Book Review – Technically, It’s Not My Fault
1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Grandits, John. 2004. TECHNICALLY, IT’S NOT MY FAULT: CONCRETE POEMS. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 061842833X
2. PLOT SUMMARY
“Technically, It’s Not My Fault,” introduces a quirky 11-year-old boy named Robert, who is always involved in something funny and mischievous (case in point, read the introductory story on the cover above). Typical activities and interests of young people, like school, sports, video games, roller coasters, eating, sleepovers, and bugging your sister (…you know, the usual) are portrayed in verse. These life adventures are recorded poem by poem in a “concrete” format. By “concrete,” it is meant that his words come to life as the text twists, turns, creates sounds and main idea objects while describing Robert’s day. Take this hilarious journey and see for yourself that his mishaps are “technically” not his fault.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
John Grandits does a superb job with language in this unique collection of concrete poems. Although the element of rhyme was rarely used, the poems had a rhythmic flow due to the conversational style of the characters’ speech. It brilliantly captures a kids life in a way a youngster probably could not fully articulate. It may be research, or remarkable hindsight. Whatever the case, Grandits makes readers feel like they actually know Robert and the other supporting characters.
Word choice, and thankfully not profanity, kids often use to vent like “stupid” and “crazy,” along with newly invented word “snarpy” (in “Where New Words Come From”), plays a pivotal role in identifying with young people. It was also funny to note that in the poem just mentioned above, the adults’ words began to get smaller in font as Robert tunes them out – as if the volume was being turned down. How many times in life do we feel like kids just don’t listen? These poems are written from a kid’s perspective, thus allowing everyone to see what in the world else could they be thinking (as humorously noted in “What Are You Thinking About, Robert?”).
Grandits book design displays a smart use of mixed media, computer software text font and marker drawing, to create illustrations and word text. Amazingly, over 30 different types of red and black text font makes up the bulk of the story. Using the red text to complement the black often highlights titles, captions, another character’s perspective, and more. The illustrations are appropriately simplistic because the text creates most of the images. Words were often twisted, turned, curved, slanted, jumbled, and stretched to create a graphic effect. It was such an inviting way to give readers’ eyes a “visual workout.” One is given a chance to practice reading upside down, right side up, sideways, and almost every way!
This often sarcastic, yet entertaining, collection of poems embodies the weird humor tweens, teens, and young adults (and probably people of all ages) will love. As the aunt of a 13 going on 14 year old male reluctant reader, I would highly recommend this to him and others as a stepping stone in appreciating different types of poetry, and reading in general.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “A technically (and imaginatively) inspired typeface
experiment.”
BOOKLIST: “…this winning, highly creative collection, convince readers that poetry can be loud, outrageous, gross fun.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: Starred Review – “Grandits combines technical brilliance and goofy good humor to provide an accessible, fun-filled collection of poems, dramatically brought to life through a brilliant book design.”
5. CONNECTIONS
· Have students create their own concrete poems after reading this, and other examples, aloud. In the beginning, providing a topic may be helpful as students brainstorm the design of text and illustration. Students may gradually begin to select their own topics.
· Other books of concrete poetry:
Grandits, John. 2007. BLUE LIPSTIC: CONCRETE POEMS. ISBN 9780618851324
Janeczko, Paul. 2001. A POKE IN THE I. ISBN 0763606618
· Visit the author’s website to learn about him, his other works, and more info on concrete poems:
Other resources used:
This book review was created as an assignment for a course at
Texas Woman’s University.
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