"More than Friends" by Sara Holbrook and Allan Wolf

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Holbrook, S. & Wolf, A. More Than Friends. Honesdale, PA: Wordsong, 2008. Print. ISBN: 978-159078587. Hardcover. $16.95.

Annotation: Take an intimate look at a teenage relationship from both perspectives: his and hers. Told in alternating points of view and various styles of poetry, the reader follows this story of first love until the end... for better or for worse.

Review: Two unidentified teenagers meet for the first time, unsure of where their relationship is headed at first. But one day, as if by magic, it becomes perfectly clear that there is something special about one another. Told in alternating points of view in various styles of poetry, More Than Friends follows the story of this young couple as they navigate the stages of their relationship. They face obstacles of school, parents, and friends while figuring out what it means to be in love – and trying to determine if they are really as meant for one another as they initially thought. 

This is an interesting concept, but in practice, the final product comes across somewhat sloppy and confusing. Much of the poetry sounds corny with singsong rhymes every other verse, and it’s sometimes hard to keep track of which character is doing the writing. A lot of the opinions voiced by both the male and female characters are very stereotypical and reminiscent of any romantic comedy, minus the laughs. There are, however, a few gems that stand out, namely the subtly funny, “Making the First Move” and “Do Not Bolt Screaming, Clutching All Your Stuff”, the beautiful “A Secret Sonnet” and “Like a Feather Lifting,” and the grand finale, “Worth Repeating.” These particular pieces feel much more genuine and will definitely be appreciated by any reader who has ever been in love. Overall, though, it would probably feel silly and contrived to most young adults - kind of like the cheesy adult trying too hard to be "cool".

Literary Awards: 

• 2008 Cybils Award for Poetry Nominee 

Listen to a Reading of "Like a Feather Lifting" from "More than Friends"