Girl

by Jessica Jocelyn, Janelle Parraz (Illustrator)

From the best selling author who brought you Chasing Wildfires and Finding Daisies, Jessica Jocelyn takes you by the hand in Girl (Remastered) and leads you through poems about toxic romantic relationships, childhood trauma, motherhood, and religious trauma all while being an undiagnosed autistic woman. This book is for the people who struggled to find their place in a world that was never made for them and a safe place to be able to sit and process all the grief and anger that comes with it. Find healing and validation in these pages accompanied by beautiful illustrations by Janelle Parraz.trigger warnings woundmother woundchildhood abusereligious traumaself harm

Genres: Poetry, Mental Health, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Parenting, Self Help, Feminism

156 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Jessica Jocelyn is the thirty-something author of four poetry books (Chasing Wildfires, Finding Daisies, Girl(Remastered), and Ever More), a proud mother, and a nemophilist. By sharing her lived experiences, she strives to deeply connect with her readers and remind them that they are not in this alone. Jessica’s poetry may be hard to hear at times, but it’s always healing to read. In the same vein, her past may be dark, but writing serves as her spark of sunlight. When she isn’t storytelling, you can find this free-spirited goth spending quality time with her family that inspire her every day.

Reviews

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?] · Rating 4 out of 5]

the hardest pill I've ever
swallowed
was learning
that the people
who are supposed to love us
sometimes
just
don't
know
how.

[Sarah Heitkemper · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely wrecked in the best of worst ways. made me feel so seen and heard 😩

[Christal Esse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This spoke to my soul

[Cheyenne Bluett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed this

[Angel]

when I became a mother
I was prepared for everything
but the rage

the rage of seeing how easy
it was to love someone
so small
so helpless,

the rage of knowing how easy
it was to step back
and swallow my anger
when they did something "wrong".

when I became a mother
I was prepared for everything
but the rage

[Rose 🥀]

The section of poetry on being diagnosed as an adult made me feel so incredibly seen.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need a fucking hug again

[Taylor Dawicke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jessica Jocelyn’s writing. It’s so raw and real.

[Anne Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book enables us to find profoundly eloquent words to give voice to the pains of the past. This author deserves more attention.

[Seli · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't relate to it.

[roxi reads ִ ࣪ ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5/5 ✩

‘I was a strange child. And by strange, I mean I had so much to say that all the words crowded my throat and nothing ever got through.’

‘Maybe in another universe, there is a little girl who is loved right by the people who were supposed to love her. She lies in the fields of flowers, butterflies dance on her cheeks and the burn from the sun is the most painful thing she ever feels.’

‘When my world ended, I set it on fire and danced in the flames. The girl I used to be turned to ash and blew away in the wind.’

Dit poëzie boekje is fijn gestructureerd met behulp van muziektermen. Het neemt je mee door de lijdensweg van de auteur; van haar helse kindertijd tot het helingsproces als volwassen vrouw. Daarnaast zijn sommige gedichten voorzien van mooie illustraties die het verhaal goed versterken.

[Jay Bakman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is what finally healed me. I saw an excerpt of one of the poems written by the author and it was posted on Instagram and I said to myself…”I need that book.” Phew.. was I right. That was the most powerful, beautiful, and heart wrenching poetry book I’ve ever read. I was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD last year and I’m 30 years old. I’ve spent my entire existence with this sense of “otherness” and never truly understood why. I spent my entire childhood wondering what made me different. Why was I so loud? Why did I not have the ability to make friends like everyone else? Why did I force myself to like what they like? I didn’t understand, and now it all makes sense. This book healed my inner version of myself. Thank you for the tears. Thank you for helping me let go. Thank you for everything. 🖤

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was SOBBING. This collection went straight to my heart and soul and cracked me wide open. I haven’t cried this hard in a long time.

As a little girl masking in a world that never made sense, now an adult finally uncovering the truths behind why I am the way I am and realizing I’m not broken….this book felt like coming home. Every poem hit like it was written for me, like Jessica Jocelyn somehow reached into my chest and poured my unspoken feelings onto the page.

Jessica, thank you. For giving words to the things I didn’t know how to say. For reminding me there’s beauty in surviving and that there’s nothing wrong with the way I exist. I hope only good things come to you for the rest of forever, because you sure as hell deserve it.

[The Bookbutterfly's Quotage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Girl takes you through a raw journey — from childhood trauma to motherhood, undiagnosed autism, and religious wounds. The way she expresses it is poignantly yet perfect. Honestly, reading her words felt like they were speaking directly to me. It’s like she gets it, and in that, I didn’t feel so alone. Her poems hit different

- 3.75 ★'s

[Bekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious


I ate it up like a pint of Ben and Jerry’s

Jessica has a way of taking a moment and turning it into a well of feelings. Then passing those feelings onto the reader.

This book, like both her others, are pure unadulterated talent. Transportation to a different time, a different dimension. Glimpses into what we have all felt or will feel in this lifetime or another.

Once again, I thank you.

P.S. I LOVE my Jess stickers ❤️

[Stefanie Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a daughter to a mum who had her mental health challenges, and now as a mum to a daughter, this book filled my heart with connection for those just like me navigating this journey and healing in the way that only beautiful words can do. It's also a great book to have and hold, so tactile. Thank you so much ❤️

[Lilouae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not the type of poetry I usually read or love, but I could relate to some part a lot and it made me feel big feelings so I guess I still kind of liked it.
I felt more like thoughts on paper than what I consider actual poetry but who am I to judge?

[Jailene P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not broken, bent. The order Jessica writes these poems in helps tell her story of growth from adolescence into adulthood. My favorite section was the bridge, and I loved the flow from the bridge into the outro. Beautifully written. I will be picking up another of her anthologies.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d give it 6 stars if I could ✨
if you feel unseen, misunderstood or frankly forgotten..
if your inner child begs to have the bonds others have with their parents..
if you live life on the spectrum..

then just maybe these poems may help you finally feel seen and understood in this world ♥️

[Sterre · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I must work
so hard to be okay:
the inner work,
the therapy,
taking care of my body.
it's so much work
and at the end of the day,
I'm exhausted.
but it's all worth it.
the people that love me,
the ones who share their life with me don't deserve
the unhealed version of me.”

[Aundrea Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the poetry in this book, especially about late diagnosed autism. I felt disconnected from a large chunk of the poetry about motherhood or parenting, but that’s a personal thing. I’m sure it’s impactful to people with those ties.

[Gabriela Diaz Cruz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The motherhood portion of this book was so moving. Even the other parts that I couldn’t personally relate to but were still told so beautifully. To be able to put emotions into words like that is incredible.

[Leena Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I LOVED this book. I had been eyeing it for many months and I finally bought it on Kindle for the time being. It felt like the author was writing about my own life and experiences so perfectly I don’t think anyone could have said it better. I also loved the topics she wrote about!

[Library Mouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦😔

[Carolina Rubio · Rating 5 out of 5]

this made me cry in the bus

[Therese Busch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Jessica on Tiktok. I’ll pretty much read anything she writes and love it. ❤️

[Tiffani Ault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing! I didn’t wanna put the book down. I feel like I could relate to so many of the poems in this book. Definitely a must read🩷

[Liz Speight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enlightening

I can relate extremely to this author and even my self aware ass was blown away by some of her perspectives and enlightenment on all aspects of life .

[Avery Michelle Witter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ouch.

[Alice Paoletti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg amazing, I loved this book the poetry was deep, meaningful and extremely relatable. I highlighted/ bookmarked half the book. I will definitely be picking up a physical copy when I see it.