Genre 3 - Poetry
"Read one of the following award winning poetry books"
Plot Summary
Blue Lipstick begins on the cover with Jessie's exploration into wearing blue lipstick, and continues through her experiments with blue hair and her self-styled punk outfits. In these poems she argues with her brother, babysits her cousin, swoons over a boy named Elton, plays volleyball, cello, and generally bucks the prevailing trends by doing things her own way both at school and elsewhere. The poems don't follow a particular storyline beyond the progression through the school year, but the narrator Jessie does show growth between the first and the last pages.Critical Analysis
Grandits' subjects, typefaces, and layouts are primarily playful and engaging. A glimpse through the book does not begin to hint at the actual growth and emotion that the poems convey upon reading. Because the poems themselves also serve as the illustrations, there are multiple layers of meaning within each one. The typeface and colors of text add varied emphasis and interest to the subjects portrayed through the shapes.The poetic language encompasses many of the characteristics and patterns of typical informal speech among teenagers, which keeps the characterization within each one believable. The unique character of Jessie shares her viewpoint of school through an unusual blue lens which really brings her to life for the reader.
Connections
- Explore concrete or shape poetry of both modern and classic forms.
- Read the companion volume of concrete poetry by the same author.
Technically, It's Not My Fault: Concrete Poems
by John Grandits
- Rewrite and reread one of the poems without its shape and discuss how the shape affects the feel of the poem.
Awards/Reviews
American Library Association Notable Books for ChildrenNominated for Beehive Children's Poetry Book Award
Nominated for Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award
Nominated for Garden State Teen Book Award
Nominated for SCASL Book Award
From School Library Journal:
Grandits crafts his collections with the needs of poetry-phobic readers in mind. It isn't even necessary to crack the book, since the first poem, "Blue Lipstick," is cleverly placed on the front cover, surrounding a reflective mirror. . . This irreverent, witty collection should resonate with a wide audience.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CAFrom The Horn Book:
Grandits playfully, and quite effectively, channels a teenage girl's dreams, anxieties, and pet peeves -- all in a series of concrete poems, no less -- in this much stronger follow-up to Technically, It's Not My Fault.
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