Half-Caste and Other Poems

The tensions brought about by differences of race and culture are at the heart of this powerful and entertaining collection by one of Britain's most exciting and original poets and performers. John Agard, winner of the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry, explores the richness of human diversity in the world today.

“Normally poetry is not our thing, but we took the time to really read many of the poems in this book. ('For the Record')... had only 27 words but rhymed well, was amusing and has stuck in our brains.”

He explores issues of race and identity, violence and grief, love and life. - Carousel

A performance poet, Agard uses rhyme, repetition and refrains that make his work sing...Skilful use of humour to get his serious points across. - The Book Horn Inc

A fine introduction to the ... poet's work for older children... This powerful plea for tolerance ... By turns playful and sincere, buoyant and thoughtful, his humanism is the thread that runs through these selections and reaches out to readers of all backgrounds... Agard eloquently voices a universal concern as he describes 'stepping in a big ship/not knowing how long the journey/or that you're stepping into history'. - School Library Jounral-US Review

- Teen Titles (Edinburgh City Council)

He explores issues of race and identity, violence and grief, love and life. - Carousel

A performance poet, Agard uses rhyme, repetition and refrains that make his work sing...Skilful use of humour to get his serious points across. - The Book Horn Inc

A fine introduction to the ... poet's work for older children... This powerful plea for tolerance ... By turns playful and sincere, buoyant and thoughtful, his humanism is the thread that runs through these selections and reaches out to readers of all backgrounds... Agard eloquently voices a universal concern as he describes 'stepping in a big ship/not knowing how long the journey/or that you're stepping into history'. - School Library Jounral-US Review

- Teen Titles (Edinburgh City Council)

John Agard was born in Guyana and emigrated to Britain in 1977. He has worked as an actor and a performer with a jazz group and spent several years with the Commonwealth Institute, travelling all over Britain giving talks, performances and workshops. He has visited literally thousands of schools.

His poem 'Half-caste' is on the AQA English GCSE syllabus, and every year he tours the country performing with other top poets for GCSE students. His children's poetry includes WE ANIMALS WOULD LIKE A WORD WITH YOU, POINTS OF VIEW WITH PROFESSOR PEEKABOO, and most recently EINSTEIN, THE GIRL WHO HATED MATHS and HELLO H2O, poems about maths and science respectively. All these titles have been in collaboration with the illustrator Satoshi Kitamura

He lives in Sussex and is married to Grace Nichols, herself a respected Caribbean poet. They have a daughter.

The tensions brought about by differences of race and culture are at the heart of this powerful and entertaining collection by one of Britain's most exciting and original poets and performers. John Agard, winner of the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry, explores the richness of human diversity in the world today.

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