Slam

By Alloy Books and Aamna Qureshi

Poetry is cooler than ever, whether it's Maya Angelou or W. B. Yeats, Tupac Shakur or Sylvia Plath. Slams -- spoken word poetry readings -- are taking place in cities across the country.Slam contains the words of the famous, the infamous, the soon-to-be-famous, as well as the authentic and anonymous voices of real teenagers culled from Alloy.com. From John Ashbury's thoughts on the creative process to Tori Amos' take on rhyme, rhythm, and reason, this book showcases not only these artists' poems, but their inspirations.Brought to life with original artwork, photographs, and unique visual style, Slam speaks to the budding poet in every teen.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0141309199
• ISBN13: 9780141309194
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Alloy Books
• Length: 157 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 0.5" x 5.5"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

This Book Is The Best Poetry Book I've Read!

OMG!!If you are a big fan of teen-age angst poetry or just teen poetry and general this is the book for you! I think that this book is so amazing and even though I don't own it yet (I checked it out of the library for like 3 months) I recomend it to every teenager or tween out there!

A Shakespeare, Hip Hop Fest

Of all the classic and modern poetry I've read doesn't compare to this book of contemporary poetry. It is completely different in it's expression of emotions, thoughts and words. One slam poet sees it if one didn't express themselves in writing, they would express it in songs or poems. This book of slam poetry, a "traditional" relevant, now scene art with soul is like no other poetry as it is part of you. How you feel. How you express yourself. By the life you live. How you see it. How you breathe it. That opens you up inside and examines how we all tick. Saying it better in the words of Michelangelo, "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." If I were to recommend a book of poems to make you feel good, I would recommend this book. Not only is this little book a big inspiration to write and look at life at a whole new prospective. It is a book that will follow you wherever you go. It has great writing tips throughout. A big plus, some tidbits of the modern artistic gurus that shape every part of our everyday life, and help shape your own world. Such names like Tori Amos, Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, W. H. Auden (who believed in the notion of poetry as a therapy similar to psychoanalysis), Cibo Matto, Bob Dylan, Allen Ginsberg, Aimee Mann, Frank O'Hara, Jimi Hendrix , Hole, John Lennon, J. D. Salinger, Walt Whitman, Dylan Thomas, Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20) and much more explode from the pages as you pick up the fragments and run with it. It's that good!

Great book! Really it is!

In my whole life I've never brought a book on Poetry, but when I saw this in Waldenbooks and looked over the inside of it and read a few poems and I was entertained. So I bought it and I wasn't dissapointed. All the poems are wonderful and are in a vast variety, the quotes and lyrics from singers or rappers are inspirational. To tell the truth yes I do write poetry myself but none of it has ever been this good. I loved the wole layout of the book with the pictures and fonts! If alloy ever comes out with another poetry book I'll definatly buy it!

Poetry For A New Generation

For anyone who thinks poetry is nothing but repetition and tradition, I recommend a heavy dose of this book. It's packed full of inspirational song lyrics, quotes, and poems from teen poets, slam poets, and poets of long before (yes they aren't so bad). Order this book right up! It's well worth the money!

Slam really is a Slamming book!

This has got to be the best teen poetry book out there! Most I find boring and repetative, but this is like nothening I've ever read before.The poems differ so much from one another it's in possible to be bored with it. It includes pictures and Shakespearian sonnets right next to Beastie Boys lyrics, it's a total blast! I highly recommend this to anyone of all ages who loves new and upbeat poems. Plus it's got a great intro by Tori Amos!