Clouds Cannot Cover Us

Selected for EmpathyLab’s Read For Empathy book collection 2021

Nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2021

This is Jay Hulme’s first published collection of poetry. It showcases his unique voice and form of expression. 

The poems have been carefully selected to chart Jay’s journey from growing up in a working-class family in Leicestershire to his feelings and thoughts about school life and his experience as a transgender teenager.

Says Jay : 

“When it was decided this collection would be for teenagers I was left with this determination, that this collection wouldn’t speak down to anyone, that the world I portrayed within it would be the world we live in, that there would be no attempt to make reality “appropriate for children”. People seem to forget that teenagers live in the same world as everyone else, and they face the same struggles adults face every day. Teenagers deal with racism and sexism and disability and poverty and so much more that we don’t even see. The things that are traditionally seen as inappropriate for young people to see, are so often the same things they experience day to day.

”I remember growing up as a confused working class, transgender, young carer, and never seeing anything in literature that acknowledged any of those things. I accept that in recent years literature has become braver, with books acknowledging those things being published, but the world has also got undeniably scarier and more divisive in those years too. Despite the growth of bigotry and hatred, despite all the economic and cultural uncertainty, there’s still this pervasive idea that young people should be relentlessly happy, that these years should be their best; but that’s not how it works.”

REVIEWS

“This poetry collection is both a cry of anguish and an exploration of family, heritage and self-identity. Beautiful life-affirming poetry that makes no judgements but inspires us to reflect upon our dreams, accept our differences and enjoy the nest of what makes us human.” - EmpathyLab

“One of the best poetry books for teenagers I’ve read. It’s vital, raw, powerful and uplifting!” - Ian, Eagleton, The Reading Realm

“A very personal poetic journey, from school days to young adulthood, through honest writing that will inspire many people. The poems are so heartfelt you can feel the passion in them rise from the page. You may find it hard to put down!” - Tricia Adams, LoveReading4Kids.com

RESOURCES & EVENTS

Listen to Trans Activism & Poetry with Jay Hulme as part of the We Can Change The World series on BBC Sounds.

Read Jay’s Interview with the Reading Realm.