Extra! Extra!, by Crystal Stone

Poetry, chapbook, 44 pages, from Bottlecap Features. Extra! Extra! is a provocative and incisive collection that delves into the absurdities and harsh realities of contemporary society with biting satire and dark humor. Through a mosaic of poems, the collection critiques the modern media landscape, political figures, and social injustices, exposing the often- overlooked truths behind the headlines. With a keen eye for the surreal and the grotesque, it highlights the contradictions and failures of our systems, from environmental destruction and systemic violence to media manipulation and cultural hypocrisy. The collection blends found language with sharp commentary, creating a rich tapestry of voices and perspectives that confront issues such as toxic masculinity, institutional corruption, and racial inequities. Each poem serves as a lens through which the reader can examine the chaotic and often disheartening state of the world, while also offering moments of unexpected humor and insight. Extra! Extra! invites readers to grapple with the complexities of modern life, encouraging a deeper understanding of the stories that shape our reality and challenging us to question the narratives we consume. Crystal Stone is author of seven collections of poetry including Knock-Off Monarch (2019), All the Places I Wish I Died (2021), Gym Bra (2022), Civic Duty (2022), This is Not a Poem (2023), Extra! Extra! (2024), and White Lies (2025). Her poems have been published in numerous national and international poetry journals including The Threepenny Review, Salamander, poetry Daily and many others. She received her MFA from Iowa State University, where she gave a TEDx talk entitled ‘The Transformative Power of Poetry.’ You can find more of her publications at her website www.crystalbstone.com.