Trying To Be Grown

“Trying To Be Grown” is a compilation of poetry written by Michael Victor Whatley Jr. It was driven by his eagerness to become an adult and role model in a world so contradicting. Written with intentions of appealing, relating, and educating teenagers to adults. The book explores the author’s ideas on life within his poetry. An article in the Washington Post published on August 14th, 2012 titled "Former rec-league Star turns to poetry to escape urban neighborhood and crime" highlights the poem "Diamond in the Ruff" and talks about how Michael lost his brother as a child and grew up in a rough neighborhood in the District of Columbia. While attending Tennessee State University in Nashville he self published his first poetry book. An easy to read book that can be finished in a day.