Crush: Love Poems

by Kwame Alexander

Crush is a poetry memoir of love, for people young and cool, and older folks too, who want to remember and rejoice. From friendship to flirting, from the first date to the break-up, this collection of passion poems intertwines snapshots of innocent young adult angst with a fiery language that defines the first love which none of us ever outgrows. Crush is the first book of its kind, love poems for the Young Adult market. And it s destined to become a bestseller.

Genres: Poetry, Young Adult, Love, African American

72 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and New York Times Bestselling author of 21 books, including The Crossover, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children, the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Passaic Poetry Prize. Kwame writes for children of all ages. His other works include Surf's Up, a picture book; Booked, a middle grade novel; and He Said She Said, a YA novel.

Kwame believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people through his PAGE TO STAGE Writing and Publishing Program released by Scholastic. A regular speaker at colleges and conferences in the U.S., he also travels the world planting seeds of literary love (Singapore, Brazil, Italy, France, Shanghai, etc.). Recently, Alexander led a delegation of 20 writers and activists to Ghana, where they delivered books, built a library, and provided literacy professional development to 300 teachers, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an International literacy program he co-founded.

Reviews

[Mrs. Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexander uses language beautifully to express the wide range of emotions we feel as we fall in and out of love. The poems are short and accessible and the entire book takes less than an hour to read. But the words and the feelings that they evoke will linger.

[Kimberly Sabatini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every word was gorgeous. Could every poem be my favorite? You can't read just one.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these I loved, some I really didn't like. That's the way it is with poetry.

My favorite was the first one, Eventually, They'll Jump In. Another favorite, one that completely moved me was In My Closet, On The Top Shelf, Is A Silver Box. It touched me deeply.

The one thing I didn't appreciate was how sensual some of the poems were, considering this is marketed as YA. Yes, I know teens are having sex. I get it. But I don't want to encourage or promote it. They have enough raging hormones as it is--they don't need more added in top of all that. It can be emotionally damaging, not to mention everything else that could happen. I was hoping this would only be a book of poems, more like about "crushes," not sex.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are so few poetry books for teens. It's either little kid poems or adult-themed stuff that would not be welcomed in a our school library. So, thank you to Kwame Alexander for this short book of poems that teens can enjoy!

Page 21 has one of my favs:

"Your Blues Ain't Like Mine," he thinks

In the middle of the Civil War
right after Lee's Battle at Appomattox
and before Lincoln freed the slaves

Somewhere between the stale
pizza and Robert Frost
physics and the drama club meeting

I joined the ranks of a million guys
who've planned as much as an army general
rehearsed more than a Broadway play

Before asking you out
before being told
"I'll think about it"

[Mar · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 for some. I enjoyed these poems and think they are fun. Set for young teens, I think most readers can relate to crushes and first love. Some of the references are to American culture, so while readers might not catch all the allusions, first love and infatuation is similar the world over.

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Kwame Alexander book. After hearing so much praise for his work, I was so pleased that his work exceeded my expectation. Beautiful words, masterfully written, these poems will stay with me for a long time.

[Celestina Flores · Rating 3 out of 5]

Requirement: Poetry
I was unaware poetry for young adults existed before this class. This book contains love poems for young adults and while it's not the best poetry I've ever read it still was interesting. It portrays some of the nuances of young love like heartbreak and first love.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

sweet, and all crushed out! I loved this little book of love poems

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and seemingly simple poems that are also beautiful, insightful, and reach out and touch your emotional core.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poems - such beautiful and insightful poems.

[Dorothea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crush is a beautiful poem book filled with love and heartbreak alike. I would recommend this book to romantics as well as the opposite. This book might change your mind.

[MSabatiniReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could see using in class when teaching about poetry. Very brief and dramatic, but soo short and therefore not a very connected extensive overall story.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going to say it: If Kwame Alexander wrote it, I will read it.

[Crazy4more · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 stars

Hit and miss...I had read some better poems...

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written for a YA audience these poems are beautiful and insightful at any age.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of love poems. I would recommend it as a whole for high school, but it definitely has some excellent mentor texts that can be shared with middle school students. The opening poem and Love Poem #101 went over well with my students today.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read “Crush” in search of poetry for a poetry interpretation competition. I was looking particularly at Kwame Anderson’s work because I’ve admired it elsewhere. His recent Newbery Winner, The Crossover, is almost definitely the current favorite among my freshmen students. I was a little disappointed in Crush, however. Mainly, having read a couple of Alexander’s other books of poetry, I was disappointed to find that much of that material is repeated here. It’s not all bad, but this books seems like such a mish-mash after having read these poems in their original settings. It’s also very short and tacks some poems by other authors onto the end. It just felt like a rushed, thrown-together book of poetry. I would look at Alexander’s other work for collections that work together in a more orchestrated whole.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Crush love poems by Kwame Alexander were a book filled with poetry that felt very much alive. When reading these poems it almost felt like a memoir of emotions. Alexander use literary elements such as metaphors, similes, characterization, slant rhymes and various other techniques to bring these poems to life. I enjoyed this text because I felt as if it was made for the teenage audience. The reason for this being is that the poems were filled with snapshots of teenage moments and language used by them that defines the generation of today. I would recommend this book for young poets as well as older poets to get into the minds of the future of tomorrow.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Alexander's Crossover last year and can't wait for Booked that's coming out later this year. In the meantime, I came across an article about Alexander helping high school students get interested in, interact with, and try their hand at poetry. This older collection of his was, at times, laugh-out-loud funny, tear-jerking at other points. Others have talked about the cadence and the voice. They are definitely meant to be read out loud. Truly fantastic.

Oh, and this line from Sherman Alexie: "When I go to high schools the thing I tell the young men is you start writing poetry and you will always win. Write poems and learn how to slow dance."

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of poems is broken into 3 parts: First Love, Kupenda (swahili for to love), and Crushed and covers the gamut of teen relationships. It also includes a variety of styles, including free verse and haikus. As a bonus, the book concludes with poems from five popular poets that Alexander mentions in his poems.

Alexander captures teenage emotion very well--the anticipation and fear of revealing emotions, the joy of a relationship and the despair at the relationship's end. Just about anyone can find a poem to relate to in this collection.

[Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was popular in the library and I finally had a chance to read it. Contemporary poems about love, crushes and heartbreak. Reminds me of my days in high school writing poems to get all those crazy feelings out of my head and heart.

[Donna]

This book was wonderful to use in class with YA kids. Mostly for High School students and can be used for several skills. I love that some is written by students. It is so relevant to students today.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this tiny little book of poetry. My favorite was "In my closet, one the top shelf, is a silver box" because just a few lines told such an emotional story. In the past, I have avoided poetry but I am looking forward to reading more of Kwame Alexander's work.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving, sweet, romantic, sigh.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's uncommon to find such real poetry for teens. Good stuff.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

how refreshing for teens to have love poems just for them...

[Katelyn Walgren]

this book was a great poem book. The author did a great job exspresing what she was feeling.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just: WOW. Stunning. I'm in love.

My only complaint was that I wanted it to be longer.

Keep writing, Mr. Alexander: I'll read anything you write. :D

[Joan Arbogast · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the variety of poetic forms used.

[Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely. Fun. I will read everything he writes.