"Originally published in French as Bagages, Carry On began in a high school in Outremont, Quebec, where author and poet Simon Boulerice conducted creative-writing workshops for young newcomers to Canada. As the students began writing, their poems gave voice to their reflections on leaving family, friends, and countries of origin to make new homes and connections in Canada. Boulerice collected several of the students' poems to create this anthology. Throughout the collection, feelings of sorrow, loss, and anxiety find ...
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"Originally published in French as Bagages, Carry On began in a high school in Outremont, Quebec, where author and poet Simon Boulerice conducted creative-writing workshops for young newcomers to Canada. As the students began writing, their poems gave voice to their reflections on leaving family, friends, and countries of origin to make new homes and connections in Canada. Boulerice collected several of the students' poems to create this anthology. Throughout the collection, feelings of sorrow, loss, and anxiety find expression alongside emotions of anticipation, gratitude, and hope as the resilient young writers grapple with questions such as: What is home? Who am I? What does the future hold? Metaphors paint vivid pictures of the students' experiences: feeling the "bite of snow" for the first time, seeking comfort "like steaming hot chocolate" from new people, and embracing a new reality by "slashing my chrysalis." The poems are paired with expressive portraits painted by award-winning and prolific artist Rog???e, who is the illustrator of many children's books, and who had wanted to create images of immigrants. Award-winning literary translator Susan Ouriou, who also translated two Poppy & Sam books, crafted the English text. Carry On, with its soft palette and evocative portraiture, is a tribute to human resilience as it makes space for the voices of newcomers and creates empathy for all those who wonder about their place in the world."--
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