Political spaces, such as borders, have historically impacted communities, their language, and their culture in devastating ways. So how can poetry reinstate power? In this book, discover how language can bring light to the celebrations and hardships of the Mexican-American experience.

Karla Cordero is a Chicana poet, storyteller, educator, and community organizer as well as a 2021 California Arts Fellow whose work has appeared on NPR, Academy of American Poets, O-Oprah Magazine, and more.

Cordero's poetry collection How To Pull Apart The Earth has been the winner of a 2019 San Diego Book Award and award-winning finalist for the International Latino Book Award.

In her book, Cordero showcases the power of poetry, exemplifying the complexity and beauty of growing up in a borderland, and the sacrifices paid for the dream.

"When you step into Cordero's collection, you step into a world of afro-petals and wild cats, a memory that's not afraid to name its pain or thoughts. Cordero explores the complexities of our linguistic nationalisms and she is not afraid to use dynamite. " [Willie Perdomo, Puerto Rican poet]