Editorial Review: “New American Monarch” by Marcel Fable Price

New American Monarch by Marcel Fable Price is an anthology of poems and prose that captures snapshots from Price’s life and depicts his journey of evolution. 

Review

“The musicality needs to evolve! It needs to grow with seasons, the same way writing, views, and revelations have.” 

– Marcel Fable Price, New American Monarch 

New American Monarch is a unique collection of prose and poetry that depicts the evolution of Marcel Fable Price. 

Just like the three stages in the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly, the book is divided into three sections. Before stepping into the first section, Price presents us with a beautiful poem called Intro to Metamorphosis. Here, he likens the journey of life to the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. 

Section 1: Pupa consists of pieces that showcase Price’s childhood. The World Through Yellow Aviators depicts his innocence before he was engulfed in the materialistic world’s discrimination and judgment. The poems that left a big impact on me in this section are Collateral Damage and The Secret to Rock Paper Scissors. In Collateral Damage, Price’s realization that having a difficult childhood does not give us the right to grow up and ruin somebody else’s life, be it our partner’s or our offspring’s, is an important life lesson. The Secret to Rock Paper Scissors had my heart. We have all played this game in school. Price gives a new meaning to it. The way it is compared to our choices and their consequences is admirable. Kanye 3:20 gives us an insight into Price’s bond with his mother while growing up. I am sure the life lessons she taught him while on their fun drives together played an important role in making him the man he is today. 

The pieces in Section 2: Chrysalis depicts Price’s first steps into adulthood. Though all the poems in this part are poignant, my favorites are Parallel Systems, Waiting to be Judged, That Mourning, When I Die, Lost and Found God, and Metabolization. In Parallel Systems, Price recounts his first time in jail. He aptly likens the place to a slaughterhouse and shows the lack of compassion the system can have. Sandra Brown and Kalief Browder’s cases broke my heart. Waiting to be Judged and That Mourning depict the rampant racism that African Americans still have to face. They are subjected to judgments and boxed into stereotypes. When unfairly killed, they are demonized by the media and society, just because of their skin color, fashion sense, and stance. Even teenagers are not spared. When I Die deeply marked me. Here, Price asks us to forego the often useless peaceful protests if he is killed unjustly. He asks his well-wishers to hold the city accountable, take the streets by storm, and prevent letting those who did not care about him when alive join the foray. Price masterfully shows how non-violent vigils and social media posts did little to bring justice to Trayvon, Sandra, and Alton. Lost and Found God showcases Price’s grief at the loss of his grandfather, the man who filled in the shoes of a father in his life. Metabolization is a beautiful poem that makes us realize that all the bad that happens to us happens for a reason. Our myriad experiences help us evolve and become the person we are meant to be. 

Section 3: Transformation is all about the present. To be honest, I had a difficult time picking my favorites from this section. All the pieces here are deeply touching. If I had to pick, then I would choose Playing, Just for You, Love Is, What a Wonderful World, The Stories They Share, The United States vs The Court of Public Opinion (TCOPO), Fall on Gold, Race Together, and Butterfly as my favorites. In Playing, Just for You, The United States vs The Court of Public Opinion (TCOPO), Fall on Gold, and Race Together, Price shows us how racism has put us all on unequal grounds. Even if society wants everyone to race together, it is not feasible as the centuries of discrimination are a great disadvantage for people of color. Love Is showcases Price’s everlasting love for his wife Nika Marie Price. What a Wonderful World and The Stories They Share gives us an insight into Price’s role as a teacher. He encourages his students, understands their dilemmas, and prepares them for the future. Butterfly is a heart-touching poem that shows us how Price realized that the evolution of a butterfly mirrors life. 

Growth, Representation, Discrimination, Racism, Trauma, and Change are the recurrent themes of New American Monarch. Price beautifully makes us realize that change is inevitable. All the bad experiences make us grow as people. His depiction of his father and his realization that his childhood traumas do not entitle him to hurt others is heart-touching. He sheds light on the rampant racism that is still prevalent. Even though we consider ourselves modern and woke, we are still not able to forsake our judgments and stereotypes. Price’s definitions of racism and reverse racism offer a contemporary perspective. 

New American Monarch by Marcel Fable Price is a one-of-a-kind book. Its unique cover art, illustrations, formatting, and of course, content, make it a masterpiece. Each and every poem has a poetic form that sets it apart. I, especially, would like to mention the doodles. Price’s doodles and notes that become part of the page illustrations add a special charm to the pieces. The cover art and the illustrations are hard-hitting and perfectly fit the book’s tone. 

Marcel Fable Price’s New American Monarch is highly recommended to fans of prose and poetry for its underlying themes of realization, transformation, and growth. It is an empowering book that is a must-read for everyone. 

About the Author

Marcel Fable Price is a multi-hyphenate creative known for his work in oratory expression and creative writing. He was the 2017-2020 Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids, Michigan, making history as the youngest person, the first person without a college degree, and the first person of color to hold the title. His contributions have earned him numerous awards, including the 2016 Community Advocate Award, the 2017 40 Under 40 Honoree, the 2020 Grand Rapids area Black Businesses “Black Bottom Community Builder” Award, the 2021 Michigan Humanities Impact Partner of the Year, the 2022 Newsmaker of the Year, and the 2023 “Imagination Award” from the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology.

Fable’s work has been utilized by PBS, The Frey Foundation, Mental Health America, and Habitat for Humanity. He has been featured on the cover of Grand Rapids Magazine, and his poems have appeared in The Missouri Review, Button Poetry, and Write About Now. He has also served as a “Month Main Stage” Storyteller, and his poetry has been used during the inaugurations of state representatives and a Senate Majority Leader.

Marcel Fable Price’s first full-length collection, New American Monarch, is scheduled for release in October 2024. The collection blends poetry, prose, and stories, reflecting his distinctive creative approach.

Book Details

• Title: New American Monarch
• Author: Marcel Fable Price
• Genre: Poetry & Prose
• Theme: Racism, Discrimination, Growth, Transformation, Love, Memoir
• Publication Date: October 8, 2024
• ISBN or ASIN: 978-1934832967
• Number of Pages: 132
• Minimum Audience Age: 12

Book Themes

(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)

• Sexual themes: 1
• Religious themes: 1
• Violence, self-harm, etc.: 1
• Crude language, expletives, swearing, etc.: 3
• Other adult themes: 1

Rating

• Content: 5 stars
• Writing Style: 5 stars
• Appeal to Target Audience: 5 stars
• Uniqueness: 5 stars
• Editing: 4 stars
• Other factors: 5 stars
• Overall: 4.8 out of 5

Links

• Pre-order the book via Amazon here.
• Pre-order the book via Barnes and Noble here.
• Pre-order the book via The Diagram here.
• View the book on Goodreads here.

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