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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