What We Harvest

Frank Modica's beautifully crafted poems remind us of our own ancestors, their immigration stories and the hardships they endured, showing how the family evolves and progresses to become ever more American and at the same time, diverse. Following Modica's story-poems of both life's joys and surprise tragedies make us smile, then weep. They are both personal and universal - indeed, our stories are what we harvest and make us who we are today. Reading Modica's poems cleanses our souls. I recommend this book unreservedly.

-Patricia Hruby Powell, author of Josephine and Loving vs. Virginia, the recipient of Sibert, International Bologna / Ragazzi, Boston Globe HornBook Honors and Parent's Choice Gold and Arnold Adoff Honors for Poetry.

What We Harvest is a powerful book of poems written by a poet who comes to his craft from real life, not from an MFA program. The book is rooted in characters who are family members from past and present, brightly drawn and interesting in themselves and for their mild exploits in America. You can imagine them sitting around a kitchen table loaded with food, eating, gesticulating, arguing. The book depicts the author's growth as a person and as a fine poet.

-Will Reger, author of two full-length poetry collections, Petroglyphs and Kaleidoscope. Inaugural Poet Laureate for Urbana, Illinois, 2019-2020.

This beautiful book of poetry uses stunning, emotionally evocative language to tell the gripping personal story of an Italian family after their immigration to America. A heartfelt and well-crafted collection!

-Alice B. McGinty, award-winning author of 50 books for children, including 2021 Jr. Library Guild Selection, The Water Lady: How Darlene Arviso Helps a Thirsty Navajo Nation; 2020 Kirkus Best Book for Kids, A Story for Small Bear; and 2019 Northern Lights Book Award Winner (food category), Pancakes to Parathas: Breakfast Around the World.