Bend, Don't Shatter Poets on the Beginning of Desire

An anthology of poetry for young adults that realistically and beautifully deals with what it means to come of age as gay, lesbian, transgender, or, as is perhaps more often the case in adolescence, totally confused. The anthology approaches the seemingly unnavigable territory of teenage sexuality and confusion with poems written by adults who keenly remember the turmoil, pain and excitement of adolescence and sexual coming- of-age. These poems bring comfort, consolation and joy to an audience for whom poetry itself might seem as unfathomable as the adulthood they face.

T. Cole Rachel is a writer, editor, and teacher who lives in Brooklyn. His books include Surviving the Moment of Impact and Bend Don't Shatter.