beyond rock bottom Paperback – April 23, 2017

Poet Kara Petrovic a young and gifted poet who has shard her life with mental illnesses and her self therapy has been her writing. Her poems have been identified as genderfluid and LGBTQ.In a short preface Kara offers a touching view of this book – ‘This is a collection of my writings that concern my illness, my trauma and reflect a negative time in my life. Yet still, I believe that this world can be filled with magic if you let it. I believe anything is possible, and that we all have some purpose, something valuable to contribute to the world — so long as we can find it within ourselves. I believe that people are kind at their core, and it's the world that makes them hard. I believe that deep down we know who the right people are. It's a feeling you can't describe or place, but you just know — they're the ones who matter, who will show up every time, who will be tied to you in this life. I believe we all have a light within us, and some of us either don't believe we're capable or we grew used to hiding it behind layers. There is no happy ending yet, but I’m alive, and that to me is good enough.’The poems own a savage beauty that are as sensitive as any poetry of our time, partly because of the innate gift of Kara’s talent, and in part due to the courage he has the strength to share. An example follows.ON THORNSthere is a thorn stuck in my leg.i ask you once then twice if you feel it,you tell me i've asked you this beforei sew my lips into a smile and you tell me it's the prettiest i've ever beenthere is a thorn stuck in my leg.i tell you i'm itching, itching,the kind of itch i can't escape from,the kind of itch that has no start,no end,and no middle at all.the kind of itch that makes me want to rip my skin offand you say i'm talking too muchso i turn the volume down on my brainand you thank me for the quietthere is a thorn stuck in my legor my armor my neckit's the same, i sayit's the sameeven if it isn'tthere is a thorn stuck in my legand i am buzzing, buzzing, buzzinguntil you ask if maybe i am the beeand i am the one who has stung herselfyou laugh but i think you're afraidthere is a thorn stuck in my leg—i am smilinga thorn—i am screaminga thorn— i am smilinga thorn—there is a thorn stuck in my legi'm laughing nowyou say it sounds like i'm cryingand you wish i would stopso i reach in with jagged handsand pull out my lungslaying them out like lovely flowers,laying them out like the reddest of roses,laying them out like only you could have seen,and you tell me,you tell me,it's the prettiest i've ever beenVery powerful works by an exceptional poet. Read these glimmers of sanity being carved from a world that makes little sense and the poems grow into your psyche – if you let them. Grady Harp, November 17

Kara Petrovic is a very young author. And a very talented one, in my personal opinion, having already added her poetry books to the list of things to keep an eye on.The poems reflect her struggle with some very serious Mental Illnesses, helping to raise attention to them. You can certainly feel the anguish and the pain in her words. She sounds very mature for her age and I’m sure writing helps her in the fight against her illness. This is very good writing, focused on her relationships with the spawn of 3 years, and you can see how each one of them affected the author. It is a very raw description of her feelings and how lonely and devastating it feels sometimes. It’s Kara Petrovic’s personal story and each word brings emotion to your reading. The style is quite amazing considering how young the author is. A very good reading that helps to shed some light on the world of those struggling with a mental illness.

Wow. This young pet is talented, honest, and exposing her deepest feelings in this book of poetry. Kara struggles with several ailments including PTSD, borderline personality disorder, and bipolar disorder - all that contribute to the struggles she lays bare for all of us to read. The writing is excellent. She is very gifted and some of the poems I read several times just to soak in everything she was explaining. This is emotional, raw, and honest explanations of Kara and her love for others, the love she has received, and heartbreak she has felt. Overall this is one of the best books of poetry I have read - it connects the reader to a deeper understanding and meaning that I cannot explain, but can only feel. This is not your silly, cheery, bubbly book of poetry. It is dark, deep,and meaningful. Definitely worth a read.

Kara Petrovic will take you on a heartbreaking journey as you read her collection of poems that work to help bring awareness to the problems that mental illnesses can cause. These poems look at various themes, like loneliness and anger, that help to provide the reader with an understanding of those who suffer from these horrendous illnesses as well as be a comfort to those who are suffering from them. The poems also look into her relationships as she reflects on those who had her best interests in mind and those who did not. The book is broken up into three parts that each have themes relating to this.At 173 pages, it might be a little long of a read for some people, but the poems are well-worth reading. They are descriptive and full of imagery which will help you to truly feel and consider the emotions being described.

The poems are profound and stir a lot of inner thoughts. The poems are not all light and cheery and can be painfully dark. This collection was put together by a young woman who struggles with bipolar disorder among other disabilities. Her strength and confidence can be seen in the collection and can inspire others to do their best.

Absolutely beautiful work! A must read that will open your eyes. What an amazing insight into the mind of someone with mental illness. The poems just blew me away with their details and information. I found that this book really helped me understand better what someone with mental illness goes through and how they see the world. The poetry was beautiful and really gave a fantastic view with how the author’s mind works. I imagine that the flow of the poems really reflexed the mental path of the author. I found that I could really understand and sympathize and hopefully communicate better with my friends and family with similar conditions. This was a fantastic read that I will be recommending to others, both friends and family. I really want to thank the author for creating this collection of work and hope that it helps others as well.

An eye-opening, if somewhat heartbreaking, look into what it's like to try and juggle the struggle of mental illness and manage relationships, and how the two are so interconnected. A good read for anyone trying to understand what it's like.

Beyond Rock Bottom: A Collection of Poetry by Kara Petrovic, is written by a 21 year old that struggles with PTSD and her diagnoses between Bipolar II Disorder and Borderline Personality. The collection spans across three years, looking at Kara's relationships from those who loved her, the ones that didn't, the ones she loved and the way she tried to love herself. All the poems cover topics ranging from heartbreak, emotions and coming to terms with a mental illness.Each poem is brutally honest and beautiful at the same time. There are times that some are hard to read but they have a way of making the reader understand. Everyone has been through a dark time in their life and can find a way of relating to something she has written about. It always helps others to understand how a mental illness can affect someone.There wasn't a favourite poem but I did enjoy reading her musings. For someone so young she's talented, I look forward to seeing what else she will publish.

There were some parts that simply shun out so brightly to me. This was exactly what I needed to read at the moment.

Eloquent, beautiful ... takes you to the centre of your suffering, and brings you through it with understanding and clarity. An honest and raw portrayal of the human condition in its beauty and its savagery.