I Feel a Little Jumpy Around You : A Book of Her Poems & His Poems Collected in Pairs [Hardcover]

Naomi Shihab Nye (Author), Paul B. Janeczko (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1996

The different perspectives, feelings, and thoughts of men and women are presented in a lively collection of poetry collected in pairs, including works by such authors as Alberto Rios, Grace Paley, Robert Bly, Rita Dove, W. S. Merwin, Paulette Jiles, and Galway Kinnell.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For this fascinating anthology of modern poetry, the editors grouped 196 poems into pairs, to demonstrate the different ways in which male and female poets see the same topics. Surprisingly, wonderfully, the end result shows as many similarities as differences. Even readers who normally don't like poetry may be intrigued by the thoughtful, accessible gems in this diverse collection. In a pointer review, Kirkus wrote "this is a wonder"; in a starred review, School Library Journal called it "a rich source for thought and discussion."

From Publishers Weekly

As their subtitle indicates, Nye (This Same Sky) and Janeczko (Poetspeak) have paired each entry of this anthology, matching a poem by a man with one by a woman. The intention, as Nye states in her introduction, is for this presentation to "set off little sizzles" of "energy and interaction" and suggest "how many intriguing contrasts and connections there can be between the multitudes of hes and shes." Although established poets like W.S. Merwin, Grace Paley and Rita Dove are represented, the 190 poems here are chiefly from newer voices, some more accomplished than others. Extensive contributors' notes include the poets' answers to questions about "the role gender has played in their lives and in their work"; this section of the book also includes, as running footnotes, excerpts from self-congratulatory faxes between the editors that provide a dialogue about their selection process. In spite of the book's apparatus, however, the majority of the poems either do not explore gender issues or can be said to do so only at the risk of reducing their significance. Similarly, although some pairings are thought-provoking, more seem forced. Nonetheless, a wealth of poems manage to slip outside the book's heavy political agenda and structural imperatives to provide a clear counterpoint to the confusing He/She duet. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; 1st edition (May 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689805187
• ISBN-13: 978-0689805189
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,571,696 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I feel A Little Jumpy Around You (poetry), October 30, 2000

By 

Megan Kemp (USA, Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Feel a Little Jumpy Around You : A Book of Her Poems & His Poems Collected in Pairs (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this books unique theme of giving two sides on the same topic. There is a male and a female speaker in a poem inspired about the same thing. The most interesting part of the book was to see how two people can thing of things in such a different way. At times when I couldn't identify with one, I could identify with the other. The great thing was when I could understand both and think, hey that is a great way to look at it. I felt that this book really caused me to open my mind and not to expect things so much. I also like the great emotions that were pulled out of me while reading the book. There were topics such as death, fathers, hospitals, relaxation, childhood, beliefs, common day existance, and objects commonly thought of as irrevelent. The fact the the book is made up of poetry also gave it chances to be open and the reader to find their own meanings. I felt that I could understand this poetry and that it is current. It was published in 1996, that is probally why. The poems also flow smoothly in general and have come sort of conclusive meaning. Other poetry is harder for me to read because it is too whimsical and I guess and comtemplate the meaning too much and never figure it out. The two views on the same subject seems to set this book apart from others. I think that it is great that it gives two ways for a person to look at something. When I write, I write as a matter of factly and a this is the only way solution. I enjoyed the legnth of the poems in this book because they were catchy and descriptive, yet not overbearing. One of my favorite poems in there is titled Conversation With A Fireman From Brooklyn. It envoked so many emotions from me. A part in it says, "Already he's telling me he dosen't mind women firefighters, but what/they look like after fighting a fire, well/they loose all respect." The male speaker goes on to act as if the only thing good about a women is how they look with a stay in the kitchen attitude. As a female I was disturbed by it. There are also great looks back at childhood. In the poem Dark Song a great part says, "Don't be scared of the dark:/ all night is the biggest shadow/ little kid in the biggest shadow. The book also includes interesting titles that made we wonder and keep reading. Such titles are Black Patent Leather Shoes, The Locker Room, and The Pyramid of Khufu. The whole idea behind the book I feel A little Jumpy Around You is a great example to readers and writers everywhere. Again, I would like to stress how much I enjoyed the different speakers in the poems, the giving of more than one view on the same subject, messages that are clear to understand, but you can interpert them in your own way, creative similies and metaphors that even youth can pick up on, modern subject matter, and poems that are a nice legnth to keep me motivated. The only dissappointment was that all the poems seemed to include a few choppy lines and I feel that there should have been different rhythms and structures used.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars These poems are not from France!, April 30, 1998

By 

Richard Moore - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Feel a Little Jumpy Around You : A Book of Her Poems & His Poems Collected in Pairs (Hardcover)

Collected in PAIRS -- that is, two at a time, this collection looks at the world through male and female eyes. It delights not just with the usual anthologist's skill of finding wonderful poems for us to read, but with the collaborative skill of two people who care deeply about quality verse for young adults. A marvelous collection.

4 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is a lousy book!, April 18, 2002

By 

Max Altman (Youngstown, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Feel a Little Jumpy Around You : A Book of Her Poems & His Poems Collected in Pairs (Paperback)

I like poetry, but the poems in this book are all written in the same style. There is no creativity shown, and no real variation. I have yet to find a person who liked this book. "Jump city", the poem from which the title was drawn, is the second worst poem I have ever read.