Concisely arresting and challenging the beliefs of family and the fantasies of tradition, the poems in Surviving Home show that home is a place that you endure rather than a place where you are nurtured. With unyielding cadence and unparalleled sadness and warmth, Katerina Canyon contemplates the prejudice and limitations buried in a person’s African American heritage: parents that seem to care for you with one hand and slap you with the other, the secret desires to be released from the daily burdens of life, as well as the surprising ways a child chooses to amuse herself. Finding resilience in the unexpected, this collection tears down the delicate facades of family.

Review:

This collection of poems was the most honest collection I have read in a while. The author dives deep into her life and touches on topics such as her family, sexual abuse, her life growing up, and political opinions.

Reading this made me feel a real close connection to the author, as if she was telling me something private yet something that needed to heard. The author seems to not hold back on her thoughts about current events. I liked that she is using her voice to talk about important topics such as political power, abuse, and home life.

I liked how this collection of poetry was written. It’s not like like today’s instagram poetry but more like what I grew up reading when I was in school and I appreciate that, a lot. This is something I can see myself reading again and referencing  back to. I took my time reading this because I knew from the first page it was going to be an important read.

Rating 4.75 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

**I want to thank the publisher for sending me this to read and review. This review and opinions are of my own.This comes out December 2021**