Technically, It's Not My Fault/Blue Lipstick

The Bibliography
Grandits, John. 2004. Technically, It's Not My Fault. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 061842833X
Grandits, John. 2007. Blue Lipstick. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0618568603

The Plot
Yes, there (sometimes) are plots to poetry books!

Blue Lipstick is a sort-of sequel/companion to John Grandits' first book of poems, Technically, It's Not My Fault. The first is a book of poems by Robert, a sneaky little boy that does science experiments, rides skateboards, goes to school, and blows up his sister's homework. Blue Lipstick is by Robert's sister, Jessie, who is older than Robert. She's a hipster vegetarian who is trying to figure out where she fits in in the world by playing volleyball, wearing blue lipstick, coloring her hair blue, and making her own clothes, all while making her own life.

The Analysis
I liked Blue Lipstick so much that I had to read Technically, It's Not My Fault, too. Do I like poetry? Nah... can't be that! Maybe I just like the creativity of concrete poems. I really enjoyed that the covers of both books were poems, too. What I like most about these poems is that they're not necessarily poems. Some are just thoughts swirling around a toilet bowl or dangling from a coathanger.

The Review
(Technically, It's Not My Fault) Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature)
Concrete poems for the upper elementary/middle school reader cover some usual and unusual subjects but always in a clever format. There’s the boring circularity of “My Stupid Day,” the gut-stirring “Spew Machine” that makes the reader queasy just turning the book to read the words, the delicious satisfaction of “Robert’s Four At-Bats” which leads the reader triumphantly to Roger’s trip around the base for the final “Cougars Win!” jubilation. There aren’t many concrete poetry collections for this age group, and the computer generated illustrations, the varying type faces (all identified in back for would-be printing designers), and the black, white and red illustrations give this collection an edgy and compelling look with great boy appeal. Good fun with a few to chew on, as well.

(Blue Lipstick) Donna Steffan (Library Media Connection, October 2007)
Fifteen-year-old Jessie's frustrating daily encounters squiggle, sprinkle, and swirl from each page as unique and imaginative concrete poems. Typically teen, Jessie expresses her feelings and thoughts through strong opinions and impulsive observations all within the context of a very wry sense of humor. To utterly captivate Jessie's teen audience, author John Grandits employs technical brilliance through simple drawings, inventive shapes, and intriguing typeface of angled and twisting words that emote typical teen feelings of anger, celebration, miscalculations, and ever-changing observations. A few of the resulting poems include a brainwave chart that describes Jessie's emotional Saturday, spray from the showerhead that outlines her day's upcoming tasks, and spirited passes over a volleyball net that chronicle a game where brain once again wins out over brawn. Purchase this thin, highly creative collection to involve teens in poetry in an engaging and humorous way. Recommended.

The Connection
There's a note from the author at the back of each of these books, but the one at the end of Blue Lipstick made me want to participate in a program that I've heard of before but never knew much about. Poem In Your Pocket Day is April 14th, and I think I'm going to take part this year. I think I'll make little poems to hand out on that day to everyone in the library. Passive programming!