Swirling Emotions: Poetic Therapy

is a story told in poems, both long prose poems and short free verse, about a girl who survived grief, heartbreak, trauma, abuse, isolation, and living on her own at a young age. As raw as is the first part of this “fictionalized poetic memoir,” Donna Kessler just as powerfully lifts the readers by the end of with happiness, healing, love, and self-discovery. Kessler’s story drowns the reader in black tidal waves like a tsunami, then rescues with clear, crystal waves, sparkling into serenity. Readers who have been through any kind of trauma, dealt with grief, or known hard times will benefit from reading this book as it shows recovering and healing. Kessler’s poetic skill draws readers through her life experiences toward self-reflection of their own personal experiences.