How to (Un)cage a Girl [Hardcover]

Francesca Lia Block (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 2008

A celebration of girls and women in a three part poetry collection that is powerful, hopeful, authentic, and universal.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up—These poems traverse the steep climb from girlhood to womanhood while unearthing the hard truths hidden within this journey. Divided into three parts—"years at the asylum," "in the hair of the toxic blonde," and "love poems for girls"—the collection touches on anorexia, self-love and loathing, parental relationships, superficiality, losing one's virginity, rape, and love and loss. Block celebrates womanhood, but not in a bubblegum, girl-power way. Plathian symbols abound, from pervasive father issues to Nazi comparisons to insane asylums, real and imagined. The poems feel simultaneously autobiographical and universal. While the death of the narrator's father in "a myth of love for girls" colors her search for a partner, the universal struggle of women to escape or find their father's image in future relationships is aptly captured. The final selections cross into the territory of life lessons learned well beyond the teen experience and perhaps ring too much like motherly advice, but the raw authenticity of the narrator's voice throughout overshadows any later departure. Teenage girls, especially sophisticated, angst-filled poetry readers, will devour this insightful and powerful collection.—Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CT
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From Booklist

Block once again mixes characters from fairy tale and myth—vampires, mermaids, fairies—in this collection of urban poems that contrast menace and beauty; innocence and heartbroken experience; despair and bold confidence. As in her recent story collection, Blood Roses (2008), the works frankly discuss body image, sex, and love, and subjects that stretch into adult life, with poems about marriage, divorce, and motherhood. Luxuriant imagery of roses, feathers, and glitter contrast with dark, menacing scenarios of girls and women threatened by men and by their own brutal judgment, with vibrant, sometimes cruel Los Angeles as a constant backdrop. Eating disorders figure into many poems, as does advice on finding joy. There is hope in the beautiful title poem, which speaks about the limitless freedom that can come with self-acceptance, and young women will easily relate to the many selections about teen naïveté and restlessness: “just us girls all in shiny pink / waiting for something to happen.” A stirring exploration of female suffering and empowerment, this will attract Block’s adult readers, too. Grades 11-12. --Gillian Engberg

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (September 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061358363
• ISBN-13: 978-0061358364
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #624,837 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Francesca Lia Block, recipient of the prestigious Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award. has been publishing novels, short stories, essays, memoirs and poetry since 1989. Her work has been translated into many languages. Ms. Block lives in Los Angeles where she teaches writing workshops that are also available online.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanting Review: How to (Un)cage a Girl, October 27, 2008

By 

Enchanting Reviews "Lisa" - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to (Un)cage a Girl (Hardcover)

HOW TO UN(CAGE) A GIRL
FRANCESCA LIA BLOCK

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

...choose to believe in your own myth
your own glamour
your own spell
a young woman who does this
(even if she is just pretending)
has everything....

This is just a taste of what awaits the reader in Francesca Lia Block's new collection of poetry that celebrates the journey of a girl growing up. Block's collection of poems is both powerful and moving. The words flow like magic, hitting a cord on emotions such as loss, growing up, and death of a father to cancer. The theme is universal and the voice is authentic and true.

I love Block's poetry. Her poems in this collection touched me; especially the one titled pain is like an onion. Who ever suffered a broken heart can relate with this message.

Not all of the poems deal with sad issues. There's also hope. Block talks about believing in yourself and your own beauty. Not what the world considers beautiful but the beauty that's within.

My only complaint is this book ended too soon. This slim poetry collection is a must have for fans of Block and those who love a good poetry book.

Francesca Lia Block is the author of many acclaimed and bestselling books, including WEETZIE BAT, DANGEROUS ANGELS, and PSYCHE IN A DRESS. You can find out more about her by visiting her website at www.francescaliablock.com

Kim
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
August 2008

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lovely although not brilliant poetry, October 25, 2008

By 

Satia Renee "Satia Renee" (Altanta GA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to (Un)cage a Girl (Hardcover)

How to (Un)cage a Girl by Francesca Lia Block is a collection of poetry full of lush and lavish imagery. It reads almost like a memoir, an open letter to her friends, her children, and her many fans. I don't know enough about Block's life or history to know how much of these poems are confessional. It doesn't matter. The messages, if they are based on her individual experience, have a resonance. Any young girl struggling with body image will understand the narrator's anorexia even if the reader hasn't starved herself for beauty's sake.

I can't imagine any girl growing up in our nation not being compromised by body image issues.

If there is any doubt about why Block has a huge cadre of fans, reading this book will settle some of the misgivings to rest. Whether the poetry style appeals or not, the messages are ones that only an oblivious or vicious person would not agree is beneficial to young readers.

3.0 out of 5 stars A Treat for Teenage Girls, December 23, 2011

By 

E. Kristin Anderson "EKAnderson" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to (Un)cage a Girl (Hardcover)

Block's collection of poetry almost reads like a narrative, opening the floodgates of adolescence with 120 pages of verse. Her style is confessional, raw, and at times racy, but ultimately her work is refreshing. It's not the pinnacle of the poetic tradition, and it's certainly gimmicky, but considering the audience, the gimmicks make the work more accessible for non-connoisseurs. How to Uncage a Girl is an enjoyable read, and current teenage girls will certainly find this tome a treat, as it was written just for them.