In her first collection of poems, save me an orange, Hayley Grace explores the roots of her youth hardships and struggles and the love and drive for self-acceptance that determined her decision to live.

Poetry serves as a mirror for our emotions, which increases our sense of self. It speaks to our dreams, anxieties, joys, and sorrows in ways that truly connect to us. By relating to poetry that identifies with us, we can better understand our feelings and experiences. Poetry also fills our lives with beauty and inspiration, offering us escape as well as a reminder of the power within us. Poetry can uplift us and make life more cheerful in both positive and challenging situations.

In the introduction of her poetry collection, Haley Grace dives into the challenges she faced from her adolescent years onward. She was simply an elementary school student attempting to avoid attending class. However, as time went on, these issues continued into high school, where she failed to get out of bed due to her deep depression. Throughout these trying times, her family members would share a slice of orange with her. This act was simple, yet it symbolized so much for her. She saw the beauty in this small act of kindness and gave her the strength to brave another day. Throughout this book, Haley Grace tracks back to the oranges. I was able to grasp the power of hope by reading about something as humble as an orange. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by darkness, but even the simplest acts, like sharing an orange with a loved one, can change our perspective and bring light to the world around us.

Save me an orange features three main parts: the roots, the spoiled fruit, and oranges. Throughout these sections, I was able to see the author’s journey towards personal growth. In the first two parts, she sees herself as not enough. She struggles with relationships and connecting with her father. She sees the problems of life to be her fault and it weighs her down. These experiences start impacting her in a meaningful way. By the third part,  she comes to embrace her worth and realizes that she is enough just as she is.

As a reader, this is deeply inspirational. All the pain Haley Grace was forced to endure, she sees as stepping stones to becoming the woman she is today. This resonates with many readers, including myself. We all face challenging situations and periods throughout our lives. Rather than regretting them, we can see how they have strengthened us and shaped us into the people we are today. 

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Haley Grace often acknowledges “anyone who thought the world would end at 16.” She uses this as a means of showing empathy for young people dealing with mental health crises. This expression refers to the strong feelings and hopelessness that can come with adolescence, a time when people may feel overburdened by demands and uncertainty. Through her poetry, Haley Grace provides compassion and support to individuals who have experienced feelings of despair or loss at an early age by recognizing this emotion and validating their experience as she shares her own. 

Save me an orange contains 111 pages full of beautifully written poetry, but certain poems stuck with me above all.

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This poetry collection has opened me up to finding comfort within poetry. Haley Grace has a beautiful way of putting her thoughts into words. Because of her and this book, I can connect and reflect on my personal experiences.  I am hopeful that others will read this poetry collection and be able to find worth within themselves and spread kindness today. Most importantly, “Thank you to all the people who didn’t let their world end at sixteen.”