Michael Salinger

In the foreword on this collection, the editors note that they've worked to choose poems which are not Only slam poems, but which work as spoken word pieces that also translate well to the page---for the most part, amazingly, they've succeeded.

I have books from some of my favorite slam poets, and most of their works, frustratingly, just don't translate to paper; then, we wouldn't expect music to translate so well, so we probably shouldn't ask the same of spoken word poetry. Yet, of course, we do. The editors here have done a phenomenal job of finding a varied assortment of poems that do, for the most part, transmit their sounds and voices through the page, showcasing how a poem can shine when/whether printed or performed.

Of course, you may still want to find the recordings and performances. I've had the honor of seeing some of these poems performed in person, and in other cases seen the authors perform even where I haven't seen them run these particular poems; in those cases, I could hear and see the poems coming forth even as I read them, and those poems gained a different level of life than the others here. Some authors represented here--Buddy Wakefield, Mike McGee, and Taylor Mali among them--are just too powerful to be adequately represented in print because they are not just poets, but performers. In these cases especially, I hope you look up the poets after enjoying their words here. But either way, this collection is entertaining, varied, and smart.

Absolutely recommended to all those who feel even a curiosity, whether you think you might like slam...or not.… (mais)

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Did you dread studying vocabulary words for that weekly test? Are you struggling to improve your vocabulary for the ACT or just for personal satisfaction?

WELL DEFINED: VOCABULARY IN RHYME by Michael Salinger might be just the book for you.

It takes 64 ACT-type vocabulary words and uses each in a clever poem. Each poem begins with the word in question, and the actual definition is sited at the bottom of the page. The verses themselves provide excellent mental images to help in understanding and remembering each word, and illustrator Sam Henderson adds simple, humor-filled sketches to almost every page.

Here is one of my favorites -

"Brevity gets right to the point
doesn't dawdle, dicker, or delay
always short and sweet whenever
there is something to do
or say
brevity comes in handy when you
are subject to a chewing out
a bout of the flu
a pain in the neck
or waiting in line for the loo
in fact, this poem has gone on so long
that its recital
would no longer qualify
as an example of its title"

This book is just plain fun, but it could easily be used in the classroom. Whether helping develop a better vocabulary or an appreciation of some creative examples of poetry, it is a unique approach to a usually boring subject.… (mais)