This is Just to Say Review

 

Module 5

This Is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness by Joyce Sidman

Bibliography
Sidman, J. (2007). This is just to say : Poems of apology and forgiveness (P. Zagarenski, Illus.). Houghton Mifflin Co.

Summary
Flipping through the pages, you will immediately notice the bright colors of each page and the attractive, colorful drawings. The book is eye-catching and appealing to readers. Upon opening the book, the table of contents divides the book into two parts: apologies and responses. The introduction tells of a 6^th grade class who created this book after writing some incredible poetry modeled after William Carlos Williams’ poem (spoiler alert: the class and the students who wrote the poems are from the imagination of Joyce Sidman). Next, is the inspiration for the book, the poem This is Just to Say by William Carlos William. At the back of the book is a dedication page and on the book flaps is information about the author and illustrator.

Analysis
This book is fun! I was a little disappointed to learn that the class is fictional, but I recovered. The apologies are wonderful, creative, and varied. This book would be ideal for upper elementary or middle grade, especially because of some of the more difficult vocabulary that is used throughout the poems. There is also a plethora of figurative language used which will settle better with an older audience. Each poem has its own page and illustration(s), which adds to the interest and appeal.

As in many anthologies or anthology-styled collections, there is a variety of poem types. This collection is no different, there are freeverse poems, haikus, a poem in two voices, and even a pantoum, with an author’s note at the bottom explaining what a pantoum is). Sidman does a fine job of creating a voice for each imaginary poet as they confess their transgressions, then as they receive a response. It was interesting to read each poem with it’s own individual tone. They really did read like a class of students because of the wide range of confessions and matching tones; as if they really did lead their own lives. This is beneficial because when read to a class, they will be likely to resonate with a poem because of this variety in topics of apologies. Some are light hearted, others are quite grave.

Excerpt

To my sister Carrie
The Black Spot

That black spot on your palm.
It never goes away.
So long ago
I can hardly remember,
I stabbed you with a pencil.
Part of the lead, there, still inside you.
And inside me, too,
something small and black.
Hidden away.
I don’t know what to call it,
the nugget of darkness,
that made me stab you.
It never goes away. 

Both marks, still there.
Small black
Reminders. 

By Alyssa

 

To Alyssa
Roses are red

Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
I’m still really
Pissed off at you.

By
Carrie (Alyssa’s sister)

Activity
After reading through the book, allow partners to pick a set of poems to perform. One partner performs the original apology, the second partner performs the response. This will give students a way to perform poetry with a partner, so it feels more comfortable, but still read their own poem.

 An extension activity is to have students write their own apology and response poems to one another and perform those for the class. 

Reviews
From Kirkus Reviews: “Despite a slight uneven quality or perhaps because of it, the whole is far more captivating than expected. Packed with the intensity of everyday pain and sorrow, kids and adults exchange the words that convey grief, delight, love and acceptance of themselves and others.”

 From Library Media Connection:  “Lessons about accepting responsibility, seeking forgiveness, and righting wrongs are all part of the fabric of this book.”