You can't expect to harvest fruit without planting the seeds of a tree. This is the primary message of Earth Up Your Roots. With her collection of short stories, poems, and a play, noted author, poet, and human rights activist Selin Senol-Akin explores the different facets of human relationships, behaviors, and the past's influence on one's present and future. "The Ant" is a short story that follows a man who witnesses karma catching up to his former friend a decade after the last time they met. An indie author anxiously prepares to make the wish of a terminally ill young girl come true, only to be taken aback by an unexpected reveal. "The Driver" follows a Lyft driver's ride with a woman and her young son as he unwittingly entangles himself in a domestic violence situation reminiscent of his own childhood.

Selin Senol-Akin's writing gets better and better with each new project, just like fine wine. Earth Up Your Roots contains a moving collection of human interest stories, mesmerizing poems, and a play featuring Mata Hari that will leave you with a sense of emotional catharsis as only top-tier poetry and stories can. The book ends with a beautiful poem about realizing one's true potential and individuality through a relentless pursuit of the truth. Those stanzas encapsulate what this book is all about. Readers will find the stories fascinating as they touch upon universal themes everyone can relate to. Overall, Earth Up Your Roots is a book I will gladly recommend to readers who love human interest stories.

Earth Up Your Roots by Selin Senol Akin is an anthology of poems, short stories, and an original play. The book takes readers on a journey through time and place to understand the importance of self-acceptance. Different levels have different problems and various themes moving in separate directions. The book explores the flaws of cultures and takes a unique approach in explaining that not all issues can be dealt with superficially; some are deep-seated in our roots. But, just like a plant ripped with its roots intact can be replanted, humans are capable of living with the flaws of society and culture without damaging their morals. Nothing is unsalvageable, even people. Imperfections are part of human lives and are what everybody should embrace.

The stories highlight many aspects of human life that often go unnoticed. The poetic verses also align with the book's lessons. Moreover, the stories and play provide an extra dimension and explain the imperfections in the culture and society. Using the world's harsh truths, Earth Up Your Roots by Selin Senol Akin uniquely promotes healing. The twisted and open endings of the stories leave readers striving for more. The open end allows the reader to create hopeful endings and enhances their creative thinking skills. The well-developed stories play a significant part in the book's success. Overall, this anthology of stories, plays, and poems is incredibly written. With themes relating to trauma, harassment, and other social evils, the book is recommended for adult audiences and to anthology and poetry lovers.