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Reviewed by Lori M for Readers' Favorite
"Stuck on the Steps" by Nina is a gritty, urban, in-your-face poetic account of a young girl’s less than ideal life growing up. While she sort of rejects the ideas from family that she should recite her pieces on the mic, what she has written is definitely in the art form of rap, which is spoken-word poetry and music. All she is missing is the music. Her poems would make fabulous rap lyrics as they have the perfect cadence, rhythm and attitude for that genre. And yes, "Stuck on the Steps" is all about attitude. Nina is full of attitude. Raised by her grandmother as a result of her mother’s drug addiction, molested by an older male cousin while she was still young, and mistreated by more than one boyfriend, Nina has earned her rebellious attitude.
I enjoyed reading poetry in a story form like this author presented. It takes us through Nina’s life, her trials, and her triumph through her ability to communicate. This poetry isn’t for the timid as the language and the imagery is lewd, crude, and socially unacceptable. But it is real, very real, very touching and very vivid, which is what makes it so good.
The author starts out the section on her misguided years with these words: “I stand here on stage, engulfed in rage thinking how it was in my younger days.” Each section highlights a period in her life. I hope the author benefits from the emotional release involved in sharing this emotional autobiography of her life.