From Powells.com
Staff recommendations, guest essays, and curated reading lists.
Staff Pick
Like so many, I was transfixed and moved by Amanda Gorman’s performance of her poem "The Hill We Climb" at President Biden's inauguration, and now I can’t wait to read her first full collection. Recommended By Keith M., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
The breakout poetry collection by #1 New York Times bestselling author and presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman
Formerly titled The Hill We Climb and Other Poems, Amanda Gorman's remarkable new collection reveals an energizing and unforgettable voice in American poetry. Call Us What We Carry is Gorman at her finest. Including "The Hill We Climb," the stirring poem read at the inauguration of the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden, and bursting with musical language and exploring themes of identity, grief, and memory, this lyric of hope and healing captures an important moment in our country's consciousness while being utterly timeless.
Review
"Gorman’s thoughtfulness and activist spirit shine through on every page." Publishers Weekly
Review
"An inspired anthem for the next generation — a remarkable poetry debut." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
Review
"In seven sections and through poems that often experiment with form, the book sets out to tell the story of the COVID-19 pandemic from a collective point of view, with Gorman exploring the grief, hope and wisdom that come from a period of shared tragedy." Time.com
Review
"In Call Us What We Carry, Gorman has written a mnemonic symphony of hope and solidarity in the face of the ‘vanishing meaning’ of our time, speaking eloquently with ‘the lip of tomorrow.’" The Guardian
About the Author
Amanda Gorman is the inaugural Youth Poet Laureate of the United States. She is a committed activist who works on the local, national, and international levels to support girls' education and empowerment. Amanda's activism and poetry have been featured on the Today Show, PBS Kids, and CBS This Morning, and in The New York Times, Vogue, Essence, and O, The Oprah Magazine. She is also the author of the forthcoming picture book Change Sings illustrated by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Loren Long. After graduating from Harvard University, she now lives in Los Angeles. Please visit theamandagorman.com.