Harmony: The Saga of the Earth by Apala Banerjee beautifully captures the author's heartfelt response to escalating environmental degradation. Drawing inspiration from Benjamin Franklin's call to engage in actions worth documenting, Apala articulates her deep connection with nature through thirty poignant poems and accompanying illustrations. In crafting this compelling book, she aspires to raise awareness about environmental issues, aiming to inspire a positive shift in people's interactions with their surroundings through the eloquence of her poetry. Grab a copy of this book and dive into its pages to delve into the intricacies of environmental consciousness while relishing the artistry it unfolds. This book not only promotes a deeper appreciation for nature but also instills a genuine sense of value for the environment in its readers. I'm truly impressed by the author's extensive knowledge of nature and her ability to craft exquisite poems with meaningful rhymes on this subject. I really liked that this book was meticulously arranged with its poems in a thoughtful and categorical pattern. The art illustrations, though simple, convey profound lessons and are a beauty to behold. Additionally, the book effectively heightens awareness about environmental issues. The poetic descriptions, particularly in nature-themed poems, enhance the aesthetic appeal, adding another layer to the overall reading experience. Although I couldn't find anything to dislike about this book, I did encounter a few grammatical errors during my reading. Though they didn't diminish my enjoyment significantly, I acknowledge that such errors may impact the clarity of the author's intended message through her poems. Hence, this book was professionally edited. I will rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because I recognize its potential to positively influence how readers engage with their environment. The awareness it raises on environmental issues, contributing to the mitigation of pollution and species endangerment, is commendable. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy poetic reflections on nature, possess an interest in environmental issues, and feel motivated to take action for conservation. Beyond environmental enthusiasts, I suggest this book to a broad audience, as it has the potential to resonate with people of various interests and ages, offering a universally engaging experience.

Apala Banerjee is a 10th grader who loves to garden and play the violin. She grew up enjoying the natural world, delighting in the change of seasons, and drawing inspiration from wildlife and flora. When she learned about the threats to the environment caused by pollution and habitat loss, she (like many young people) felt that her voice needed to be heard as she raised awareness of impending environmental disasters. HARMONY: Saga of the Earth is a collection of 30 poems in which the young poet states a case for the protection of our planet: A call to action before things have gone too far.nnThese are simple, urgent poems. They frequently use tight rhymes and carefully-structured phrases. At their best they express a sense of wonder, of childlike glee, for the grace and beauty of the natural world. There are celebratory poems like u201cCool Cocoau201d or u201cOde To Fruits,u201d in which the poet sings the praises of natureu2019s gifts. There are also more didactic worksu2014such as u201cWeb of Life,u201d which keeps up a somewhat more sophisticated tempo right from its opening verse: u201cBiodiversity is truly a blessing / but itu2019s a stress environmental factor that needs addressing / We are threatening the Earthu2019s vast spectrum / and one by one, all the species might succumb.u201dnnSome poems are bleakly precise. u201cIn A Blink: Extinctu201d charts the destruction of dodos, Baiji white dolphins, and Tasmanian tigers at the hands of man. It offers a matter-of-fact plea for future care and restraint before more creatures disappear. u201cSmog, Soot and Sulphuric Acidu201d opens with no-nonsense verse: u201cAir pollution is a big environmental issue / and while we sneeze into our masks and pull out a tissue / We still produce over 60 million tonnes of polluted air each year / and the lack of good air quality becomes increasingly severe.u201dnnAt the end, after a heartfelt plea for peace in a pair of poems that look at the war in Ukraine, there is a ray of light. Banerjee celebrates the moments when mankind managed to do the right thing, and sees them as reasons to believe that all is not yet lost. As she writes, u201cThe Earth needs help, it cannot be denied / but out of all of the methods weu2019ve tried / the best one against the darkness quickly approaching / is simply not giving up, but instead hoping.u201dnnWith all of the proceeds from the book going to environmental charities, Apala Banerjee has stepped up to action with these charming poems and drawings. HARMONY: Saga of the Earth lets readers hear the worries of the younger generation as they see their future being wrecked. Important words from a promising young poet.

This recontextualization has power. Banerjee imagines a world where the train, once the very emblem of the industrial age, and the river are not opposing forces, but instead part of a flowing harmony. As a love letter and call to action for the earth, Banerjeeu2019s saga is a worthy addition to the genre of climate-change activism poetry by young authors.

High-school poet Banerjeeu2019s second collection, following In Solitude: Thoughts And Feelings Of An Eleven-Year-Old During The Coronavirus Pandemic offers a frank survey of climate disaster in thirty bleak yet hope-tinged poems that seek to inspire environmental activism and honor the earth and its creatures. The opening chapters explore the poetu2019s individual experience of nature in Georgia, calling attention to the seasons, weather patterns, and the small, brilliant wonders of all earthu2019s faces: u201cThe calla lilies lash their tongue out, heads high, // and the bluebells hand low, being shy. // The lavender fills hills with its violet hue, // and daily, the morning glory blooms anew.u201d However, Banerjeeu2019s poems dig beyond the floral; theyu2019ve also been crafted to fight against overconsumption of the Earthu2019s resources.nnBanerjee addresses the planetu2019s landscape of climate horrors, from the extinction of the dodo bird to the animal cruelty required to make foie gras to plastic waste in the ocean. u201cWhat will we do when we run out of land // and all that remains is plastic and concrete?u201d the poet asks in the haunting u201cThe Loss of Use and Toss.u201d Though Harmony is often despairing, Banerjee also laces the collection with visions for a better future. u201cToccoa and Trainu201d creates a parallel between the female-imagined Toccoa river and the male-imagined train running alongside it, each carrying their burdens and forming a partnership, with the train using the river for u201cher inspiration.u201d Together u201cthey both ran and ran and ran, for every generation.u201dnnThis recontextualization has power. Banerjee imagines a world where the train, once the very emblem of the industrial age, and the river are not opposing forces, but instead part of a flowing harmony. As a love letter and call to action for the earth, Banerjeeu2019s saga is a worthy addition to the genre of climate-change activism poetry by young authors.