In Bones: Poems on Reclamation, Hanslik presents a haunting collection of what I would call ecological-grief poetry rooted in nature and remembrance. The collection asks: Who are we at our core? What is human legacy? What do we leave behind? Through examinations of mythical, ecological, and familiar expanse the reader is treated to a resounding of what is left after the glitter fades.

The opening section “From the Stars” looks to the cosmos for answers. The second section “To Bodies” delves into the flesh, and the final section “In Remembrance” examines grief. The themes of bones, fossils, and extinction are woven throughout the collection, giving it a cohesive natural history vibe.

In the middle section, my favorite poem, “The Taxidermist,” looks at feelings of domestic tension and resentment. The relatable is turned feral, ugly, and animal here. This allowance for things to be less than beautiful and perfect, when Hanslik shows her teeth, results in the most impactful pieces in the collection. I loved the larger than life topic presented in “Finding Bigfoot.” Bigfoot here is an absent/deceased father who becomes a sort of myth, something that may have never been true. This piece edges on the uncomfortable idea of seeing our parents and ancestors through rose colored glasses. In the final section, Hanslik uses the imagery of birds to connect the tissue of history, illness, and memory. The pieces “My Mother Remembers” and “Skyward” both serve as lyrical odes to the care and tenderness of a mother-daughter relationship.

Supporting the written pieces are pen-and-ink illustrations by Kate Efimochkina. The art complements the blooming and decaying concept of the book well and enhances the American Traditional meets Smithsonian feel of the collection. Hanslik presents a great book to read while coping with loss or sitting alone in Central Park on a gray day before visiting the American Museum of Natural History.