A lyrical, spiritual, and dreamlike odyssey…
Gross’s latest is a bold and lyrical journey that melds poetry, prose, and spirituality into a dreamlike narrative. When 7-year-old Yuniz falls into a coma after a tragic accident, he enters Yonder—a mystical afterlife where ethereal beings reveal profound truths about his soul. With war ravaging his homeland and his parents grieving at his bedside, Yuniz faces an impossible choice: return to life and love or remain in Yonder’s eternal peace. Gross weaves rhythmic prose, free verse, and evocative imagery into an experimental and hypnotic narrative. Each chapter introduces celestial guides—Jannah, Beeyootoo, Heesha—who impart wisdom about love, life, and the interconnectedness of all things. This theme of oneness shines in pieces like “The Tree of Me” and “Wow, I Am the Sun.” Gross’s poetic style is rich with rhythm and musicality: lines such as “Light needs Love / Sight needs Love” exude a meditative quality, echoing his background as a rapper and poet. Alexia Zakariya’s luminous illustrations ground the young boy’s ethereal journey, amplifying the story’s emotional resonance. Beneath its dreamlike beauty, the book juxtaposes war and loss with healing and transcendence. Deeply personal yet universal, the book invites readers to embrace imagination, rediscover hope, and reflect on the connections that bind us all. Beautiful!
Coming soon
