Spinning Through the Universe: a novel in poems from Room 214

Frost, Helen.  2004.  Spinning Through the Universe: a novel in poems from Room 214.  New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.; ISBN 0374371598

Spinning Through the Universe is told from the perspectives of twenty-six students from room 214, Mrs. Williams, the teacher, and Mr. Carlson, the janitor. Each poem gives insight into one of the story arcs created in the first few poems, and emotions are high for the voice and for the reader.

What is so interesting about this novel is the stark contrast between one student and the next in terms of maturity. The circumstances each of these children describes about themselves and each other are easily relatable to the modern-day troubles placed on this age-group: some have much to worry about, while some have little.

Also of interest is the misinterpretation of the signals a child gives: for instance, Naomi notices EVERYTHING, but appears to be daydreaming most of the time, and Andrew appears at first to not understand the steps involved with his math work but actually grasps the concepts so well, he doesn’t need to work through the steps like the others.

This would be an excellent book for young readers, middle-school age, to help cope with their own woes, understand what others may be going through and as an introduction, to some, of adult concepts to which they may not yet have been exposed.

Additionally, as an introduction to poetry, Helen Frost goes into great detail at the end of the novel in the “Notes on Forms” section. Not only does she describe what type of poetry is used, but she also goes into detail about how she modified them, what other elements are used and general information about poetry. Notes are given on each poem for a thorough understanding of the style in which the poem is written.

Most rhymes are in different styles (22 different types of poem throughout the book), depending on whose voice is being used. The poems are incredibly well-suited to the middle-school age-group in vocabulary and topic, and address serious issues, such as battery, war, homelessness, race issues, cheating, as well as more childish woes like a missing bike, not being allowed a pet, and communication mishaps.

"Readers may be surprised at the complexity of rules governing the writing, so naturally does the author seem to capture the poetic essence of the children's voices..." (Publishers Weekly/April 2004)

"Interwoven dramatic stories and interesting poetic patterns give this book extra appeal." (School Library Journal/April 2004)

"Appropriate, original imagery and understated, natural voices make these poems sensitive and insightful." (Kirkus Reviews/March 2004)

Spinning Through the Universe is the winner of the Lion and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Poetry, 2005.