“Exceptional.” — Booklist (starred review) “Heartfelt…Thoughtful and effective.” — The Horn Book “Engle’s lyrical poetry emotionally conveys the reality of being a greatly gifted, passionate, and deeply ambitious young man in a turbulent time.” — BCCB From acclaimed author Margarita Engle comes a gorgeous novel in verse about Rubén Darío, the Nicaraguan poet and folk hero who initiated the literary movement of Modernismo. As a little boy, Rubén Darío loved to listen to his great uncle, a man who told tall tales in a booming, larger-than-life voice. Rubén quickly learned the magic of storytelling, and discovered the rapture and beauty of verse. A restless and romantic soul, Rubén traveled across Central and South America seeking adventure and connection. As he discovered new places and new loves, he wrote poems to express his wild storm of feelings. But the traditional forms felt too restrictive. He began to improvise his own poetic forms so he could capture the entire world in his words. At the age of twenty-one, he published his first book Azul , which heralded a vibrant new literary movement called Modernismo that blended poetry and prose into something magical. In gorgeous poems of her own, Margarita Engle tells the story of this passionate young man who revolutionized world literature. Gr 7 Up—In the capable hands of Engle, this novel in verse about Rubén Darío is utterly moving. Born in the late 1860s, Darío created a literary movement known as Modernismo while rambunctiously coming of age. Engle shares a trove of discoveries about a boy from Nicaragua with a fractured family who became the celebrated "Poet Boy" traveling the world. He overcame hardship and pushed the boundaries of artistry, with his most renowned poem about a fairytale scribbled to a young fan. Engle's author's note suggests the majority of the book is biographically accurate based on Darío's own comprehensive writing. With a bombshell discovery about both of his parents, he turned to poetry as a mouthpiece for his frustration. Similarly, Darío's views on the world and political turmoil were funneled through his powerful writing. Engle takes this beauty and creates a captivating tribute in her own style, with emotional poem titles and a controlled unraveling of the details of a life lived to the limit. This type of storytelling celebrates the creative talent of Latinx people that has been hidden by history. Engle's form and research is something to be heralded, as is Darío's life and work. VERDICT A top purchase for public and school libraries alike; a stellar example of verse and historical fiction.—Alicia Abdul, Albany High School, NY * “Engle explores Darío’s relationship with words and the effects of abandonment, trauma, grief, and loss on his work. The cyclical nature of events described, as well as the seasons’ change and the rollercoaster of emotions—all based firmly in research—reflect how the poet’s past affected his identity and career. Engle also pays close attention to Darío’s mestizo identity and the importance of utilizing Spanish language, and there is a wonderful section on linework and rhyming patterns and structures, an educational element for young poets trying their hands at redondillas, octavillas, espinelas, and seguidillas. . . . Exceptional. -- Booklist, starred review “Heartfelt . . . The brevity of the poems allows readers to make rapid progress through the novel, and the placement of line breaks is thoughtful and effective: ‘With paper as my sky, words / are the wind that should help my mind fly.’” -- The Horn Book “Engle distills a fascinating life and creates a portrait of a country where poetry, valued by many, could be a young person’s ticket out of hardship. . . . In introducing readers to Darío, Engle creates a jumping-off point for poetic exploration.” -- Publishers Weekly “Compelling. . . . This accessible volume serves as an excellent introduction to Darío and will likely encourage readers to search out his poetry to appreciate his genius.” -- Shelf Awareness Margarita Engle is the Cuban American author of many books including the verse novels Rima’s Rebellion ; Your Heart, My Sky ; With a Star in My Hand ; The Surrender Tree , a Newbery Honor winner; The Lightning Dreamer ; and Wild Dreamers , a Pura Belpré Young Adult Author Honor book. Her verse memoirs include Soaring Earth and Enchanted Air , which received the Pura Belpré Award, a Walter Dean Myers Award Honor, and was a finalist for the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, among others. Her picture books include Drum Dream Girl , Dancing Hands , and The Flying Girl . Visit her at MargaritaEngle.com.