I Can Tell You the Version That Will Make Take My Side

USA TODAY BESTSELLERJ Brooke's I Can Tell You the Version That Will Make You Take My Side begins in a rich and specific New York City childhood full of binaries, then catapults into a fully realized, self-aware adulthood where the speaker experiences parenting, a breast cancer scare, and the complicated questioning of top-surgery."Brooke has crafted a poignant and often bittersweet examination of the self. Balancing raw beauty with existential struggle, the poems are delightfully layered while remaining straightforward; even readers who are new to poetry will have no trouble digging in. While tackling struggles specific to the LGBTQ+ community (such as top surgery), the author also lays bare feelings that anyone can relate to, such as isolation and self-loathing...The result is a penetrating look at identity, sometimes despairing and sometimes hopeful-but always inspiring. A quietly powerful reclamation of self-love and acceptance wrapped in compelling imagery."- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)