Wakening Between Worlds

"Xiaoly Li's latest collection Wakening Between Worlds is a true discovery of identity. These poems narrate the poet's heritage through magic and myth. Through persona, ars poetica, or just Li's nuanced language, she brings us with her- to beauty, to pain where "every step a wound" breaks us as readers. Though, no matter where she takes us, we end each poem transcended." -Alexis Ivy, author of Taking the Homeless Census "Xiaoly Li's exquisite Waking Between Worlds chronicles a life of regime change, childhood deprivation, forced familial separation, and immigration, and never refuses the comfort of the flora and fauna of the earth or of remembered and present beauty." -Marcela Sulak, author of The Fault and the National Jewish Book Award Finalist, City of Skypapers"Wakening Between Worlds is the bravest of books...The ancient poets visit her, inform her voice. Past and present intertwine throughout. At times she calls on forms: haiku, cinquain, shadorma. She tells us again and again of her awe of the natural world..." -Margot Wizansky, author of Random Music in a Small Galaxy