Described as "epic" and "psychologically thrilling" by secondary English teacher Ms. Maria Stolyarova, "Paradise Lost" has captivated not only our own GAA staff member but a hundred others presenting an excellent 4.4 audience rating on Google.

"Paradise Lost" is in blank verse and was written by the 17th-century English poet John Milton. Present themes include Hierarchy and Order, Sin and Innocence, and Free Will and Predestination.

What is your favorite book?

My favorite books so far are the ones were written by Shaun Tan, my top three from his collection would be Lost and Found, The Viewer, and Tales of Suburbia.

Who is the author of this book?

Shaun Tan

What is the book about?

The books don’t really have a central theme, but they touch upon many different topics, especially in Lost and Found.

Why do you like this book?

I like the illustrations within these books, the drawings are quite beautiful and moving and I like how one can read the pictures as well as the text. Moreover, the books are short therefore you can read them anytime and they are great if you need a break from reading long novels.

I lost my talk

The talk you took away.

When I was a little girl

At Shubenacadie school.

You snatched it away:

I speak like you

I think like you

I create like you

The scrambled ballad, about my word.

Two ways I talk

Both ways I say,

Your way is more powerful.

So gently I offer my hand and ask,

Let me find my talk

So I can teach you about me.

There are birds here,

so many birds here

is what I was trying to say

when they said those birds were metaphors

for what is trapped

between buildings

and buildings. No.

The birds are here

to root around for bread

the girl’s hands tear

and toss like confetti. No,

I don’t mean the bread is torn like cotton,

I said confetti, and no

not the confetti

a tank can make of a building.

I mean the confetti

a boy can’t stop smiling about

and no his smile isn’t much

like a skeleton at all. And no

his neighborhood is not like a war zone.

I am trying to say

his neighborhood

is as tattered and feathered

as anything else,

as shadow pierced by sun

and light parted

by shadow-dance as anything else,

but they won’t stop saying

how lovely the ruins,

how ruined the lovely

children must be in that birdless city.

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

Did you hear about the rose that grew

from a crack in the concrete?

Proving nature's law is wrong it

learned to walk with out having feet.

Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,

it learned to breathe fresh air.

Long live the rose that grew from concrete

when no one else ever cared.