" An irresistible story of family connection, resilience, and loyalty. Acevedo's masterful narrative handles the issues Lil faces with believable sensitivity and insight. The culturally rich language and authentically portrayed characters who are full of complexity make this work shine, and the blend of prose and poetry enhances the compelling storytelling." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) " A striking and nuanced portrait of the realities of juvenile detention and mental illness. Evocative language captures institutional confinement and celebrates books--such as bell hooks's All About Love by and Toni Morrison's Beloved --as a source of connection, self-discovery, and refuge." - Publisher's Weekly (starred review) " Intensely genuine . Readers will be pleased with Acevedo's return to YA fiction with the perfectly imperfect Lil, who carries the weight of the world on her shoulders, but whose family works to unburden her in the only ways they know how. " - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review) "A gorgeous story that navigates trust, identity and the power of community , Anger Is Only a Shadow recognizes the reality of darkness and pain while throwing open the curtains to let in the light .

Blending powerful free-verse poetry with prose that dances and sings, Acevedo draws on her experience as a teaching artist conducting poetry workshops with incarcerated young women." - BookPage Reviews (starred review).