Title: Brown Girl Dreaming
Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Genre: Poetry, Autobiography
Themes: Social Awareness, Friendship, Self Management, Family, Women's History Month, Self Awareness, Relationship Skills, Black History Month, Decision Making, Award Winners
ISBN: 9780698195707
Publisher's Summary:
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson is a moving memoir told through verse, offering a deeply personal look at growing up as an African American girl in the 1960s and 1970s. Through powerful, accessible poems, Woodson shares her journey from her early years in Ohio to her childhood in South Carolina and later in Brooklyn, New York. The narrative explores family bonds, the complexities of identity, and the impact of history and place, all set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement and the remnants of Jim Crow laws.
Woodson's story resonates with themes of resilience, hope, and the power of words. As she navigates two very different worlds—the rural South with its traditions and her grandmother's faith, and the bustling, ever-changing North—she grapples with questions of belonging and self-expression. Young readers are invited to witness the author's discovery of her voice through storytelling, even as she faces challenges like racial discrimination, family shifts, and personal loss.
Brown Girl Dreaming not only provides an intimate portrait of a girl finding her place and purpose, but also serves as a window into a pivotal time in American history. Its poetic structure makes it a unique and engaging choice for classroom discussion, offering opportunities to explore poetry, memoir, social justice, and the importance of family and dreams. This book is a celebration of creativity and the ways in which stories can empower young people to understand themselves and shape the world around them.
