Stradford’s (I’m Rising) third collection continues the project of feminine empowerment and tenacious autonomy begun in her previous volumes. She celebrates “womanly powers” through poems grouped into sections titled “Self-Care,” “Transform,” “Amplify,” “Rise,” and “Unstoppable.” Many are bold declarations of self-improvement; the poems deal with personal trauma, psychological healing, and political struggles. “I celebrate me / guilt-free,” the speaker declares, as the book traces a journey of acceptance, love, and heartbreak.

Stradford’s experience as an artist and architect aids in the design of this intimate paean to female power. Simple but poignant line drawings illustrate women in varied stances, including crying, falling, transforming into a tree, or caught amid an inferno. Though some titles (“Gestures”) boast occasional instances of third-person perspectives, most are written in the first person, balancing stark claims like “I am an original creation / a colorful masterpiece” with a humorous acknowledgement that the speaker is “Not for Everyone.” The collection is successful in its presentation of a contradictory self and in illustrating its central thesis that “There is healing / in facing our pain.”

This penetrating compilation will particularly appeal to women looking for inspirational and powerful reading. With titles like “She Is Invaluable,” “Believe a Woman,” and “Superwoman,” Stradford makes it clear she’s setting out to inspire women. The poems are more explicitly therapeutic and empowering than most, and Stradford’s distinctive style, marrying minimal uncertainty with plentiful exhortation, challenges her audience to delve into self-exploration. Readers will love the book’s encouragement to exercise “the capacity we all possess to transform and rise to be an unstoppable force.” This collection of poems about female self-empowerment will appeal to readers seeking psychic fortification in dark times.

Takeaway: This collection of intimate poems about female empowerment will appeal to readers seeking psychic fortification in dark times.

Great for fans of: Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey, S.M. Keat’s The Stardust and Her Magic, Alexandra Vasiliu’s Blooming.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A