Rooted

by Cassandra Chaput

Rooted is a collection of poetry with focus on mental health, love and heartbreak, self-improvement, and self-love. Trees are resilient, with roots buried deep beneath the soil, feeding them nutrients and helping them grow. You are rooted. Stand strong against the winds that try to tear you down.

Genres: Poetry

100 pages, Paperback

Published October 16, 2018

Reviews

[ADRI ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This poetry book broke my heart into pieces! A beautiful poetry collection about heartbreaks, new love, and self-love.

I loved how this book made me remember so many things, from toxic relationships to a new healthy love. I identified myself so much through every poem.

“Like a flower needs rain, I need you the same.” ❤️

Thank you so much Cass for providing me with a copy for an honest review ✨

[Steve Stred · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered the collection Rooted by Cassandra Chaput in a truly odd way. I was in search of a sensitive reader for one of my up-coming-releases and posted on Twitter. Cassandra messaged me and I sent her the file of my book over for her to read through when she was free. Through chatting a bit through messages we ended up mutually following each other.

Then recently, I saw her tweet out about her poetry collection. I saw in her bio that she was a writer, but (and I admit this sheepishly) I failed to look into her published output. When I saw the collection I checked out the synopsis and knew it was something I’d need to read. I ended up buying it for International Women’s Day.

The synopsis lets us know what we’re in store for. I can’t do it justice or paraphrase it.
So I’ll quote it here, taken from Goodreads;
“Rooted is a collection of poetry with focus on mental health, love and heartbreak, self-improvement, and self-love. Trees are resilient, with roots buried deep beneath the soil, feeding them nutrients and helping them grow. You are rooted. Stand strong against the winds that try to tear you down.”

This was a collection I could’ve easily flown through and read in one sitting. But these poems and in many instances affirmations are designed to be read and to be digested. You will find that you’ll read a simple two-line affirmation, read three or four poems and then flip back to the two-liner to reread it again.

Throughout, the collection also features some really nice illustrations which worked well to highlight key aspects of the attached poem.

I hate to use the term simplistic, but Cassandra uses such carefully selected words to convey such massive emotions, I was awestruck at how she packed so much into so little, time and time again.

I think this collection is a necessary addition to everyone’s book shelf if you’ve ever suffered from depression, loss or lack of confidence or struggle with anxiety.

I also really think all women should read this. Cassandra speaks so eloquently and many of the poems, at least I think, are poems that women should print off and repeat every day.

An emotional roller coaster of a collection, this one’s gonna stay with me for some time and I’ll probably be doing another read through this year.

[Nico Genes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fine collection of poetry with beautiful illustrations, suitable in my opinion for a young audience. The poems are focused on different elements such as mental health, love, heartbreak, and self-improvement. Few poems seemed to encourage self-motivation and self-expression. These poems are not only expressing different ideas and feelings over certain life issues, but they inspire and motivate the reader. There is more to the eye when reading poetry. One should open their heart and mind and see where the words take them. Some of the poems resonated deeply with me. My favorite poem is “Untitled I” but I did like “Rooted” a lot. I can tell that all the poems mean a lot to the writer and I applaud her talent, and wish her all the best on this journey.

Type of reader: For all that admire how the words flow on the paper and take their time and reflect upon the infinite messages those words captured within.

More book reviews on: https://www.nicojgenes.com/book-reviews

[Rhiannon Rosewood · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars. I thought the illustrations paired excellently with the poems, and in particular, the graphic for Rooted was quite sweet. There were some lines in here I enjoyed - particularly the poems about being in love and dreaming about a future together - but I felt like overall, it wasn't new or different and didn't particularly strike me. Reviewing poetry is always difficult, but the language and imagery just didn't capture me, and the themes were not, for me personally, impactfully imparted.

[Eli · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this poetry collection by the author in exchange for a review.

Oh boy. This isn’t my kind of poetry. For me, not one poem was new or original to me. I felt like I had read the poems before elsewhere. I think the author needs to find their voice more.

[Natalie Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I'm no expert of poetry. Having said that, this book is raw and emotional. My real review is 4.5 stars as some of the poems were a bit too simplistic for my taste, yet they were still enjoyable. The reader can relate to the poet, they can understand the thoughts and feelings. I particularly enjoyed the poem Anchor as it resonates with myself. For people in the LGBT plus community, it has a powerful reminder to be yourself in the poem Gr(ACE)ful. Reading was a brilliant poem. I was really able to connect with many of these pieces. The book is expertly rooted from cover to cover.

The drawings are well done and clever. They help to paint a picture.

[Chelsea Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of poetry from a range of sleep deprivation, to love, to loss of love. With touches on mental health, mental illness, and the importance of self-care, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection. Not only connecting to the poetry myself, but also taking the journey alongside Cassandra!

[Rachel Sandell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars - beautiful messages accompanied by charming illustrations

With a collection of poetry as personal as this, the bravery and creativity that it takes to pen all these thoughts down are amazing to me. Most of the poems in this collection and subtle, image-driven, and really hit me in the heart. A few are a bit on-the-nose with its messages and certain subjects sometimes come at a strange place in the collection, but these are messages that are important to know, especially for the younger generation.

My favorites use some really emotional and beautiful imagery, including "Innocence," "Waves," "Grounded," and "Turning Pages." I also love the little interludes that felt like bits of advice sprinkled in. The personal quality is highlighted by the charming illustrations that accompany the text. I recommend giving this a read! I'm glad I did.

[WD Janaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly a heartfelt, emotional journey filled with love, loss, hope, and strength of will. Filled with relatable illustrations, I finished this book within an hour of receiving it in the mail, and have then again picked it up and re-read many of Cassandra's poems over and over again since. I recommend this book for everyone struggling themselves, and for those trying to better understand many of the mental health issues plaguing society today. Thank you Cassandra for writing and sharing a part of your soul with us. I trust this book will be a strength to many.

[Rashmi P. Menon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Packs an Emotional Punch!

Rooted is a collection of poems based on love, heartbreak, New love, self love, mental health, and self improvement. In short, it is something that most of us either are going through or have gone through at some point in our lives. I found some of the poems to be truly heartbreaking while others were uplifting. My favorites are Rooted, Autumn Winds, and Willow Tree! While reading a collection of poetry, one needs to remember to read between the lines and go beyond what’s on the page to truly appreciate the depth of the poets feelings! This collection of poems by Cassandra Chaput packs within it an emotional punch that stays with you for hours after you’ve read the book!

[Claire Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a charming collection of poetry by a new, young author all about love, heartbreak, self-improvement, and self-love. The collection is aimed at, and will definitely appeal to, the YA audience, but I feel that the topics written about, there is also something here that will appeal to a wider ranging audiences.

[Anangsha Alammyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a rare beauty. The poems, though in modern free verse, are extremely powerful. My favourite ones were 'Glass Heart', 'Light vs Dark', 'Strength within' & 'Counting Sheep'. I've bookmarked several pages for I know I'll keep coming back to them again and again.

Would definitely recommend to all poetry lovers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

[Brittany Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful poetry collection that takes the heart of serious topics from love to mental-illness. These poems create a vivid image in your head and bring out those "rooted" feelings. I thoroughly enjoyed this poetry collection and highly recommend it to anyone looking for poems on a wide variety of topics!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review on my blog:

https://bookyreads.home.blog/2018/12/...

[Autum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review on my blog:

https://creativityinprogressdotblog.w...

[Nicole Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this collection, I loved every single poem. It touched my heart so deeply. It's one of my all-time favorite collections and I absolutely recommend it to everyone.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

These poems are so fresh and beautiful! I caught myself smiling while reading them.

[Addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rooted is a collection of poetry about love, mental-health, self encouragement and self improvement. All of these topics are artfully covered with both compassion and empathy. I honestly felt like I could relate to all of them on some level, though I've not been through exactly what the Author had.
Check out the rest of my review at
https://auntaddiesbookshelf.wordpress...

[Evans Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

\ I need to force myself to grow and bloom. \

This verse from the titular poem of Cassandra Chaput’s debut poetry collection highlights the heart of her efforts in this project. Written mostly in free verse, “Rooted—A Poetry Collection” touches on many things: depression, anxiety, love, resilience, self-image, etc. And though there is clear influence from some modern poets enjoying current success (e.g. Rupi Kaur), the collection works not because of a singular focus on a theme but rather because it reads almost like a journal. It’s a quick read (I’ve read it twice, each in one sitting), and every entry feels like the poet has given the reader a little snapshot of her life at that moment. The bits and pieces start coming together quickly, and by the end, I felt myself rooting (no pun intended) for the success of the poet’s love life.

While not spelled out by the poet, there is a story at play here. The setting, though Ms. Chaput hails from Canada, is not geographical. It is the space in the mind where the conscious and subconscious overlap. The characters, subsequently, are the poet’s consciousness, the poet’s subconsciousness, and the poet’s love interest. And while only the poet’s consciousness directly addresses the reader, the other two characters communicate in their own ways as they are woven by the poet into the fabric of this compelling collection. It’s best to read for yourself, but my take is that the poet’s subconsciousness is the darkness trying to pull her down whereas her consciousness is her intentional rejection of that darkness. The love interest is the light toward which the poet is reaching.

What must be made clear is that Ms. Chaput is in an ongoing battle with anxiety and depression. This frames the whole collection really, and I welcome that willingness to dive into dark, personal territory as I struggle with those issues as well. If you are only looking for sweet poems about romance and dandelions, then look elsewhere. This collection has sweetness, but there is much more to savor. There are expressions of the isolating emptiness that comes with depression, the anxiety of perhaps becoming unlovable by those you love most. But there are also warming, sentimental reassurances of true love and declarations of self-worth. The poet’s relaxed structuring of her work—sometimes even reading like a stream of consciousness—adds not only authenticity to her work but also applicability. The poet offers observations and insight but never comes across as preachy. Yes, there are moments of cheesiness, but she embraces this as a realistic element of romance. And it is! Anyone who has been in love knows that all that mushy stuff from those old 90’s rom-coms has some basis in reality.

I appreciated Ms. Chaput’s reflections on nature sprinkled throughout the collection. There is an undeniable sense that the poet views humanity as inseparable from nature. She notes appreciation for winds and forests and stars among others, but I water was the force most incorporated, particularly in the form of rain. Water is the most essential of all our needs, and I believe Ms. Chaput is very much in touch with how humanity’s ancestors revered water as a powerful force for life. She speaks of loving rain and storms and her reasoning is insightful: there is beauty in the rainstorm, yes, but there is also a promise. That promise is sunny days will return. Rainstorms aren’t forever. Any while some have told us that we must learn to dance in the rain, the poet knows that we cannot always dance. She suggests to the reader that finding peace in the rain is enough.
There are a few stand-out entries I would point the reader to. “Darkness” offers hope to those facing their worst days. “Anchor” is a direct and eloquent assessment of the nature of depression. The poet’s likening of depression to “the younger sibling you’re required to bring with you on your first date” put a little grin on my face. I’m always looking for new, instantly accessible expressions for experiences I’m familiar with. “Innocence” reflects on childhood. The poet’s hope to hold onto some of the childlike joy and hope of her younger self hit home with me.

Sometimes Ms. Chaput seems to be speaking to herself exclusively, but this is not a criticism. Several times she mentions that she is still learning her own strength and value, and while this can be taken as a universal celebration of self-worth, I was left with the impression that the poet is in the process of healing from past hurts and that sharing this collection is part of her recovery process—almost like therapy. That said, there are plenty of statements of self-image, body positivity, inner strength, resilience, etc. that will resonate with many readers. I just happen to find the more personal entries more captivating. Whether giving herself a pep talk or sending a message of resilience into the world, the poet tells us that although darkness and light must converge, darkness will always fade in the end.

I strongly recommend “Rooted: A Poetry Collection” to anyone interested in free verse. Overall, I would give this debut a solid four out of five stars. It’s sincere and accessible and not at all weighed down by the nature of its contents. Ms. Chaput is certainly one to watch, and I expect she’ll be putting out quality material for years to come.

[T-L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cohesive and mature collection of poetry and thoughts that takes the reader on the author’s journey. Rooted, and Anchor are my favourites. Chaput tries a hand at different forms and subjects, and for the most part succeeds in doing so without losing the threads that run throughout the entire work. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Kjell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read a lot of poetry. And these aren't my kind of topics, but I enjoyed Cassandra's collection.

I also had a chat with her about these poems, and I think she's a brave person for sharing these personal thoughts with the world.

If you'd like to find out more about Cass, read her story here: https://coffeeandpens.com/cassandra-c...

[Cassandra]

I am a thistle
Prickly on the outside
Strong on the outside
Defiant
Defended
But on the inside I am thistledown
delicate
gossamer
momentary
Blown this way and that
you could crush me with one sigh

[Sonora Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful verses. My favorite poem was Steeped Tea.

[Sophie Bowns · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the cover

I really liked the front cover of this book. A lot of the pieces inside of it were quotes though.