The Poetry Coaster

Category: Children-Educational
Author: Lucas Raney
Publisher: Two Turkey Publishing, LLC
Publication Date: May 21, 2025
Number of Pages: 54
ISBN-10: 979-8986606699
ASIN: B0F92D8L5R

I still can’t believe that The Poetry Coaster is written by a ten-year-old, a short yet spectacular lesson in poetry. In a tone that is jovial and light and that doesn’t miss in humor, this young author delivers a lyrical work that instructs and entertains. I have written for many years, and there are poetic forms I never knew existed. Lucas Raney breaks them down with concise definitions and takes readers on a lyrical ride that describes the rollercoaster experience. From loop-de-loops to snack disasters, from the nervousness of standing in line for a rollercoaster ride to the hilarity of moving up and feeling free, he introduces forms like diamante, haiku, two tone, extended metaphor, personal, and more. My eleven-year-old daughter read this to me and enjoyed it. And she started sharing her personal poems with me.

This collection is personal, even intimate, and I enjoyed the way the young poet shares his thoughts, experiences, and emotions. For instance, “My heart is pounding / At the top of the huge drop, / And down we plummet.” In “Two Tone,” he continues to explore his emotions of fear: “When I step into the seat I'm a pale white, / Waiting for what horrors lay ahead.” He describes how he transforms from a “pale white” to a “vibrant red,” screaming in delight, to “a pale green.” This is a fascinating metaphor for the rollercoaster experience, and it is, indeed, resonant. The imagery is strong, and there are intriguing metaphorical undertones that anchor this poetry. The Poetry Coaster contains the same recurrent themes and features a ride that continues through every page, and I enjoyed the simplicity in the delivery and the overall rollercoaster imagery. The illustrations complement the text in a way that young readers will marvel at the experience. Just remember how to ride a rollercoaster—and this is from the author: do not eat before your ride, wait in line patiently, locate a trashcan in advance, look terrified, be anxious going uphill, scream throughout the right, put your hand up in the air, exit to the right, and relocate a trashcan. Now, won't you say there is so much fun in this slim book?

Reviewed By: Rachel Groover

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Date: August 25, 2025

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