The Wild Fox of Yemen

by Threa Almontaser
The Wild Fox of Yemen cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Poetry
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  • ID: 753
  • Added: 2025-09-19
  • Updated: 2025-10-13
  • ISBN: 9781644450505
  • Publisher: Graywolf Press
  • Published: 2021-04-06
  • Formats: 48
  • Reviews: 4

The Wild Fox of Yemen is an incendiary debut that fearlessly explores the intersection of faith, ancestry, and self-knowledge through the lens of a young Muslim woman navigating life in New York after 9/11. The collection is a love letter to Yemen, a portrait of resilience, and an examination of what it means to carry the echoes of the past in one's body. Through polyvocal poetry, Threa Almontaser repurposes language and adapts to the space between cultures, creating a space where troublemaking and trickery become tools for survival and self-expression. The speakers in these poems move with a force that defies the limits of the American imagination, utilizing any means necessary to form a semblance of home. They navigate imperial violence across multiple accents and anthems, applying gang signs in henna and investing in the tension between carnality and tenderness. This collection is a testament to the unruly human spirit and the power of mistranslation as a form of self-knowledge and survival.

Reviews
Tupelo Quarterly · 2022-12-17
excellent 4.75

The collection is praised for its unique blend of languages and cultural references, making it a standout in contemporary poetry. The reviewer appreciates the depth and complexity of the poems.

The reviewer at Tupelo Quarterly highlights the innovative use of language and cultural references in The Wild Fox of Yemen. They note that Almontaser's work stands out for its ability to blend Arabic and English seamlessly, creating a rich and layered reading experience. The reviewer also appreciates the depth and complexity of the poems, which explore themes of identity, displacement, and belonging. This collection is seen as a significant contribution to contemporary poetry, deserving of further recognition and awards.

Quick quotes

    As a published book, it more recently received the inaugural Maya Angelou Book Award, and Almontaser's work may garner further honors yet.

    The collection is a standout in contemporary poetry for its unique blend of languages and cultural references.

    The poems explore themes of identity, displacement, and belonging with depth and complexity.

Michigan Daily · Sophia Voss · 2021-09-19
thoughtful 4.00

The poems are rich with imagery and emotional depth, offering a unique perspective on the immigrant experience and the search for identity.

Sophia Voss from Michigan Daily finds Threa Almontaser's collection to be a profound exploration of identity and heritage. She appreciates the way Almontaser uses poetic language to convey the complexities of being a Muslim woman in post-9/11 America. Voss particularly enjoys the vivid imagery and the emotional resonance of the poems, which she feels will stay with readers long after they finish the book. The collection is seen as a celebration of Yemeni culture and a poignant reflection on the challenges of navigating multiple identities.

Quick quotes

    Almontaser's love for the Arabic language is evident in each poem.

    The collection brings out the sly, shy, lost fox in all of us.

    The poems are a powerful exploration of identity and belonging.

A.J. Sefton · A.J. Sefton · 2021-08-07
brilliant 4.75

The collection is inventive, creative, and beautiful, transcending traditional poetry to offer a unique and vital reading experience.

A.J. Sefton highly recommends Threa Almontaser's debut collection, praising its inventiveness and beauty. She believes the collection is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary poetry, regardless of their usual preferences. Sefton appreciates the way Almontaser blends different cultural influences to create a rich and layered poetic experience. The collection is seen as a celebration of cultural heritage and a powerful exploration of identity, making it a standout in the world of contemporary poetry.

Quick quotes

    Inventive, creative, beautiful.

    Even if you don't usually like poetry, this book is as vital as any novel.

    A celebration of cultural heritage and a powerful exploration of identity.

The Guardian · Mona Arshi · 2021-08-03
inspiring 4.50

The collection beautifully captures the duality of living between cultures, blending Yemeni heritage with American life in a way that feels both personal and universal.

Mona Arshi praises Threa Almontaser's debut collection for its vivid exploration of cultural identity. She highlights how the poems deftly navigate the complexities of being a Yemeni-American, offering a rich tapestry of emotions and experiences. The collection is seen as a powerful meditation on belonging and displacement, resonating deeply with readers who have experienced similar cultural divides. Arshi also notes the lyrical beauty of the language, which adds an extra layer of depth to the themes explored.

Quick quotes

    The poems dart between two worlds with a dazzling fluidity.

    Almontaser's work is a testament to the power of poetry to bridge cultural divides.

    The collection is a love letter to Yemen and a poignant reflection on the immigrant experience.

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