I have a stack of the novels of Sarah Dessen sitting next to my bed, and wanted to do a mass posting/reading on the theme of girl’s friendship novels… but, before I got into that, a slim volume by Ron Koertge snuck up on me. Shakespeare Bats Cleanup, a novel in poems, is probably the smartest and most polished Boy Book I’ve read this year. Man. If I ever have the chance to hear Koertge speak, I’m going to do my best to go. Who knew the man was also a poet?
There’s nothing I can tell you about this novel that you won’t pick up better by reading it yourself. It’s short, it has sestinas — and how often do you run across a pantoum? Definitely, definitely check it out.
