Brown Girl Dreaming

                                                                                 Book Review:

 

Bibliography-

Woodson, J. (2016). Brown girl dreaming. Nancy Paulsen Books.

ISBN 9780147515827

 

Plot Summary- 

In vivid poems, Woodson shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. 

 

Critical Analysis-

Brown Girl Dreaming is largely influenced by memory. Woodson shows how memory works, not only in her own life, but also in storytelling in general. A major thread of the story is the exploration of how Woodson’s relationship to memory changes as she grows up. The story focuses on the experience of growing up as an African American child during the 1960s and early 1970s, a period of intense energy and organization surrounding questions of race and racial justice. For Woodson, writing becomes a way of coming to terms with many of the painful aspects of her life; storytelling empowers her to change her relationship to her own memories, denying them their power to cause her pain. Other people’s capacity for storytelling soothes her and helps her find catharsis. Woodson examines what the North and the South mean to Jacqueline, and to African Americans in the 60s more generally, as she follows Jacqueline’s moves back and forth between the two regions. Throughout Jacqueline’s childhood, she moves between the North (Ohio and New York City) and the South (South Carolina). As she does so, both become home to her, but she develops different associations with each. The story is very culturally authentic, which is expected since it is a memoir.

 

Review Excerpts-

National Book Award Winner
Coretta Scott King Award Winner

“Mesmerizing journey through [Woodson’s] early years. . . . Her perspective on the volatile era in which she grew up is thoughtfully expressed in powerfully effective verse. . . . With exquisite metaphorical verse Woodson weaves a patchwork of her life experience . . . that covers readers with a warmth and sensitivity no child should miss. This should be on every library shelf.”—School Library Journal, starred review

“Woodson cherishes her memories and shares them with a graceful lyricism; her lovingly wrought vignettes of country and city streets will linger long after the page is turned. For every dreaming girl (and boy) with a pencil in hand (or keyboard) and a story to share.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

 

Connections-

-Have the students write a letter to a character. Tell them how you are similar or different. Tell them something you admire about them and why. This helps the students practice empathy.

-Students can choose a significant incident in the book and write a journal entry from a character’s point-of-view.

-Ask students to draw a symbol that best represents the book.

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