Review: How to (Un)cage a Girl by Francesca Lia Block

Title: How to (Un)cage a Girl
Author: Francesca Lia Block
Publisher: Joanna Cotler
Pub. Date: September 1, 2008
Length: 128 Pages
Summary (from goodreads):

The pain of wanting to fit in

The joy of being consumed by love

The shame of not feeling at home in your body

The strength in learning you're beautiful

These are moments that every girl knows . . . for they are part of growing up, of uncaging yourself, from your childhood, your environment, your view of yourself. Francesca Lia Block follows the journey from girlhood to womanhood in this three-part poetry collection that channels girls' innermost feelings and experiences and celebrates women everywhere. It is a call to embrace the girl within, to heal her and set her free.

My Thoughts: This is the first book I've read by Francesca Lia Block, and it won't  be my last. Not many people  have heard of How to (Un)cage a Girl, but its great nonetheless. Although it is short (128 pages) I still found myself  satisfied with the overall affect of it and the poetry. It's not a  novel written in verse but more of a collection of poems that tie  together to tell a story. The only problem I had with it was that some  of the poems did not have the punctuation they needed and therefore made it kind of hard to understand. I loved this book, but for different reasons than most.

In How to (Un)cage a Girl we follow the author, Francesca Lia Block, through her life as a young adult and a grown woman. Divided into three parts, Years in the Asylum, In the Lair of the Toxic Blond, and Love Poems for Girls, How to (Un)cage a Girl is a captivating and honest tale of growing up. Each section was full of lovely poems that touched me in one way or another. I also loved reading the extras in the back, such as the origin of the cover art  and the play list that went along with the novel.
If I could, I would carry this book with me everywhere I go. I would pick it up whenever I'm feeling sad or depressed and read it to help make me feel better. This is a perfect novel for any girl or woman who has ever felt unworthy or like they don't fit in. We are all our own  beautiful person, and this book celebrates that. 

4.5 Moons