Historical Fiction Poetry YA

Review of “brown girl dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson

This book is written in verse and beautiful. This novel is really important for YA and adults to read alike. I am reviewing this book with a 4.5 star review.

This is her memoir as a child growing up in South Carolina and Brooklyn as a young black girl in the 60s and 70s. She discusses where she is living, family, her thoughts, historical events, etc.

I loved this book. Her words were profound and though invoking. She used powerful and vivid images. I caught myself writing down a lot of her words. I never do that with any book that I read. I just loved the way she described things like her family. For example, she writes:

Look closely. There I am

In the furrow of Jack’s brow,

In the slyness of Alicia’s smile,

In the bend of Grace’s hand….

There I am….

Beginning.  

I think this book is important to read and even resonates with what is in the news today. I also felt like writing this story in the POV as a child was great; the innocence, discovering yourself, family, history, how she views others/herself, etc. was just so great. When you see the world through a child’s eyes, it is full of innocence and coming of age moments. Needless to say, I will be referring this book to others for years and years.

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