A holy dread

Villanueva's second collection of poetry (following 2014's Reliquaria) won the 2024 Alice James Award. From a poem inspired by the deaths of Tamir Rice, Akai Gurley, Eric Garner, and Michael Brown, to images and art from the Peabody Essex Museum, to a love poem written on the subway, this collection is full of heart. It tackles difficult topics while interweaving notes of Villanueva's Filipino American upbringing throughout. The later sections in the collection, which delve into the speakers' family life, have a notable change in tone from the first two sections in the book, but they contain a beauty and softness that are remarkable. For instance, in the poem "When our son explains the mathematics," Villanueva perfectly captures the pride and love of watching one's child grow and learn: "again we are taken by the circuits / of his mind glowing as he imagines / the distances between us." VERDICT Villanueva is a gifted poet, and her new collection is sure to appeal to many readers.--Sarah Michaelis