading teenagers take on love. Can't wait for this one to get here.
Ok so this book came in the mail the day after Thanksgiving what perfect timing to curl up with some new reading... But my 79 year old mother once again snatched this one before I even had the chance to glance good at it,though I did get a good look at the cover and must say I love the art work. She finished it within a good 3 hours period and found many enjoyable poems. So many that she wanted to read them to me and I had to say wait I want to read it myself...Which I plan on doing tonight with my turkey sandwich in hand and my nose in this book. Will let everyone know what I think as soon as I finish this one.. Thank you for the chance to read it first. Ok so I finally got to read this and I loved it.. It amazes me that we do not give credit to teenagers. Most are just dying to find an outlet for their talents and a book like this is the perfect way for some really good talent to come out.. Who knows we may see a true writer emerge because of the opportunity and discipline These young adults have learned from this experience. All someone may have needed to do is open that door for them... I will be keeping this one next to the bed for easy,light, hopeful and fun reading at night for a while.... Thank you

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

So this wasn't terrible but compared to Paint Me Like I Am, my favorite teen poetry anthology, this was kind of weak. It seemed like a lot of the poems could have gone through another round of editing and many of them sort of just blended in together. I'm torn because I know they were written by young teens (many were 14 or 15 years old) so they aren't supposed to be super polished but at the same time this is a published, professional collection of poetry so I have to wonder why so much of it seemed like it never went through a round of editing. The word choice often seemed inappropriate and/or awkward. Most of the poems weren't very memorable to me but the few that I really liked were:

Love Poem p. 22
I am
the flour
to your tortilla,
baby.

Love is Like p. 78
the sweetness of honey
falling from a bee hive.
You have to be careful
not to get stung.

I also liked My Apologies p. 98-99 and Detrimental to My Success p. 118-119. (Too long to type out here.)

I'm sure I'm a tough audience and I bet a lot of teens would actually enjoy this. I just expected more.

[Andrae Mcconnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Falling Hard" is a collection of poetry by a diverse population of young adults ranging from age 12 to age 18. They are writing from a variety of cultural backgrounds and sexual orientations. Some of them are just experiencing their first kiss while others have gone all the way, come back, and gone again.
As poets, they are largely unconcerned with convention which is somewhat refreshing. They are simply spilling their souls on the page, and they are brutally honest about their experiences--the good, bad and otherwise.
This collection of poems has a lot of range. These poems could be used with students in grades 6-12. And talk about relevant! I know my 9th graders are extremely concerned with relationships and their own sexuality. I am definitely going to present several of the poems from Falling Hard and just allow them to respond to them however they like. It is difficult for a lot of students to write about poetry because they feel like a poem is some kind of riddle they have to solve, and they are scared to be wrong. I really like the fact that the age of each of the poets is given so students can see that these are adolescents just like them, simply writing about their experiences.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of love poems written by teenagers. The authors range in age from 12 to 18. They are also a mixture of female, male, transgender, straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, different ethnicities and from different countries. Franco has pulled these 100 poems from the mounds of submissions she received via e-mail. They all fall in to the category of “love poem,” but not all are romantic. Some are positive, some negative, some humorous, some serious, but all are about love in some way. I was surprised by the maturity of some of these young authors in recounting their experiences or feelings on the matter. I was also amazed by the relevance these poems had to my own life, regardless of who wrote them. The teen authors of these poems are insightful and honest. They speak of subjects such as unrequited love, sexual encounters, pledging abstinence, first kisses, break ups, secret desires, and much more. The collection made gave me a lot to think about and all the selections were beautifully written. Most of the poems were written in some type of free verse, but they all seemed to have a unique style. One could definitely hear the voices of the individual writers in each of the poems presented.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew I had to read this book when I saw a co-worker's raised eyebrows while she browsed through it. This book is about love. Love lost and love found and beaten and broken and renewed. This book is also about sex. Yes, America, teenagers are having sex. Not all of them, and some of the poems are about waiting, but expecting a book of love poems to leave out physical love, and the power of a first physical love, is sort of silly. It's a good anthology in that a majority of the poems are actually good. It also encompasses some gay, bi, and transgendered poems, which I frequently wouldn't have known without looking at the name of the teen who wrote the poem, which probably says a lot about the universality of love. Anyway, the book is both profound and shallow, and a little good and a little cheesy. Hmm, a lot like teen love, I suppose. I'd recommend it to teens.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won on a Goodreads giveaway, I definitely recommend this book for ALL high school libraries and high school students. Love is a scary thing when you're a teenager: this book (written by teens) faces the beast from all the angles, crossing gender, class, age and social labels.

The enormity of emotion and physical manifestation of love are things adults (particularly teachers and parents) have a hard time dealing with, so I'm not sure I'd buy this for my middle-school library. These teens use grown-up language to describe grown-up actions and feelings.

But as I read these, I remembered the uncertainty with which teens dip their feet into the adult world, and I hope every teen who finds himself in love gets the opportunity to read this book and undestand that throughout time, everyone has gone through the same gamut of emotions when it comes to love.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

***I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.***

This was an interesting book. I entered the giveaway thinking that the poems would be a good topic of discussion for my pre-teen (and constanly curious about boys) and me.

I was surprised at how candid and open some of the teens were. But at the same time, there was a certain amount of immaturity in almost every poem. I wasn't so much shocked at the language and the activities or even the feelings, but they obvious way that many of these teens don't know how to handle what they are feeling.

I was hoping that the book would generate some meaningful discussion, but instead my daughter just thought that most of them sounded pretty "lame."

[blondie ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book turned out to be much different than I thought it would be. There were a few light, fluffy selections, of course, but many of them were deeper, more powerful than that. Silly of me, really. I'm barely out of my teens and already I've forgotten how strongly things feel at that age! The end of the world in one single, breathless word. Not that I've reached any blessed plane of emotional understanding now (quite the contrary, to be sure), but it's strange to be reminded of time passing, of getting older, of change change change. Books will do that to you. They show you your strengths, lay bare your weakest points. Not the best teen poetry anthology I've read, but worth the read if you're so inclined.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these poems are better than others, but overall I'd say this is a great collection for the high school classroom. There is some sex, but nothing graphic and not present in every poem. The good poems really capture teenage emotion and disappointment. The bad ones are still better than most bad poetry :). Each poem has the first name of the poet (or what they gave in their email to the editor) as well as their age. Here are two of my favorites:

Or Not

It was good.
then it wasn't
He was nice
then he wasn't
I was okay
then I wasn't
We both loved
then we didn't
It was always there
but it never happened.

Diaster, age 13

Love Peom

I am
the flour
to your tortilla
baby.

Juan Nunez, age 15

[M.cholewick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Falling Hard: 100 Love Poems by Teenagers is a collection of 100 love poems written by teenagers. The book would be best for young adults (ages 14 +). Thus, a high school classroom would be the most appropriate audience. This book would be a great way to introduce poetry to young adults because it will be engaging, since it contains poems written by teens. The authors being teenagers provides a level of relatability for the readers. Additionally, teacher will appreciates the variety of poetry. For example, there are complex poems and simplistic poems. Below is an example of a simplistic poem, but also one of my favorites from the collection.

Love is like
The sweetness of honey
falling from a bee hive
You have to be careful
Not to get strung

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will copy what Booklist said: "The teen poets in this lively anthology knock greeting-card clichés even as they celebrate their romance and their passion...From the pain of breakup and denial to affection and desire, the feelings in these poems will ring true to gay and straight teens alike."

Some of these poems were fantastic, funny, and painful, other were just plain weird. I don't read poetry really, but this was really good, and some of the poems were really inspiring. I think the term "Love Poems" is misleading, though. These are not your stereotypical love poems!

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh to be young again. To live only in the moment. Its so hard to be young, they don’t really know about time and how life keeps changing. In science most advances are made by people under 35. As the parent of a 17 year old, I wish so much for him. Life can be so full and so exciting if you could only see that and make good choices when you are young and longing for love and acceptance by people that will fly away into life. I read the book to try to feel what they feel. Teens are beautiful beings, so gorgeous and simple, children on the cusp of adulthood.

[Robin]

I am not a big poetry person and truly hate reading and writing it, but I manage through this book on love poems. These poems were written about teenagers in love in first person. Believe me they did not leave anything out, all types of people wrote about all types of love situations and feelings. I am not so sure I would share this book with the teenagers I work with but it did open my eyes up to a world I am not ready to face with my daughter.

[Brandi Bette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love is like/ the sweetness of honey/
falling from a bee hive. /You have to be careful/
not to get stung. Hector Jasso ~ 16

Memories of You
I miss you less than I thought I would.
I miss you more than I think I do.
I want you less than I thought I did.
And I love you more than I ever knew.
Mary Katherine Meadows ~ 16


From Benicia High School Booktalks 2009 & Benicia Middle School Booktalks 2009-10
Benicia Public Library Call Number: YA811 FALLING

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

As in all anthologies, some poems and authors are better than others. In a few cases, lines or stanzas stuck with me and resonated through my thoughts long after I had moved on from the page. Another round of editing definitely could have improved the vast majority of the selections. All in all, a nice crop covering a range of emotions and topics from kisses to sex, first glances to brake-ups.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poetry written by teens on the subject of love. Incredibly familiar in perspective, this really brought my memory back to those early days of both first love and first poetry written in journals. Ahh, youth!