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Paint Me Like I Am: Teen Poems from WritersCorps – A Young Adult Collection of Diverse Urban Youth Voices with Nikki Giovanni Foreword
Today my name is colorful.
Yesterday my name was dead souls.
Tomorrow my name will be lively spirits.
My friends think my name is fire.
The police think my name is burden.
My parents think my name is symphony.
Secretly I know my name is anything I want it to be.
Paint Me Like I Am is a collection of poems by teens who have taken part in writing programs run by a national nonprofit organization called WritersCorps. To read the words of these young people is to hear the diverse voices of teenagers everywhere. Included are a foreward by acclaimed poet Nikki Giovanni, an essay from Kevin Powell, another poet associated with WritersCorps, and writing tips from WritersCorps instructors. WritersCorps was started in 1994 to help at-risk youth in three American urban San Francisco, Washington, DC, and New York City (the Bronx). Thousands of children and teenagers have since benefited from finding creative expression through writing.
Yesterday my name was dead souls.
Tomorrow my name will be lively spirits.
My friends think my name is fire.
The police think my name is burden.
My parents think my name is symphony.
Secretly I know my name is anything I want it to be.
Paint Me Like I Am is a collection of poems by teens who have taken part in writing programs run by a national nonprofit organization called WritersCorps. To read the words of these young people is to hear the diverse voices of teenagers everywhere. Included are a foreward by acclaimed poet Nikki Giovanni, an essay from Kevin Powell, another poet associated with WritersCorps, and writing tips from WritersCorps instructors. WritersCorps was started in 1994 to help at-risk youth in three American urban San Francisco, Washington, DC, and New York City (the Bronx). Thousands of children and teenagers have since benefited from finding creative expression through writing.
144 pages, Paperback
First published February 18, 2003
40 people are currently reading
592 people want to read
About the author
WritersCorps
11 books18 followersWritersCorps is an alliance of creative writing programs in three cities — San Francisco, the Bronx, and Washington, D.C. — with a mission to transform the lives of youth through the written word.
Since its inception in 1994, WritersCorps has helped more than 40,000 young people nationwide improve their literacy and self-sufficiency. With its award-winning publications and local and national events, the organization has become a national model in arts and literacy.
Since its inception in 1994, WritersCorps has helped more than 40,000 young people nationwide improve their literacy and self-sufficiency. With its award-winning publications and local and national events, the organization has become a national model in arts and literacy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
September 21, 2011
I rated this book of poetry in the middle of spectrum because although many of the poems individually are terrific, there are some less than great poems that don’t begin to touch any feelings and/or are too vague. However, the organization and easy-to-read elements of the book made it appealing. It’s nice to have a book that you can pick up and read from anywhere, as it doesn’t need to follow the beginning to end format.
I liked how the book was organized into categories including “Artists”, “Friendships”, “I too am American”, “Why I write Poetry”, “As we sit here”, “Furious”, and “The Tree that was in front of my house”. These categories helped me know what I was getting into before I started each one. They also make it possible to pick a single category and read from there rather than reading from beginning to end. I loved the writing exercised provided before each new sections. I can see myself using a few of these more descriptive possibilities in my effective writing or creative writing courses. An example provided was to pick a month (October) and describe how it feels. What are that month’s colors? What does it say? What does it eat or sing?
There isn’t one main character because the poems are submitted from various young adults and put together by one publisher. All of the poems include young adult topics such as teenage relationships with friends, significant others, and parents. I was particularly struck by the poem “Diary of an Abusive Father” because of the strong vocabulary and the irony of the story. All of these poems were a good reminder that as a teacher, sometimes what is going on in our classrooms is the least significant issue in a student’s life.
I recommend this for a teenager that needs reminded that others are going through serious issues, too. It includes pretty deep content with a handful of swearing, so it may be better for mid-upper teens.
I liked how the book was organized into categories including “Artists”, “Friendships”, “I too am American”, “Why I write Poetry”, “As we sit here”, “Furious”, and “The Tree that was in front of my house”. These categories helped me know what I was getting into before I started each one. They also make it possible to pick a single category and read from there rather than reading from beginning to end. I loved the writing exercised provided before each new sections. I can see myself using a few of these more descriptive possibilities in my effective writing or creative writing courses. An example provided was to pick a month (October) and describe how it feels. What are that month’s colors? What does it say? What does it eat or sing?
There isn’t one main character because the poems are submitted from various young adults and put together by one publisher. All of the poems include young adult topics such as teenage relationships with friends, significant others, and parents. I was particularly struck by the poem “Diary of an Abusive Father” because of the strong vocabulary and the irony of the story. All of these poems were a good reminder that as a teacher, sometimes what is going on in our classrooms is the least significant issue in a student’s life.
I recommend this for a teenager that needs reminded that others are going through serious issues, too. It includes pretty deep content with a handful of swearing, so it may be better for mid-upper teens.
April 20, 2017
Paint me Black. Paint me.
Me, Black, the most authentic thing you can see.
Paint me Black ‘cause I don’t want anything to change my shade...
For all that I am for my history.
Paint me and shine me up for the world to know.
Paint me Black ‘cause I’ve got stories other colors haven’t told.
Paint me Black and I’m sure you’ll find
The other color fits me perfect, but doesn’t control my mind.
Me, Black, the most authentic thing you can see.
Paint me Black ‘cause I don’t want anything to change my shade...
For all that I am for my history.
Paint me and shine me up for the world to know.
Paint me Black ‘cause I’ve got stories other colors haven’t told.
Paint me Black and I’m sure you’ll find
The other color fits me perfect, but doesn’t control my mind.
January 14, 2019
This looked like a cool short book from the cover when I picked it up. But it was a poem book. I don't like poems because you need to read between the lines and find out the meaning. And when I read, I don't like to think about it, I just want to relax. But if you like short and quirky poems, then this book is for you.
April 21, 2012
Joyce Baker
Poetry
Paint Me Like I am is a collection of poetry from teens of the WritersCorps. The WritersCorps has helped thousands of economically disadvantage teens find their voice through creative writing. The organization has also helped teens improve their literacy skills and their self-expression.
This book is filled with plenty of raw emotions and vulnerability. The foreword is written by re-known author and poet, Nikki Giovanni. Throughout the book, advice is offered how to begin a writing journal. The chapters are short and each one is uniquely titled.
I have plenty of favorites “I Too Am American” by Chris McMahon; “I Am the Woman You Should Fear” by Marsha Goshine (Scotch Tape); and “He Is Only Two” by Jessica Roman. The one poem that spoke to me most is “Diary of an Abused Son” by Jayson Tirado. It reminded me of the t-shirts painted by children of survivors’ of domestic violence. This would be a good book for teens that enjoy reading or writing poetry.
Poetry
Paint Me Like I am is a collection of poetry from teens of the WritersCorps. The WritersCorps has helped thousands of economically disadvantage teens find their voice through creative writing. The organization has also helped teens improve their literacy skills and their self-expression.
This book is filled with plenty of raw emotions and vulnerability. The foreword is written by re-known author and poet, Nikki Giovanni. Throughout the book, advice is offered how to begin a writing journal. The chapters are short and each one is uniquely titled.
I have plenty of favorites “I Too Am American” by Chris McMahon; “I Am the Woman You Should Fear” by Marsha Goshine (Scotch Tape); and “He Is Only Two” by Jessica Roman. The one poem that spoke to me most is “Diary of an Abused Son” by Jayson Tirado. It reminded me of the t-shirts painted by children of survivors’ of domestic violence. This would be a good book for teens that enjoy reading or writing poetry.
November 4, 2010
This book was a good book. It was a poem book and there were some poems that I liked and some that I didn't like but overall I thought it was fascinating to read. Since the poems were written by teenagers themselves, I thought it was interesting to read about what kind of things they went through. It wasn't my favorite book because it got a little boring after a while because it didn't really have a story line and you couldn't really get into it that much. There were good poems and there were okay poems and I didn't care for the okay poems very much. Overall I thought the book was just okay and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone younger than thirteen because I don't think they would understand it.
December 11, 2012
This is a book of collected poetry. It serves as a creative outlet for troubled teens. They write about what they are going through or what they feel and share it, rather than taking their emotions and doing something bad or dangerous.
I liked it. Some of the poems don't really hit me as much as others do. You really create a sense of what others your age are going through. It made me realize how good I have it and its really humbling to think about.
I liked it. Some of the poems don't really hit me as much as others do. You really create a sense of what others your age are going through. It made me realize how good I have it and its really humbling to think about.
November 30, 2010
Paint Me Like I Am is just basically a book of poems from kids from different cities. Some are very insightful about their lives, while others are more serene.
My feelings about this book are more neutral than positive or negative. I would've perferred an actual book, but if poetry is your thing than this book is right up your alley.
My feelings about this book are more neutral than positive or negative. I would've perferred an actual book, but if poetry is your thing than this book is right up your alley.
December 28, 2011
A handful of very nice poems, but many of them feel rushed, as if they were first drafts. A little too angsty for my taste. My students will probably like it more than I do.
June 14, 2012
Teen poems about police, parents, dead souls...Some are better than others. I particularly liked one titled, "You Were Find Till I Met Your Mind."
August 7, 2020
I LOVE that this is a compilation of poems by teens. I had never heard of WritersCorps but I will definitely be looking into them further. Some of these poems were deep - and it’s a reminder that even young adults can feel and experience some heavy, heavy things. I marked several poems that I think will make excellent additions to poetry units. This shows students that they can write poetry too, and they can write whatever they feel needs to be written.
November 29, 2019
DNF on this one. I do applaud the young writers here- and it is clear that Writerscorps tried to organize this collection thoughtfully, but this feels like assignments I would grade in high school- not a collection to enjoy reading.
June 5, 2023
2 it was boring too be honest
July 3, 2019
I felt like a teacher grading 8th grade poetry projects while reading this
May 7, 2010
This collection of poems written by teens is a powerful read. Writerscorps works with disadvantaged youth by encouraging them to express themselves through their writing. It is easy to see that these teens have a lot to say. While I do not have a lot of background in poetry, or any real pull to read it, I really enjoyed what these teens had to say.
Sprinkled throughout the book are tips for how to make your own writing journal. The first, title “Writing Journal”, explains that you should start with a blank black-and-white composition notebook. They urge readers to make it their own be decorating the book with pictures, symbols and anything that reflects you. This is the start of your own personal writing journal. On the other dark colored pages, readers will be given an idea or situation to get inspired by. These include imagine you are in your favorite month, or imagine you are sitting in a room with everyone who has ever been in your family. I found these to be inspiring to potential writers.
All of these teens are from one of three places in America: San Francisco, Washington D.C., or New York. Despite being from three different places in our country, each teen seems to be writing about the same ideas. Trying to find a sense of who they are, dealing with family issues, growing up, living in a tough neighborhood are a few of the topics written about. One of my favorite poems that I read was called, “My Real Name” written by Elena Noel from Washington, D. C.. It goes, “Today my name is colorful. – Yesterday my name was dead souls. – Tomorrow my name will be lively spirits. – My friends think my name is fire. – The police think my name is burden. – My parents think my name is symphony. – Secretly I know my name is anything I want it to be.” You can really feel how Elena is being pulled by all of these different people in her life, but in the end, she is who she wants to be.
This is a great book for teens to read. Whether they need a book of poems for a school project, or they just want to try something new, I think that they will be able to enjoy what these teens have to say.
Genre: Poetry.
Subjects/Themes: Growing up, hardships, family.
Sprinkled throughout the book are tips for how to make your own writing journal. The first, title “Writing Journal”, explains that you should start with a blank black-and-white composition notebook. They urge readers to make it their own be decorating the book with pictures, symbols and anything that reflects you. This is the start of your own personal writing journal. On the other dark colored pages, readers will be given an idea or situation to get inspired by. These include imagine you are in your favorite month, or imagine you are sitting in a room with everyone who has ever been in your family. I found these to be inspiring to potential writers.
All of these teens are from one of three places in America: San Francisco, Washington D.C., or New York. Despite being from three different places in our country, each teen seems to be writing about the same ideas. Trying to find a sense of who they are, dealing with family issues, growing up, living in a tough neighborhood are a few of the topics written about. One of my favorite poems that I read was called, “My Real Name” written by Elena Noel from Washington, D. C.. It goes, “Today my name is colorful. – Yesterday my name was dead souls. – Tomorrow my name will be lively spirits. – My friends think my name is fire. – The police think my name is burden. – My parents think my name is symphony. – Secretly I know my name is anything I want it to be.” You can really feel how Elena is being pulled by all of these different people in her life, but in the end, she is who she wants to be.
This is a great book for teens to read. Whether they need a book of poems for a school project, or they just want to try something new, I think that they will be able to enjoy what these teens have to say.
Genre: Poetry.
Subjects/Themes: Growing up, hardships, family.
Want to read
November 18, 2009From Booklist
Gr. 7-12. "I am the Great Wall sleeping on the land." "I'm the broken pieces on the floor." "My name is furious." "Secretly, I know my name is anything / I want it to be." The teen voices in these poems, collected from the WritersCorps youth program, are LOUD--raging, defiant, giddy, lusty, and hopeful. Grouped into arbitrary categories, the poems explore identity, creative expression, family, neighborhood, drugs, and relationships. They're rough, sometimes cliched, sometimes forgettable. But the brave experiences and "rawdog emotions," as Kevin Powell writes, are what will stay with readers. "I'm rich baby / Ever since you died," writes a girl after she loses her drug-addicted boyfriend. In "Leaving China," Jeff Miao writes, "To say good-bye / Words sick at my heart / The tears would not drop out." A foreword from Nikki Giovanni rounds out this moving collection, which also includes a few thoughtful writing exercises. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.
Gr. 7-12. "I am the Great Wall sleeping on the land." "I'm the broken pieces on the floor." "My name is furious." "Secretly, I know my name is anything / I want it to be." The teen voices in these poems, collected from the WritersCorps youth program, are LOUD--raging, defiant, giddy, lusty, and hopeful. Grouped into arbitrary categories, the poems explore identity, creative expression, family, neighborhood, drugs, and relationships. They're rough, sometimes cliched, sometimes forgettable. But the brave experiences and "rawdog emotions," as Kevin Powell writes, are what will stay with readers. "I'm rich baby / Ever since you died," writes a girl after she loses her drug-addicted boyfriend. In "Leaving China," Jeff Miao writes, "To say good-bye / Words sick at my heart / The tears would not drop out." A foreword from Nikki Giovanni rounds out this moving collection, which also includes a few thoughtful writing exercises. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.
May 20, 2010
This book is very firm! The life of people in hard situations everyday. This is a poetry book that will have have you on the edge of your seat literally! There is one poem that you have to read from this book and it is on page fourty one. After the first sentence you already feel like your caught up in the moment. Its so amazing and there is only a few books that could make me get a knot in my stomach and this is one of them but its a good knot not a nervous knot.
All I am really saying is read this book. After you do that come to me and tell me how it was. I really shouldn't hear anything but WOW! If you feel otherwise then I don't know what to say but your crazy!
All I am really saying is read this book. After you do that come to me and tell me how it was. I really shouldn't hear anything but WOW! If you feel otherwise then I don't know what to say but your crazy!
July 18, 2010
This book is all about pomes and I like all of the pomes but I did not like them so here i go. Favotite: MY NAMES is coroful. Yesterday my name was dead sould. Tomorrow my name will be Lively Spirits. My friends think my kames is Burden. My prents think my names is anything I want it to be. My 2nd facorite is LIAVING CHINA, to say good bye words sick at my heart my tears would not drop our. My least favorite was: ON U STREET IT SOUNDS LIKE, a foot ball fame every day but on sunday it feels like a nice day in the park but at my house it feels like a big ship like the Titannic on day it sailed it tasted like salt. This bood is very good for a bed time story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2009
This book is a good book i liked it because it has poems about real life and what happend to these people how they were abused, called bad names and more.I like when this girl in the book was talking about how her father used to abuse her and having her to express that is brave because a lot of people are being abused these days.This book remined me of a show i whatched.If i had to rate this book from a 1-10 i whoul have to give it a 10 because i love poems about real life.
February 7, 2011
it was a very interresting book . my favorite part of it was the poem called a dairy of an abusive step dad and the other one called a diary of a abusied son it was sad but it did made a lot of sense and it actually touched me me because that stuff can happen to someone in your family or someone you might know
October 13, 2014
This book is a collection of poems from teenagers. I feel that this book accurately portrays what teenager's lives are like. It gives you a look inside what we all have to deal with everyday. A lot of this stuff really hit home for me, and I would recommend it for anyone.
May 8, 2010
i love this book because im a fan of poetry :)
September 22, 2010
poems can bring out image
October 13, 2010
this book was a great book i love this book
December 4, 2010
This is a book of poems that are emotionally and thoughtfully charged. The poems are all by high school students who live in urban areas and go to large public schools.
October 17, 2011
BEST POETRY BOOK EVER!
Currently reading
October 24, 2011ha.. this book was one of the best books i have ever read.
November 29, 2011
It was a good poetry. It had a lot of different topics of poetry. Some happy and some more sad. I really like the different verities.
April 20, 2012
This book is full of poetry, that some people can relate to. there are also some swears too.
May 15, 2012
Wow. SO amazing. The poetry in this collection cuts straight through you. It inspired me to write some little poems again.
December 20, 2012
Beautiful, sometimes haunting collection of poetry.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews