I was very excited to learn that acclaimed performance & slam poet, Sabrina Benaim was releasing her first collection of poetry. I first came to know of Sabrina by stumbling across "Explaining My Depression to My Mother" from Button Poetry on YouTube, and I was hopeful that a collection of poetry would strike me in equally impactful ways. I am happy to say that my hopes were met, if in different ways than I had expected.

As Sabrina (I am going to eschew typical practice of referring to the author by last name) explains in her opening note to the reader, she intends this book as "a friend, a reminder, a testament." and I felt that to be very true. There are moments of intense and raw emotion as she confronts depression, anxiety, loneliness, & complex emotions, but then there are lulls where you feel as though she is just sharing something with a friend, and you are participating in an act of shared understanding. For example, I found this to be the case with all of the song poems/acts of erasure. When I encountered the first one ("better together a Jack Johnson erasure"), I was a bit perplexed, but I grew to really love how they peppered the text with a personal experience of music ("dear Beyoncé", "house of cards a Radiohead erasure", since i met you baby a Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears erasure). It is something that I found to be intensely relatable. But I am getting a bit ahead of myself...

The collection begins with a whirlwind of metaphor and imagery that serves as an immediate primer in the author's style--which I must admit I found a bit difficult at first. However, the quickly dissipated when I began to feel a sort of rhythm--each slash felt like a beat, each phrase a melody--and this makes a whole lot of sense to me when I consider how frequently the importance and connection of music features in Sabrina's writing.

The connection of music is not the only thread that connects these poems. Frequently these poems touch on how family, friendships, and relationships influence and are influenced by our emotions or by our mental illness (outside of our direct control at times). Through snapshots of influential moments in family dynamics, Sabrina shows how those dynamics can deeply impact and interplay with depression in haunting ways ("nature vs. nurture", "a story // my father moves to another country & there's no way to say i'm sorry if you aren't", "explaining my depression to my mother a conversation, etc.). This is echoed in the frequent and repeated refrains of heartbreak and loneliness.

But the most interesting to me is when Ms. Benaim moves into the frequently more surreal to convey depression and anxiety in a painfully relatable & visceral way. I struggle with my own mental illness and I found some of these forays, such as in “the slow now” which imbues the struggle to get out of bed with dramatic significance through shards of conversation with everyday objects and times of day, to be deeply moving. “a plain truth" compounds upon this by showing inanimate objects in the apartment giving voice to the author's anxieties.

And ultimately it showed hope and other aspects of life that exists for those of us that struggle with depression, anxiety, & other forms of mental illness--acts of self-care (both the intense work that it entails, and the moments of joy), celebrations of platonic love, and growth in understanding of one's own emotions and interactions with the past. Ultimately, it reminded me of the things and people that I value, the music that sustains me and writes my own memories into my head better than my brain is able to do on its own, & it also reminds me of the love for myself that I want to hold onto through more of all of this time.

Brilliant work. Resonates on so many levels to so many people,myself included. This is a must have for anyone who has experienced issues or knows someone who has.

Amazing. Some of the most moving poetry I've ever read.

At times bleak and dark, at times hopeful, somewhat adolescent at times, but entirely universal and relatable. The jewel was the piece where Benaim attempted to describe her depression to her mother - so achingly honest and real and sad.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

This was so good. This was very insightful and hard hitting. My favorite was explaining depression to my mother: a conversation. She explains depression and anxiety so well as only someone with those struggles can. I thoroughly enjoyed this poetry collection. I loved every poem in this collection which is rather unusual for me.

The concept behind this book is both alluring and interesting but the execution falls flat. Having dealt with depression myself I was in love with the idea of a poetry book like this. There are times when the author is so relatable that I felt her emotions as my own. But these moments where undermined by the writing style. It was a struggle to keep reading because the book was a muddled ramble with unconventional structure.

"Explaining my depression to my mother, a conversation" is probably one of the best poems I've read about explaining depression. It hits so close to home, I felt the need to share it with my significant other just so that he would have a better idea of what I go through sometimes.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with a copy of this book.*

i shake cinnamon into my coffee,
& i don’t think of you.
i write your name over and over
until it no longer has meaning.
i fold my memories of you, craft
them paper wings,
in hopes they might one day drift
into amnesia,
& you might leave me,
without a trace.

Before this book, I have never heard of Sabrina Benaim but now, after finishing this one beautiful book, I want to know more about her and her works. Depression and Other Magic Tricks was a very raw and relatable poetry collection! If you know me, you already know how much I love poetries and this one is something I’m glad I got to read. It explores themes related to mental health, family and relationships among others.

Some of the entries really tugged my emotions and I liked how the words spoke to me. I now know that the author does perform slam poetry that’s why this book has a different sound to it and a different writing style. Overall, this book is recommendable and if you love a book with depredsion/anxiety as a main topic, this one’s for you.

This is a wonderful collection of poems tackling subjects like family, love, heartbreak and mental illness.
While I did enjoy the 'lighter' poems in this collection, Benaim truly shined when addressing mental health issues. You could feel her anguish bleed through the page and she somehow found a way to express depression and anxiety with beautifully wrought metaphors that left your mind reeling for hours after. It was also frightening how many one-liners felt like sentences I repeat in my mind every day: "I am best prepared for the worst case scenario. the best case scenario scares me." I appreciated how she twisted words to portray the eternal struggle with depression and anxiety that often feels anything but ephemeral, but then also included poems that offered faith in recovery.

The magic of this collection is the way Sabrina Benaim can lull you into believing you're safe and then punch you right in the gut with lines like "my heart has developed a kind of amnesia, where it remembers everything but itself", which simply floored me.
All in all, this is a memorable read that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a profound and raw insight into what depression can feel like and how stigma attached to mental illness is still a dominant issue - even in families.

Thank you Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, it had been a very, very long time since I had read such a terrible book. Is this seriously called poetry? I could not relate to any part of it, sorry! Not for me!

The best thing about this book was the beautiful cover. Unfortunately, this collection of poems just didn’t do much for me. It just seemed like a bunch of rambling and jumble of words. The only poem that I enjoyed was “explaining my depression to my mother a conversation” Sure, there was a line here and there in the book that I felt was good, but overall, hard pass.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

Depression and Other Magic Truths is by Sabrina Benaim, Canadian poetess, spoken word and dance performer, she lives in Toronto. This superb debut poetry collection explores many truths surrounding the stigma of mental illness: depression is no longer a taboo topic, the many ways of coping and working through episodes, and most important, the path to recovery and wellness is possible.

Close to her mother, Benaim was concerned how she will talk to her: “explaining my depression to my mother”. In the darkness of her illness she fears death—not her own but her mother’s. Leaning on her mother for support she writes: “I am afraid of living/Mom, I am lonely/I think I learnt it when Dad left;/how to turn the anger into lonely/the lonely into busy…” Parental abandonment is difficult to deal with in any case, and was symbolized by an abandoned house.

In the poem “single” Benaim writes about her fondness for sweat pants, careless grooming habits, and avoidance of answering the phone. “the loneliest sweet potato” recalls going to the supermarket, the effort to hide her depression as she chooses her lemons and avocados, the effort it takes to appear like everyone else. “how to unfold a memory//the Kentucky heartbreak shuffle” is a telling longer autobiographical poem of rural country life: barrels of Kentucky Bourbon, cornmeal fried catfish, the street lamps, swings on the wrap around porches, the American Flags, and the sweltering heat.
It was surprising that the organized poetic sequences beginning with “magic trick 001” to the final “magic trick 005” deal with symbolism and creative metaphorical lyrics. Many of these verses feature an enjoyable lighter direction, away from the seriousness of depressive illness. The titles of most of the poems are usually featured in lower case: “so my friend tells me she identifies as a mermaid”- “on platonic love being the real thing”- seven small ways in which I loved myself this week” .

On occasion, Beyonce serves as a popular muse in modern (Millennial) poetry. Benaim’s poems that include Beyonce: “dear Beyonce” (I)- “dear Beyonce” (II). Previously, “There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyonce” (2016) was a poetry release by Morgan Parker. Beyonce appeared on social media in her maternal glory over the summer (2017)-- inside a spectacular floral arch with her newborn “beybe” twins.
This thoughtful insightful collection is hopeful and encouraging, illustrating numerous ways Benaim faced her troubles and depressive symptoms—fortunately she wrote poetry, found love and happily recovered. **With thanks to Button Poetry/Exploding Pinecone Press via NetGalley for the direct e-copy for the purpose of review.

The book is BRILLIANT. literally speaking here, folks.

“i have kissed love on the lips & it did not fill me with anything other than smoke…”

i knew i will love the book, before reading. but this? i DID NOT expect this emotional flow!
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it’s my first Poetry book, it had poems written by and about Sabrina, a girl who suffers from depression, and hey she’s just trying to move on with her little life. I literally related to every single word that was written in this book.

“When my friend tells me, i seem smaller, i joke i am too young to be shrinking when he says no Sabrina, i mean skinnier & i tell him not on purpose i am not lying.”


the amount of emotions poured into this book is fan-fucking-tastic! her feelings are so freaking intense, you wouldn’t be able to hold up your tears!

“In some stories, the protagonist has to kill the bad thing to release its light. in my story, i am the protagonist & the bad thing, i have to learn how to bend the light out of myself. i can do that magic.”

Also, Sabrina is pretty Funny, there’s those funny lines, you would fine yourself laughing between your tears. because BOY there’s gonna be huge ugly, tears.

“when i say i like to get high, i mean, sometimes, after i shower i thank the towel.”


The book isn’t full of sad poems, it’s like we’re on a journey with Sabrina, until she reached her own peace. the book left me smiling, and teary.

“i practiced saying i love you in the mirror. not i love you because, or, i love you despite, just: i love you.”


i practically highlighted the whole book. i mean. i felt like just wanna memorize every single quote that i loved. and hang them on my wall.

ive only Re-read a book or two, in my whole life, i absolutely hate reading something i read before. but i think i practically read every poem in this book twice. and i Plan on reading them more…

Depression & Other Magic Tricks by Sabrina Benaim is a powerful book of words. The themes of this book deal with mental health, love, and family. Her way of twisting words is a talent. The first time I head of Sabrina was her poem, 'Explaining My Depression to My Mother' on YouTube. Her ability to perform her poetry is only a part of her art because I enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoy her performing them. The formatting of the book helps to know how to read it.

One of my favorite lines is from the poem (i) and it goes 'we were no full moon. in my poems you are the dream of you. the falling stars are just glitter just thousands of tiny LED lights.' Because of all the great play on words, the picture it paints, just over a good read. Other poems book I enjoyed was 'on releasing light' and 'so my friend tells me she identifies as a mermaid...'
Overall this book was a meaningful read, that I had to keep reading, because of the beautiful writing.
(I was giving this book through NetGalley for an honest review.)

Heartbreaking and beautiful collection of poems. Could feel the author's pain through the words.

Honest and profound - These are the two best words I can use to describe the work from Sabrina Benaim.

I first happened upon her work via videos on facebook and instantly connected with every word she said, her raw emotion and truthful words resonated within me - so when I heard that she was releasing a book I of course had to have it.

Sabrina has an immense talent and this book only highlights what an incredible voice she has.

I have battled depression for as long as I can possibly remember and I felt as though her words were truly meant for me, Sabrina very much touched a part of my soul and made me feel as though I was not alone - that I was known in this world and I think that is such an incredible thing to be able to do for your audience.

Depression and Other Magic Tricks is a reality many individuals are facing and it whilst it can be painful reading, it is a step in the right direction for our voices being heard.

I would highly recommend Sabrina's work and will of course be waiting for her next instalments.

I thought that the book was ok though I can appreciate the amount of work that goes into writing any book. For me when I read poetry especially about a subject as deep and vast as depression I want to feel moved and I was not. To explain more about what I mean, when I was reading this book I thought about the lyrics to a song by Linkin Park, 'Numb'. For me that's very moving. Although I've been through depression in the past myself I did not feel like i could really relate to the poetry in this book. If anything it's one of those books that makes me want to explore more books and poetry that I would enjoy.

This is the book which understands people with depression like me. OMG. Thank you for writing this, Sabrina!

These poems deal with heart break and mental illness. They are both beautiful and sad. I liked Explaining my Depression to my Mother which I'd seen before. My new favourite was On Releasing Light.

"in some stories,
the protagonist has to kill the bad thing to release its light.

in my story,
i am the protagonist & the bad thing,
i have to learn how to bend the light out of myself.

i can do that magic."

Wonderful book. I loved how the author interwove magic tricks within the stories of depression. She really takes us on the ride through the pains and heartbreak. Although the experiences are different for everyone, I believe that she was able to express the emotions that have also been felt by others, making the stories yet different, but so relatable to the readers as well.