Title: The Trouble with Being a Childless Only Child

Author: Michelle Meyer

Reviewed by: Kathleen (K.M.) Waldvogel

Genre/page length: Poetry

Date published/publisher: Feb. 2024, Cornerstone Press

The poignant collection of poems included in The Trouble with Being a Childless Only Child explores Michelle Meyer’s emotional journey upon the death of her mother. In her introduction, Meyer states “. . . I had to document, grieve, apologize, forgive, cope, and most importantly, I had to—needed to—remember.”

The author’s obvious love for her mother is reflected in every poem as she exposes the deep ache inside of her. The book’s title reveals her struggle and fears that since she had no siblings and no children of her own, not only would her mother be gone but memories of her mother would also disappear. What a heart-breaking thought!

The deep, thought-provoking poems exhibit how love and loss often mix together as the one who is grieving struggles to understand how to accept and move on. Meyer’s raw emotion and haunting words will linger in your mind long after reading.

Reviewer Kathleen (K.M.) Waldvogelenjoys writing for children. She is the author of a middle-grade book, Spies, Soldiers, Couriers, and Saboteurs: Women of the American Revolution, as well as two picture books Three Little Ghosts, and Whoo, Whoo, Who’s Out There?  Read more about her at: https://www.kmwaldvogel.com