Book Reviews

By Jennifer Eli Bowen
10/21/25
264 pages
$20
Milkweed Editions

‘The Book of Kin: On Absence, Love, and Being There’

This is such a book of the moment, for me. It is healing and kind and full of the parts of humanity we rarely see these days, the power of what can be accomplished together. It is a radiant blend of memoir, essay and cultural insight that explores how love and presence shape our humanity and, ultimately, heals us in myriad ways.

The Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop was founded by the author and remains the country’s largest and most enduring prison-based literary organization. Working with the incarcerated people has had a profound effect on her view of the world, and that shows in her earnest, beautiful writing about grief, family, loneliness and what it means to care. These might be some of the most human essays I’ve ever read — unflinching but overflowing with generosity.

Lyrical and life-affirming, this is a gorgeous book for anyone feeling the strain of these divided days. It would make a brilliant gift for those who might feel lost or alone. When everything feels so heavy, it is books like this that remind us how to lighten the load — together.  ♦ 
— Review by Julie Goodrich

By Ada Limon
9/30/25
232 pages
$25
Milkweed Editions

‘Startlement: New and Selected Poems’

There is a lot of talk about how poetry enhances storytelling. Lyrical, rhythmic words in a novel add punch and feeling to a narrative. I’m guilty of it myself. I reach for books with pretty words and sharp wit. 

My newest revelation is that the converse can be true, too. In this glorious, tremendous collection celebrating one of the best poets in existence, we see the power story and narrative can have in the tiny space of a poem. This collection feels almost voyeuristic, like the best memoir filled with pinpoint experiences and voluminous emotion and the universal lessons that can only come from a single person’s memories.

Poetry isn’t for everyone, but for those who can see the magic in it, Ada Limon needs no introduction. Her unique take on the mysteries of life is legendary, and this bountiful book contains both new and beloved poems organized into a path that reads almost like a fairy tale. It would make the loveliest gift for any poetry-fiend or even the poetry-curious. ♦
— Review by Julie Goodrich