Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution

by Mark Eisner (Editor), Tina Escaja (Editor), Julia Alvarez (Introduction)

With a powerful and poignant introduction from Julia Alvarez, Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution is an extraordinary collection, rooted in a strong tradition of protest poetry and voiced by icons of the movement and some of the most exciting writers today. The poets of Resistencia explore feminist, queer, Indigenous, and ecological themes alongside historically prominent protests against imperialism, dictatorships, and economic inequality. Within this momentous collection, poets representing every Latin American country grapple with identity, place, and belonging, resisting easy definitions to render a nuanced and complex portrait of language in rebellion.

Included in English translation alongside their original language, the fifty-four poems in Resistencia are a testament to the art of translation as much as the act of resistance. An all-star team of translators, including former US Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera along with young, emerging talent, have made many of the poems available for the first time to an English-speaking audience. Urgent, timely, and absolutely essential, these poems inspire us all to embrace our most fearless selves and unite against all forms of tyranny and oppression.

Original languages include Spanish, French, Portuguese, Kaqchikel, Mapudungun, Miskito, and Quechua.

Genres: Poetry, Anthologies, Feminism, Politics, Nonfiction, LGBT, Social Justice

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2020

About the author

So thrilled and honored to to announce that Yale University Press will be publishing my current project:

ART AS A WEAPON: Tina Modotti and the Mexican Cultural Renaissance

Coming to bookstores in 2027!

For more please visit my web site.

Reviews

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘What I have felt and what I feel
Will give birth to the moment…’
—Víctor Jara

‘The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting,’ wrote novelist Milan Kundera. And so, the struggle against power also requires a record of speaking truth to power, and poetry is one of the most apt vessels to carry the chronicles of resistance across the seas of time. Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution, published by Tin House and edited by Mark Eisner and Tina Escaja, seeks to help these boats of rebellion on their way into immortality, collecting 54 poems of protests from Latin America into this poetry anthology to inspire, uplift and unite us all in our struggles of resistance against oppression. Drawing from a rich tradition of speaking out against the totalitarian regimes, colonialism and foreign interference that have beleaguered Latin American countries, this collection includes familiar names such as César Vallejo, Aimé Césaire, Pablo Neruda and Mario Benedetti alongside lesser known or new poets to English translation or recent literary stars such as Javier Zamora. These poems deliver on the title’s promise and offer a wide and inclusive range of poems of resistance that, along with an excellent introduction by esteemed novelist Julia Alvarez and an impressive collection of translators, keep the revolutionary spirit alive and spreading through poetry that aims to put a fist through oppressive authority.

‘Only today do we have and create.
Nothing is outside our reach.’
—Nancy Morejón, from Black Woman

The aims of inclusivity in this anthology is really wonderful. The 54 poems draw from a multitude of countries, each with a deep history of resistance and strife—such as poems in response to the effects of the Dirty War, or military juntas such as Pinochet’s authoritarian regime in Chile&mdash. Contained in this collection are also voices typically overlooked or ignored, such as indigenous poets and LGBTQ+ poets speaking out on issues of gender and sexuality. ‘How dare they say / that God will never have to bless / my union / to this woman,’ Amanda Castro writes in How Dare They Say. The poems are printed with the English translation to the left alongside the original to the right, a choice I very much prefer in poetry translations to be able to read the original while also examining the choices made by translators.

‘A strike of eyes, of hands, and of kisses.
A strike where it is forbidden to breathe,
a strike where silence is born.
so you can hear the footsteps
of the tyrant as he walks away.’
—Gioconda Belli, from Strike

This is an exciting collection that is definitely in keeping with the revolutionary spirit. These are poems of protest, poems that shout for peace, love, though sometimes poems that insist, as Ana Istarú writes, ‘peace is nourished with blood.’ Many of the poets here were also activists and involved with politics, being important protest persona beyond their poetics. Included is the final poem written by musician, teacher and activist Víctor Jara, which was smuggled out of the Chilean stadium where leftists were held and murdered following the violent takeover of the country by Pinochet. ‘How hard it is to sing when I must sing of horror,’ he wrote, ‘Horror which I am living, horror which I am dying.’ Jara was murdered two hours later and had his body dumped in the streets. During his torture it is said he defiantly sang Venceremos (We Will Win), Allende’s 1970 election anthem, and his bravery in death, his songs, and his spirit of resistance and unity have made him an international icon of resistance.

‘I aspire for us to live
in the vibrant voices of morning.

I want to remain together with you
in the deep sap of humanity.’
—Miguel Otero Silva, from Sowing.

This is an exciting and certainly inspiring collection, and though it tackles some difficult subjects—particularly the harsh treatment of those in poverty or the murder of revolutionaries—it does so in ways that move and radicalize instead of despair. It is wonderful to see all these poets together in one binding, particularly with such an aim for inclusivity and giving voice to those typically denied a space. Even though it is a bit short, this is a very powerful collection and a great addition to any personal bookshelf. I have found myself taking it down quite frequently to be inspired, comforted by or simply to admire these poems and poets.

4.5/5

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot remember the last time when a poem reduced me to tears but this collection had one such poem. Protest poetry from Latin America translated by some of the top translators and each poem is also printed in the original language it was translated from. Extensive notes on the poets, the translators make this an absolute must-have. Those poems are full of energy, resistance against injustice. It’s quite simply amazing and a huge credit to @tin_house for publishing such a brilliant collection. Top. Release in September. Highly recommend.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

An anthology of poems of resistance, loss, revolution, anger, and sadness, published in both English and the original language of the poem, which was a nice illustration of just how many ways colonialism and imperialism have impacted the Americas. There were extensive poet and translator bios at the end, although I would have love to have them interspersed with he poems to learn more about the context and sources of the words. Enlightening and sobering.

**Thanks to the editors, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Glenda Nelms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and fiercely poetry collection written by Latin American Poets past and present. There's an amazing introduction by Julia Alvarez. These literary voices explores themes of Queer, ecological, feminist, indigenous, and Urban. Each poem is written in Spanish along with an English Translation. Resistencia is a must read for fans of Poetry with a purpose. This deep poetry collection comes out on September 15 by Tin House. I love the design of the cover is amazingly powerful. Thanks to Netgalley and Tin House books for the E-ARC!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much power and truth in this collection.

Julia Alvarez writes in her intro that it is an experience in solidarity to read this book. Very true—I was fortunate to experience an event about the book, and the feeling of solidarity in the readings, the discussion, and the camaraderie between writers and translators was wonderful.

It was uplifting to read this book in the darkness of 2020. Especially to hear and see so many women, and otherwise overlooked writers, given voice.

A necessary read.

[Richard Propes · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I arrived at the end of the opening poem in "Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution," Gabriela Mistral's riveting "Tiny Feet," I knew that I was in for an unforgettable journey with this remarkably vibrant and fiercely inspired collection representing poets from every Latin American country grappling with identity, place, and belonging in ways that ask difficult questions and offer no easy answers.

After a powerful introduction by Julia Alvarez, "Resistencia" fearlessly brings to life poetry from past literary icons and exciting new voices exploring feminist, queer, ecological, indigenous, and urban themes alongside the expected rages against imperialism, dictatorships, and economic inequality. As I arrived at the end of the collection, Javier Zamora's "To President-Elect," I lamented the end of a collection that felt so immersive yet seemed to end so quickly.

"Resistencia" includes each poem in its original language along with an English translation, the translations themselves an epic work of art adding depth of meaning and feeling to this remarkable collection. The translators include US Poet Laureate emeritus Juan Felipe Herrera among many others, their efforts bringing many of these poems to English-speaking readers for the very first time.

"Resistencia" is a particularly riveting read at a time when nearly the entire United States is forced to confront institutionalized racism and racial injustice. These issues, even those written years ago, are still ever-present and the words here, though representing life in other lands, ring as true to this day.

"Resistencia" brings us contemporary voices such as Colombian poet Carlos Aguasaco and the remarkable Gioconda Belli, a Nicaraguan poet whose poetry is both politically inspired yet immersed in both feminism and the erotic, while also bringing us the stunning and still resonant work of Gabriela Mistral and the familiar name of Pablo Neruda among many others.

There are others, so many others, that it would be nearly impossible to name them all or to even choose a handful of favorite pieces among this stunning collection.

I ached with Mistral's "Tiny Feet,' here called "Little Feet," while being deeply moved by Cesar Vallejo's "Mass," Alfonsina Storni's "You Want Me White," MIguel Otero Silva's mesmerizing "Sowing," Raquel Verdesoto De Romo Davila's "The Rebel Word," and Mario Benedetti's "The South Also Exists."

I felt lament alongside Rosario Castellanos' "Silence Near an Ancient Stone," wept with Raquel Jodorowsky's "Here We Are," and shuddered with a faint familiarity with Roberto Sosa's "The Poor."

Ana Maria Rodas's "I Know" is gut-level poetry, her "I'll never be more than a warrior for love" lingering in my heart and in my mind even now.

There's more. There's so many more. The poetry in "Resistencia" longs to be read and longs to be spoken aloud. These are words of vibrance and importance and liberation demanding not just coffee nook consumption but a rebellious coming to life.

Edited by Mark Eisner and Tina Escaja, "Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution" is a must-read for those who embrace the power of poetry and the written word to change the world because, indeed, many of the poets in this collection changed their worlds and, in some cases, even gave their lives to speak difficult truths and to empower their people.

Slated for a September 15, 2020 release by Tin House, "Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution" is a timely and vital collection of poetry honoring the history of Latin American poetry and the written word as resistance, protest, revolution, and hope.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This timely and powerful collection gives voice to the pain and outrage of so many. The truths collected here show both individual trauma and archetypal discord and record utterly human responses to them. The choice to publish the work bilingually only expands its audience and its opportunities for use. With an introduction by author, Julia Alvarez, the book will find a place in many classrooms as well as in public and private libraries and personal collections. I will be returning to it again and again.

Thank you to Tin House Publishing and to NetGalley for an Advance Release Copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sofia Zwass · Rating 4 out of 5]

forgot I had this and read it again. such powerful words 🫶🏼

[Mia | The Bookish Feminist · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution" is an absolutely incredible collection of poetry rooted in themes of resistance, justice, equity, and representation. There is a diverse selection of authors included in this anthology, and the poems are arranged in chronological order based on when the poet was born. There are poets from all over Central and South America, DR, Martinique, and French Guinea. The chronology helps bolster the narrative arc by providing some historical context, and also highlights the different events and challenges - and revolutions - happening contemporaneously in different parts of the world.

I hope we start seeing more and more collections like this presented in the poets' native languages (in this case, Spanish and French primarily, I believe) in addition to a translation (also, in this case, English). It will help allow own-voices readers to digest and reflect on these poems in a much more meaningful way, and that's very important. The messages of these poems are, for better or worse, timeless. The themes continue to be relevant and inspiring, and these works demonstrate that to love your country, your ancestors, your community, yourself is to resist forces, systems, and leaders whose main goal is to oppress, marginalize, and erase entire groups of people.

Pablo Neruda's (Chile) "I Explain Some Things/Explico algunas cosas," "I Was My Own Route/Yo misma fui mi ruta" by Julia de Burgos (Puerto Rico), and "Hegel in the Caribbean/Hegel aux Caraibes" by René Depestre (Haiti) were particular standouts for me, but really each of them can stand on its own as a powerful call to action and a reflection on the poet's own experiences, a processing of what their families and communities have endured, and what their futures will look like. Mark Eisner and Tina Escaja did a remarkable job compiling this collection - with works by so many different poets and writers, it is a true feat that they managed to curate and defend such a coherent, meaningful narrative. And, as many folx will be excited to hear, the introduction was written by Julia Alvarez!

This is and anthology I don't think anyone should miss. I know I cannot wait to add a physical copy to my bookshelves and will use it as conversation starters with my kids, friends, and family. I hope this work is taught to youth around the world as so many communities fight for equity, for justice, and for human rights.

Thank you immensely to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of "Resistancia: Poems of Protest and Revolution."

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a poem for everything and everyone in this collection. I loved the fact that it was written in a bilingual format. I’ll admit that I don’t speak Spanish, but seeing the original text laid out after the translations was beautiful. I think my personal favorite was The Only Woman, but there are many gems that will touch your spirit.

[Joseph Spuckler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution edited by Mark Eisner and Tina Escaja is published by W. W. Norton and Company’s Tin House. Eisner spent many years backpacking through Latin America, focused on experiential learning, especially in Chile, where he translated Neruda on a rustic ranch near the coast. He has published NERUDA: The Biography of a Poet. Escaja is Distinguished Professor of Romance Languages and Gender & Women’s Studies, and Director of the Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Program at the University of Vermont.

Latin America has historically been a region of violence. From the bloody colonization, wars of independence, American occupations, coups, juntas, and outside interference peace and prosperity elude these rich lands. It is a place of walls — to control people, to bury people, as a backdrop for firing squads, and as prisons. The walls, however, also became the billboards of resistance with messages of hope and rebellion. Julia Alvarez provides this insight in her introduction to the collection. Alvarez is a Dominican-American poet, novelist, and essayist who sets the stage for the poetry with her moving words.

The poets come from a variety of countries, many of them in the headlines in the 1970s and 1980s. Chile (Pinochet), El Salvador (Sandinistas), Panama (Ortega), Nicaragua (Contras and Somoza), and the list goes on with no country experiencing a free and open society. Topics consist of poverty and unequal wealth distribution inside the country and from the north. For example, Jose Leonel Rugama compares the cost of the Apollo program to the starvation in Nicaragua — “Blessed are the poor for they shall inherit the moon.” The poems also capture the violence:

If, one day, on your street corner, death comes to you as a stray
bullet; if death grabs you from behind and kisses you on the
back of your neck with its tooth of lead;
Carlos Aguasaco

Latin America is a land of exceptional beauty, but a great deal has been ruined. From Haiti to the Amazon forests, governments either allow the destruction or actively take part in the rape of the land. There is a call for nature, and a cleaner life in the poetry in Ernest Pepin’s “This is my Country Rising.”

At the end of the collection, each poet is given a paragraph biography. The many translators are also given individual biographies, including their academic and published works. An impressive collection of Latin American poetry with a theme that many today can still embrace.

[Karla Strand · Rating 4 out of 5]

A groundbreaking collection of works by over 50 poets, Resistencia is alive with bravery, feminism, strength, agency, protest, power and hope. Each Latin American country is represented in this extraordinary volume and poems are presented in their original forms alongside their English translations.

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Resistencia offers a varied and engaging collection of contemporary poetry originally written in Spanish and other languages of the Americas. The poems are presented side-by-side in English and the original languages, which makes it easy to compare the different versions and to contemplate the choices made by translators.

The editors approach the topic of resistance broadly to include not just anti-imperialist poems, but also poems dealing with economic inequality, gender identity, the state of the planet, and more. This understanding of the complexity of resistance and the multiple topics it needs to address—which are also emphasized in the introduction by Julia Álvarez—makes this a powerful collection, nudging readers to expand their own understanding of resistance.

If you want to see the different ways the communities in the Americas are defining themselves and struggling toward a more inclusive, just world, this title is a great place to start.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via EdelweissPlus. The opinions are my own.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this collection of poems. There are a few of the big name Latin American poets in here but also many, many others. The poems are presented in English translation and in their original language (Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and multiple indigenous languages). In some cases there are notes on the translation which are helpful. I originally thought I'd read the Spanish poems in their original but, because the English came first, I rarely did so. That's on me.

This collection provides a window into the countless protests and revolutions that have shaped the region in the past fifty or so years. Some recount tragedy, some hope, some despair. But, through it all, there's this sense of resisting, of not letting the bad overtake everything.

[Mohtasim Hadi Hadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A night worth living!

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution is a gorgeous collection of poems edited by Mark Eisner and Tina Escaja, with a foreword by Julia Alvarez. The theme of the collection, as the title aptly relates, is resistance, struggle, fight, taking back the power, protest, revolution. Including both well-known (to me) poets, and lesser known (to me) poets, Resistencia provides us with an inclusive and diverse anthology of Latin and South American voices, of yesterday, of today, and of tomorrow.

I absolutely LOVED that this collection is bilingual!! I appreciate this so much as a multilingual individual, raising my own multilingual little family. It is so important for me to be able to read words in their original language, especially when it comes to poetry. The English translation is laid out side by side with the Spanish, French, Quechua, Portuguese originals, making this really a completely immersive read.

This anthology is a must read: a powerful representation of all Latinx people especially those most often excluded and erased. It is poetry of history, of cultures erased, of struggle, but also poetry of hope and fight. There are so many themes resting within these poems: war, oppression, traditions, family, identity, belonging, womanhood, erasure… I’m so happy that the editors created this anthology, bringing us voices that I personally had never heard before, and making me want to read more. This book is beautiful, and one that I have personally pre-ordered as I want to hold it in my hands and read it again and again.

“And nothing

nothing would quell my hatred quite so

much as a pretty pool

of blood

made

with those sharp broad blades

that strip to the skin

our rum-rich hills”
(From So Many Times by Léon-Gontran Damas).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this anthology in exchange for an honest review.

[Celadon Phoenix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say, this might be one of my favorite poetry anthologies of all time.

Resistencia takes poets from the Latine diaspora and presents one poem from each of them. It is only the beginning for reading work from the diaspora, but it gives you a wide, fruitful taste. It’s worth looking into individual artists (I will when I get a chance) but this is the perfect introduction, an amuse-bouche so to speak.

The poems were translated into English, most of them originating in Spañish. But others were translated from French, Portuguese, Mayan, and other indigenous dialects too. I savored reading them in Spañish, with English as a guide. The words rolled off my tongue beautifully when I read aloud, filling me with a simmering warmth. I have so much more appreciation for the poems because I could read them in their mother tongue.

This is an essential read for poetry lovers, those who want to expand their lexicon of reading, or just want something different from conventional English literature.

It is a warcry of a book, a bold compilation that burns with fury, and thrills with passion. From poems political, social, and intimate, Resistencia has it all. It forces you to stare unblinking at the bones that our civilization is built on. Compels you to reimagine, rebuild, and rebirth ourselves once more. Who can start the avalanche of change better than the activists in this book?

[Deedi Brown (DeediReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.

Big thanks to Tin House for granting me an advanced review copy of this poetry collection on NetGalley. I loved it, and I think that I will be purchasing a finished copy when it comes out on September 15 (which is also, btw, the start of National Latinx Heritage Month).

This is an incredibly powerful collection. Allow me to list its merits: An introduction by Julia Alvarez. 54 incredible poems by incredible Latinx poets, “icons of the movement and some of the most exciting writers today.” All translated by equally talented people. The translated versions printed alongside the original Spanish. Comprehensive profiles of the poets and the translators, doing each of them justice.

Yes, you need this book.

If you couldn’t guess from all that, the poems themselves are just so good. They’re beautiful, moving, enraging, heartbreaking — I highlighted so many. There are layers to parse through, re-reads of this collection to be completed in the future. They range in subject matter from feminism, being queer, being Indigenous, the environment, identity, home, family, and so much more. I especially loved “The Earth Is a Satellite of the Moon,” but there are also so many more I could list out here.

Maybe I would list all 54.

[Natalie T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding collection of Latin American protest poetry, presented in a dual language edition with English translations which capture the urgency, beauty, and pain in the lines. The volume is organized chronologically, beginning with Chile's Gabriela Mistral (born 1889, winner of the 1945 Nobel Prize in Literature) and concluding with Javier Zamora (born in El Salvador in 1990, presently living in Harlem). Kudos, too, to the editors, whose concise biographies of the poets make plain how many suffered imprisonment, exile or death for daring to speak--the most harrowing example, Victor Jara's "Estadio Chile," was written in the stadium where the poet was tortured and killed; a friend smuggled the poem out by hiding it in his shoe and delivered the copy to Jara's widow Joan, who provides the translation here.

I am grateful to have had the chance to read so many poets who were new to me, so I can now track down collections of their work. Highly recommended.

[hafsah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't have read this poetry collection at a better time. With the Black Lives Matter movement, we see the world fight back against injustice. This poetry collection is doing the same, it argues against all forms of inequality. The poems are raw, and full of pain and anger. They're an embodiment of hope, change, desperation, feminism, strength and 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳. The poems are fiercely powerful, and for that reason I recommend this to everyone.

[Batool Rizvi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this down. I remember I read this in 2 sittings. Each poet gave so much and so much to think about. Víctor Jara's poem and the story behind how it reached his wife, us, the readers, me, is haunting yet happened for a reason: his words were meant to reach us, to captivate us, to make us feel -- much like the rest of the poems and authors in this anthology.

[Zule !! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible work! Loved the fact that some of the poems are in different languages so it is more inclusive and if you speak that language, the poem resonates with you more. For anyone looking for inspiration their resistance and their fight with a cause, this collection is really good!

[Nuha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Tin House and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Indie Bookstore.

Between rousing war cries and declarations of independence to side-eyed remarks and ironic observations, Mark Eisner and Tina Escaja's newest collection "Resistencia" offers a glimpse into Latin American poetry like never before. With both English and the original manuscripts laid said by side, the collection includes a diverse array of voices including feminist, indigenous, queer writers of the current day as well as giants from the 20th century like Pablo Neruda. What I liked most about the collection was the wide array of nations represented, not just Mexico & Central America but also the Caribbean. With Latinx History Month starting this week, it is important to remember that the diaspora is as wide as the world itself. A great collection to spend an evening, or two or three, with.

Favorite poems: Hegel in the Caribbean by Rene Depestre; I know by Ana Maria Rodas; High Treason by Jose Emilio Pacheco; Strike by Gioconda Belli; The Earth is a Satellite of the Moon by Jose Leonel Rugama; The Routine Appearances of the Sun by Kyra Galvan; Decriminalizing Poem by Fernanda Garcia Lao; If, One Day, On Your Street Corner, Death Comes to You by Carlos Aguasaco.

[Jane Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

#Resistencia #NetGalley Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution` Resistencia translates to resistance, strength, endurance, toughness, opposition, resiliency, Before reading this book I would not have connected those qualities to the act of protest. I also did not expect to like the book as much as I did. Poems to me have often been very academic and full of lofty symbolism. Resistencia captivated me from the beginning. I felt the helplessness of Rosario Castellanos (Mexico 1925-1974), the hunger of Jose Leonel Rugama (Nicaragua 1949-1970) as he reports on the immense expense of the Apollo missions, the desperation of Miguel Otero Silvia
(Venezuela 1908-1985), the rage of Alfonsina Storni ( Argentina 1892-1938 ), etc. I don't think there is an emotion I did not feel as I read through the 54 poems written by poets from the Americas. The Americas, which I confess I know little about. In school I learned of the unrest and poverty; I learned nothing of the people. This book changed that. It opened my eyes. I highly recommend this book for high school teachers of English teaching the power and beauty of poetry and teachers of social justice.

[Kawiria Creed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free eARC copy of Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was immediately pulled into this book because of its premise and theme, and now that I've finished I can safely say it is my favourite anthology poetry book of all time. To be fair, I have not read many anthology books, but I read poetry often and the poems featured in Resistencia are some of the best I've read this year. I loved getting to read pieces in their original language as well as in their translated form. What really ties the book together is that it is co-written by masterful poets from varying backgrounds, identities and time periods. Reading about racism from the perspective of someone who lived through the previous civil rights movement was very emotional for me. I recommend Resistencia to any fan of poetry, and especially to those wanting to learn more about the fight against discrimination over the years through creative writing. I could go on about certain poetry I read that I continue to think about as I write this review, but I'll leave it at that.

[Marian P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Resistencia is a collection of powerful poems edited by Mark Eisner and Tina Escaja illuminating the long histories of Latinx resistance and revolution. The collection incorporates many well-known poets such as Pablo Neruda, Rosario Castellanos, and Javier Zamora. I appreciated the myriad voices mainly learning about strong feminist poets I had been unfamiliar with. Some of my favorite poems include Alfonsina Storni's "You Want Me White," which indicts patriarchy and racism; "Silence Near An Imminent Stone" by famed Mexican poet Rosario Castellanos because of she brilliantly laments the conquest of Maya people; and Raquel Jodorowsky's "Here We Are" on the deleterious effects of climate change. This anthology is prescient in a world full of chaos, as the editors eloquently put it, "To read these poems is to be reminded again and again of our true allegiance to each other."

[jjl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this eArc.

This was an excellent book of poetry and I plan to purchase a copy for my class library. I also plan to share some of the poems with my poetry class. Often I read a book of poetry and it has a few good poems but this book really has a wealth of moving and strong poems, that I think will really appeal to students and lend themselves to being discussed and used with so many topics we discuss in literature. The author notes/ mini bios were great too and I think they add to the poems especially when sharing with students.
So many moving passages in this book and I really can't wait to share it with students! I highly recommend this book.

[Fred Dameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

White America, especially Liberal White America, believes that we have to invent solutions and writings to protest about U.S. Governmeant policies, we don't. Latin America has a large body of literature, poetry, prose, novels that are exceptional and address the same issues we are now facing under the Trump administration. This work is a small selection of those poems. They deal with race, So Many Times by Damas, poverty, How Hard it is to Sing by Jara, women's rights, I Was My Own Route by Burgos, Slavery and it's fall out, Black Women by Morejon, Workers rights, Strike by Belli, Sex Trafficking, Decriminalizing Poem by Lao, and many others topics by a myriad of other poets. Worth the buy.

[Ariel (ariel_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Tin House for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Per request from the publisher, a full review of this book will be published within two weeks of publication date on September 2nd on armedwithabook.com .

Overall, this book is a beautiful tapestry of many voices within Latin America with the poems in their original languages alongside the English translation. Poems of resilience, desperation, resistance, and hope highlight the nuances that various people groups faced throughout a long history of colonization.

[Sara (onourshelves) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

A powerful collection of poems, that in my opinion got more powerful as the collection went on-- by the end I was bookmarking just about every poem. I appreciated that the collection included the english translation as well as the original language, I think that added a lot. However, I do wish there was a little bit more context for the poem right either right before or after the poem to increase the power and understanding of the poem. Overall a great collection.