Bibliography Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 1995. Been to Yesterdays: Poems of a Life. Ill. by Charlene Rendeiro. Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Wordsong. ISBN 1563974673 Review & Critical Analysis This book of poetry is a memoir of Lee Bennett Hopkins' childhood. Growing up in the 1950s, he faced painful events like his parents’ divorce, living in near poverty, and having an unstable home life. Through it all the love and memory of his grandmother and his desire to be a writer, kept young Hopkins going. These poems are emotional and full of personal, deep stories. Even though this title was published in 1995, the depth of its emotion speaks volumes to Hopkins work and provides a background that only enhances his success as a writer. Each of the poems in this book follow the story of young Lee Bennett Hopkins’ life. They are full of meaning and emotion, leaving a lasting impact on the reader. The book starts off with “Smile,” depicting the happy family of five having their picture made. The family packs and moves, and eventually Hopkins’ parents divorce, leaving his mother to care for him and his two younger siblings. The rhythm and rhyme is simple, but meaningful, creating a clear picture of the feelings Hopkins carried with him through his childhood, including the sadness he feels looking at his weary mother and missing his loving grandmother. The poems feel natural and are short enough to keep the reader’s attention while still creating a very vivid picture of Hopkins’ childhood. Even though the experiences in the poems may not be familiar to all readers, Hopkins does a wonderful job of using language and imagery that creates a realistic feeling. I kept returning to the “twenty-nine cent butter dish” from “Woolworth: Downtown Newark,” the gift Lee so greatly desired to give his mother. Every reader can relate to that feeling, desiring so greatly to make someone you love happy. Lee also learns about the power of words from his grandmother in “Clutching.” This book touches on multiple themes including racism, poverty, and death. Lee Bennett Hopkins is considered to be one of the prolific writers/editors and experts on poetry for children. This collection of poems by Hopkins himself is a powerful memoir. They are arranged in a way that tells the story of his childhood in an accessible, yet deeply personal way. Another feature of this book is the simple illustrations provided by Charlene Rendeiro that are used throughout the book. Hopkins also includes an index of all the poems at the end. Overall, this book is a wonderful memoir and collection of poems that tells the story of Lee Bennett Hopkins' childhood. As much as I enjoyed this title, the cover art is unappealing for young readers, as are the illustrations throughout. I understand the importance of Hopkins’ picture on the front, but it is just not enticing and does not match the wonderful, deep poems inside. If a reader can overlook that one small detail, a treasure of a memoir awaits, full of turmoil, heartbreak, and hope. Spotlight Poem JUST When everything seems to go along just fine Life comes by and throws you its line. This poem, on page 30, is very striking. Everyone can relate to this feeling and can draw on an experience that reflects this. It is short and simple, but the simplicity of the lines is not lost on the complexity of the feeling underneath. I would introduce this poem to students be reading it aloud. I would then give students a copy of the poem so they can see the simplicity of Hopkins’ lines. I would use this poem to discuss with students a time when life threw them a curveball. I would then read them the poem, “To,” found on page 62, where Hopkins ends his book by saying “To make this world a whole lot brighter, when I grow up I’ll be a writer.” Even when negative experiences happen to us, we can cling to our hopes and dreams. I would ask the students to reflect on positive ideas that can help them through times when they feel discouraged.
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AuthoRMy name is Mrs. Scott and I'm a secondary Media Resource Specialist (librarian) in Texas. This blog was created as part of my graduate coursework at Texas Woman's University. All reviews and opinions are my own. Archives
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