Books

REVIEWS

"This anthology of 50 never-before-published poems about nature was edited by the 24th poet laureate of the United States, Ada Limón. The collection is both achingly beautiful and terrifyingly urgent. From a humorous take on getting drenched in a rainstorm to a beloved tree on its last day of existence to a woman processing the bleak reality of the world her grandchildren will inherit, these poems encouraged a heightened noticing in me and (bonus!) introduced me to the work of many new-to-me poets I’m eager to explore." — NPR, Best Books of the Year

“You Are Here slices through the noise and confusion of the day, offering instead a reminder of the healing power of careful attention.” — Shelf Awareness - starred review

“Who are we, the poets ask, as individuals and as a species? How have our surroundings shaped our pasts and our presents, and what can they tell us about how to exist in the future? The Earth here is rather like a supporting character—a foil—who can surprise us, devastate us, and bring us back to ourselves.” — You Are Here featured in The Atlantic’s Summer Reading Guide

“Whoever you are, you will find yourself and your own world in the expansiveness of this collection. Even in the specificity of each poet’s own inimitable experience, you will find your own voice and your own perceiving self, for the natural world includes us and enfolds us all.” — “How to Breathe With the Trees,” New York Times Opinion

"Written with intimacy and timeless beauty, this is an ode to how our planet is changing and how we relate to the land we live on." — Hip Latina - 15 Poetry Collections by Latina Writers Coming Out in 2024

"A wondrous artist herself, Limón is currently poet laureate of the United States, and this anthology is part of her signature project, “You Are Here,” which will also feature poetry as public art in seven national parks. Released in conjunction with the Library of Congress, the collection features 50 previously unpublished poems by luminaries including Jericho Brown, Joy Harjo, Carl Phillips and Diane Seuss, each focusing on a piece of regional landscape." — L.A. Times 10 books to add to your reading list in April

"Ada Limón commissioned some of the finest poets of our era to write to perhaps the most pressing issue of our time, in an anthology that is uniformly intimate, if diverse in subject matter.... This collection will speak to those who love contemporary poetry and those who don’t yet realize they do, as well as all who care about our natural world, and our place within it.... This collection is superbly designed for multiple audiences: nature lovers, poetry mavens, casual readers, or even as a generative teaching tool." — Library Journal - National Poetry Month recommendations

"This beautifully curated anthology of 50 previously unpublished poems challenges preconceptions about “nature poetry” as it meditates on humanity’s relationship to the planet.... This collection stands apart for the strength of its entries and the breadth of its superb meditations on a pressing theme." — Publisher’s Weekly

"Featuring 50 poems, this collection, edited by U.S. poet laureate Limón, highlights the ways the natural world is changing, with emphasis on locality and the authors’ relationships to their specific landscapes and communities." — Alta — 14 New Books for April

"Limón, the U.S. poet laureate, edited a collection of poetry by authors in conversation with the natural world. The collection appears in April. It’s a lovely book to take with you to read at the end of your next hike." — L.A. Times Books Newsletter, “Worried about climate change? Read these women authors”

"Poetry in a list of science books? Why not? Limón, the 24th Poet Laureate of the U.S., has edited an anthology of all-new nature poems from writers like Joy Harjo, Erika Meitner, and Jericho Brown, among others. Whatever you think “nature poetry” is, you might be surprised by this collection. Each poet writes about their local landscape in new and sometimes unexpected ways, showcasing a diversity of methods with which to interact with the natural world. It’s a slim but powerful volume of poetry that demands you slow down, stop, and immerse yourself in the natural world, if even just for a few minutes." — Book Riot - 8 Science Books to Look For in Early 2024

"Lush with lyricism and striking imagery, these poems by Jericho Brown, Diane Seuss, and others contemplate seascapes, backyards, national borders, and built environments where life sings beneath the surface." — Poets & Writers

"Nature is the unifying theme of this poetry anthology edited by current U.S. poet laureate Ada Limón, who was born and raised in Sonoma County. Each featured poet, including Joy Harjo, Paul Tran, Rigoberto González and more, is invited to tangle with their local landscape to produce previously unpublished work." — San Francisco Chronicle - Bay Area books: 22 new works to energize your spring reading