Janet Fraser's vivid and passionate collection of poetry, Long Girl Leaning into the Wind, presents characters who do not settle easily into their lives. From the opening portraits of 'alien' June and 'flying' Ginger to the closing "Poem for a Star-Crossed Boy," Fraser reveals a deep empathy for the colourful misfits she portrays in language that varies from tightly controlled lyrics to sprawling narratives bursting with strong emotion.