From enjoying Dr Seuss, to haiku, Solli has been exposed to different forms of poetry.
This led to his first poetry slam experience, and within weeks he found himself, aged 12, competing in a national poetry slam final at the Sydney Opera House.
Take a few minutes to watch and listen to Solli's winning performance. It will give you an idea what slam poetry is like, and how talented Solli is.
Limelight includes Solli's poem Evolution, which he performed in the final, as well as the poem he wrote and performed at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games: To Unite, Like Uniting is a Sport.
Limelight is divided into two parts. Part one is Solli's story -- how he got started writing and how he came to have a book of his work published, plus some advice for writing poetry. Part two is 33 of Solli's poems.
The poems cover a diversity of themes. All are best read out loud. This gives them full impact and you will feel the rhythm of the words, and better understand the messages contained in the poems.
Solli's enthusiasum for poetry is clear in the description of his journey, and slam poetry in particular. Readers will learn how it works and perhaps be inspired to try their hand at slam poetry themselves.
Limelight is a great introduction to a new, young writer, and I think we will be hearing more from Solli Raphael in the future.
Title: Limelight
Author: Solli Raphael
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia, $16.99
Publication Date: September 2018
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780143793762
For ages: 10+
Type: Poetry
