Louise Glück was a legend for a reason, and these essays are sharp, surgical, and brilliant. She doesn't pull punches, and she doesn't use the kind of 'participation trophy' language you find in a lot of modern writing advice.

That said, let's be real: this is 'high art' literary criticism. If your kid is genuinely into poetry, this is a holy grail. If they aren't, it's about as exciting as watching paint dry in slow motion. It's safe as houses, but the barrier to entry for a normal teenager is a skyscraper.