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Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
Graffiti Lane: A Poetry Collection by Kelly Van Nelson is an engaging collection of poems that revolve around the concept of being the underdog, bullying and finding ways to bounce back. The poet's angst and fear during those times will help readers perceive the broader effects of discrimination and bullying as they bleed into teenage bullying, corporate bullying and harassment, gender inequality, domestic violence, and suicide. The poems are raw, dark, and intense and will take readers to a dimension where they realize that there is always hope.
The poems are all from personal experiences and that makes them tangible to readers. The poems are straightforward, honest, and bold and demonstrate the grit and determination to rise and bounce back after a beating. The poem about Malala, 'Against All Odds,' speaks about the courage and miraculous survival of Malala after being shot in the head by the Taliban and 'Big Bullies, Small Minds' captures the concept of how big bullies, small minds, and brave hearts work in a few words. Each poem will make readers contemplate on and deal with life in a better way.
All the poems are effective and they strike a chord in the minds of readers with their underlying subtle meanings and nuances. Apart from exposing the poet's harsh phase of experiencing the negativities of life, the collection has helped her look at life with a different lens and also brings out how she channeled those energies during the bad times and created verses and finally a poetry collection dealing with those subjects.
