Bibliography Woodson, Jacqueline. 2014. Brown Girl Dreaming. New York: Nancy Paulsen Books. ISBN 9780399252518 Review & Critical Analysis Brown Girl Dreaming is an autobiographical collection of poems that tells the memories and stories of author Jacqueline Woodson’s life growing up. As Woodson recalls her childhood, writing in free verse, she also describes the joy she found in writing and what led her to become a writer. This book won many awards including the National Book Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Young Adult Fiction, and was also a Newbery Honor book. The free verse poems that make up this title have a natural and enjoyable rhythm to them. Woodson is able to tell the story of her life, starting as a baby in Ohio, with incredible imagery and emotion. Even though the poems are short, so much feeling is packed into each one. Woodson includes an author’s note at the end that describes her journey to retell these memories and stories, adding to the realism in each poem. As Woodson tells of her childhood in the South and the changes that were taking place during the Civil Rights Movement, you are transported to that time and place. The same happens as she describes her neighborhood in New York, her friend Maria, the Puerto Rican food she ate, the way writing made her feel, her love for her grandfather, and much more. This title is a powerful example of how poetry can create a story with vivid imagery and great emotional impact with just a few words. Even though Woodson’s life experiences may not be familiar to all readers, there are identifiable moments in each poem. The way she describes living in two worlds as a child is not only interesting, but really brings to light the struggle for true freedom that black families in the South felt. The words move the reader and transport you to that time and place. You can feel the red dirt and see it swirling at her feet, you can hear her grandfather’s voice singing loudly down the street, and you can smell the honeysuckle after a Southern rain storm. Woodson stimulates emotions and feelings that help readers connect to the poems and people in them. This book is arranged in five parts with an author’s note at the end. A family tree is also included to help the reader keep track of the characters and how they are connected. The arrangement allows the reader to flow through Woodson’s life in chronological order with titles for each part that tie to the overall idea of that section. The quality of the poems remains consistent, each poem adding another piece to the puzzle of Woodson’s life. This book was a fantastic read that I will share again and again with students. The rich imagery, colorful characters, and engaging writing creates an experience that transports you back in time, walking the journey of Woodson’s life alongside her. This book is a true treasure of poetry! Spotlight Poem When I Tell My Family When I tell my family I want to be a writer, they smile and say, We see you in the backyard with your writing. They say, We hear you making up all those stories. And, We used to write poems. And, It’s a good hobby, we see how quiet it keeps you. They say, But maybe you should be a teacher, a lawyer, do hair… I’ll think about it, I say. And maybe all of us know this is just another one of my stories. This poem, found on page 229, was one that I really connected with. So often in life, the people around us, even those we love, half-listen to our dreams and suggest others in their place. When students speak to me about their plans for college and life, I whole-heartedly try to support them and encourage them to follow their heart. This is an idea and a feeling that most of us have experienced. Whether we were five and wanted to be a princess, or twenty-five and wanted to be a writer, we have all shared our dreams with others without reinforcement or with negation at some point in our lives. I would introduce this poem to students by first having them write their biggest dream on a piece of paper just for themselves. I would read the poem aloud and reflect/discuss how other people influence our dreams and ideas of what we can accomplish. I would then have students think of a time this has happened to them, look at their dream on their paper, and brainstorm ways that they can support the dreams and ideas of others while achieving their own.
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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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