Review by Jami Macarty
Jen Jabaily-Blackburn’s debut poetry collection, Girl in a Bear Suit, delves into the intricacies of womanhood, victimhood, and the power dynamics ingrained in both mythology and society.
Chosen by Christopher Citro as the winner of the 23rd Annual Elixir Press Poetry Award, this collection draws on the haunting tale of Callisto from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The poems link transformations to violence, gender, power, punishment, or escape.
Jabaily-Blackburn engages in a modern discussion about the cautionary tales that have historically ensnared girls and women. These warnings, often laced with control and fear, aim to restrict female freedom and autonomy. She examines the circumstances that lead women and girls to become hyper-aware of their surroundings and barraged by warnings — “Do not wear! Do not consume! / Do not go!” Each poem is a “space” where Callisto and other female voices emerge “poised / to speak,” ready to assert their existence.
In a world that often views femininity through a lens of caution and threat, Jabaily-Blackburn highlights the longing for agency. Lines such as “Myths have always made / witches of us / when we refused to bend” underscore the collection’s incisive critique of patriarchal structures and the urgent need for redefining narratives.
The poet’s sharp wit, natural humor, and inventive style propel readers through a whirlwind of emotion, capturing the journey from silence to the liberation of voice. Vivid phrases like “a flip book of Excitement sprinting / spine to edge” capture the exhilarating process of reclaiming one’s story despite societal constraints.
Girl in a Bear Suit compels us to rethink the stories we inherit and share, reshaping our perspective on the female experience. By amplifying the often-muted voices of women and girls, Jen Jabaily-Blackburn enriches our understanding of the complex narratives around gender and survival today. This striking debut is essential to the conversation.
Girl in a Bear Suit by Jen Jabaily-Blackburn. Elixir Press, April 2024.
Reviewer bio: Jami Macarty is the author of The Long Now Conditions Permit, winner of the 2023 Test Site Poetry Series Prize (forthcoming University of Nevada Press), and The Minuses (Center for Literary Publishing, 2020), winner of the 2020 New Mexico/Arizona Book Award – Poetry Arizona. Jami’s four chapbooks include The Whole Catastrophe (Vallum Chapbook Series, 2024) and Mind of Spring (Vallum Chapbook Series, 2017), winner of the 2017 Vallum Chapbook Award.
