Today’s review is about MADDENING MAST CELL MATHEMATICS by Sarah Klein. It’s a collection of poems about life with Ehlers-Danlos and mast cell activation syndromes.

Author: Sarah Klein
Series: None
Age Category: Adult
Publisher: Querencia Press, LLC
Publish Date: June 13, 2025
Print Length: 40

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Maddening Mast Cell Mathematics Synopsis

A collection of poetry about life with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and mast cell activation syndrome, two chronically neglected conditions. Not diagnosed until well into adulthood, the author shares their struggles and triumphs in the hopes of educating more people about the experience of these disorders.

Maddening Mast Cell Mathematics Review

I received a free, digital, advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is my own and reflects my honest opinion about this book.

While I’m not a big poetry reader, MADDENING MAST CELL MATHEMATICS caught my eye because it is about chronic illness. The synopsis touts the author’s hopes of educating the public more about Ehlers-Danlos (EDS) and mast cell activation (MCAS) syndromes through their collection of poems. This is a noble goal as few are probably aware of EDS and even fewer have heard of MCAS, the latter of which many physicans are unaware.

It is hard to review something so subjective and personal, but I would hesitate to say that these poems provide much in the way of education. They are written in a way that feels a bit abstract, sometimes referencing mathematical/scientific theories that I doubt much of the public know about. Thus, the poems are not broadly accessible, at least in terms of reading fr educational purposes. For the reader who enjoys analyzing poems, there is probably a lot to digest.

However, I love when I come across nonfiction as a whole that broadcasts lived experiences previously shunted to the side and ignored, particularly when it comes to medicine. It’s incredibly important to get these voices out there. So, though perhaps not acutely educational on these syndromes, the poems reflect the author’s pains and frustrations. They reflect the mental exhaustion of living with chronic illness, the frustration with American healthcare. One poem, “What Cannot Be Quantified Will Be Ignored,” turns the pain scale into a commentary on how much pain does one have to be in before taken seriously. Another poignant poem recalls her mother’s passing and how that love is what keeps her going and living. It was both sad and tender.

So, if you’re looking for something a little different, definitely pick up MADDENING MAST CELL MATHEMATICS. I’m glad I read it and hope to see more poetry about “taboo” topics and medical marginalization.

Rating: 3.75
Content warnings: chronic illness, death of a parent
Reading format: Kindle e-book