Riding Shotgun

Riding Shotgun is a book of 104 poems encompassing the life of a teenager facing many adversities, struggling to navigate through an ever changing world. From an abusive father to financial shortcomings to mental illness to sexual harassment, her life has become a whirlwind of constant trials and tribulations. However, just like any other teen, she also deals with the daily perplexities of growing up. Written in a rather earnest and witty manner, these poems are filled with raw emotion and melancholy, yet powerful, anecdotes.
The book is separated into eight sections: waterworks, daddy issues, identity crisis, philosophy for the uneducated, adhd thoughts, tarnished innocence, an anarchist's advocacy, and featured. Waterworks explores what it's like living with depression and anxiety as teen in our rather oppressive and judgemental society, as well as the effects divorce has on a child growing up. Daddy issues covers the absence of a paternal figure and how it translates into one's ability to love. Identity crisis discusses the continual search to discover who we are as individuals, touching on ties to hispanic culture and eating disorders. Philosophy for the uneducated simply highlights problems in our modern day society and other issues that plague the adolescent mind. Adhd thoughts consists of lighter, random wonderings and notions conceived by a common teen. Tarnished innocence examines the survival tactics of a victim of sexual harassment and bullying. An anarchist's advocacy is a small compilation of teenage angst against the world. Lastly, the featured section is a collection of the author's favorite poems. These poems are either impassioned with feeling or composed of imaginative and whimsical language. Each and every poem within these sections has value, a small lesson to be learned or a realization to be had.