Staff Pick
The very first poem lays bare what is to come in such a simple, yet strong way; both the title and the poem “When The Fat Girl Gets Skinny” express so many things that often feel inexpressible. This collection, which largely talks about Baird’s struggle with anorexia and the long road to recovery, truly speaks to the crushing weight that conventional beauty standards and diet culture put on young girls' shoulders and the pain of being congratulated on your illness when all you really want is to feel good in your body. Recommended By Aster A., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Blythe Baird's If My Body Could Speak is a celebration of girlhood and all of its struggles and triumphs.
In poems that dig deep into sexuality, acceptance of the body, survival of trauma, and learning to love yourself in spite of everything telling you not to, Baird's voice is a rich addition to her generation. Searing, soaring, and heartbreaking, If My Body Could Speak balances the softness of femininity with the sharpness that girls are forced to become.
Includes poems such as Girl Code 101, When the Fat Girl Gets Skinny, and Pocket-Sized Feminism that have been watched by millions online.
About the Author
Blythe Baird is a poet, youth educator, and actress. Her work has been featured by GLAMOUR, The Huffington Post, NEDA, EverydayFeminism, TEDx, Mic, and more. In 2016, she achieved the #1 and #4 most watched poems of the year on Button Poetry and was recognized as a finalist for the EduZine Global Young Achiever Award. In 2017, she won the ADCAN short film award in Los Angeles and took first place in the Art With Impact competition. She graduated from Hamline University in 2018 with dual degrees in Creative Writing and Women's Studies. She lives in Minneapolis and is working on her next book.