The Orange Spotlight

Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz "Oh Terrible Youth" (Write Bloody Publishing, March 2011)

As I embarked on the guided tour through the childhood and adolescence of Cristin O'keefe Aptowicz that is known as "Oh Terrible Youth", I was pleased to discover that we were born at roughly the same time. I do think that added to the experience of this collection, but I don't think you need to have been born in the late seventies to enjoy it. Cristin conveys a full story by weaving together poems that will touch both the heart and the funny bone of any outsider.

Whether it is through the hand-me-downs, the poor planned Halloween costumes, the awkward encounters with boys, or the feeling you just don't belong in your own family; there is something to relate to in this collection. Cristin even uncovers "The Secret Language of Nerds", but towards the end she finally finds her one true love in the form of a man named Shappy. "Oh Terrible Youth" is funny, touching, and educational all at once. For example, I learned never to accidentally slam the head of a pug in a door, and I laughed at her list of ways she might die or things she must do.

Write Bloody has done it again and they are releasing three other books Cristin as we speak so check this one out and then complete the set.