If you’re looking for a quick yet impactful read, consider checking out one (or all!) of these new poetry collections at Peter White Public Library.

“82nd Division” by D.M. Aderibigbe (2025) – Published as a winner of the 2024 National Poetry Series competition, “82nd Division” tells the story of the poet’s home country, Nigeria. From the tender language of “Rose” to the visceral imagery of “A Brief History of Pride,” D.M. Aderibigbe takes the reader through Nigeria’s dark history as a British colony and exposes the scars that remain. The book certainly has an air of anger and pain, but also of love, pride, and determination.

“Burn Me Back” by Peggy Robles-Alvarado (2025) – Robles-Alvarado’s “Burn Me Back” speaks to the realities of many Latino immigrant families and the struggles that have shaped their cultures and identities. The poet explores her own Puerto Rican and Dominican backgrounds by writing about her family–particularly her father’s alcoholism and her grief following his death–and about what it takes to survive growing up Latina in New York City.

“How About Now” by Kate Baer (2025) – Kate Baer’s “How About Now” is made to be relatable, highlighting life’s ups and downs through accessible language and a sense of self awareness that is equal parts painful, heartwarming, and inspirational. Baer comments on the human condition, drawing on her experiences as a mother, woman, and daughter in the modern world. Her words remind us that, no matter what happens, we are not alone.

“Lives of the Female Poets” by Clare Pollard (2025) – What does it mean to be a woman and a poet? In this book, Clare Pollard relates her own life to other female poets, from Anne Sexton to Wanda Coleman. Pollard’s words show the reader that a poetess’s life can be tragic, or just downright messy, in the literal and figurative sense. “Lives of the Female Poets” is a witty and wonderful collection about uplifting and preserving female voices, no matter how difficult that might be.

By Kelsey Matthews

Technical Services Assistant