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annagonzalez26's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
squigleylib's review against another edition
5.0
Exquisite and tender writing. I listened to the audiobook, so I had the added pleasure of hearing Ms. Woodson read her own words. Highly recommend
emmalemonnz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I loved listening to this in Woodson's own voice.
This is a beautiful memoir of childhood, of belonging, of family, and of stories. The power of the novel in verse is vibrant and visceral.
It's about the importance of listening, of representation in literature, of finding your brilliance, and of telling your stories.
I love how Woodson's family stories are so central to her own. I love how a sense of place and the things you're told about the place you live, and your place in the world, are so clearly linked to self worth and belief in yourself.
I love the world through Woodson's lens.
This is a beautiful memoir of childhood, of belonging, of family, and of stories. The power of the novel in verse is vibrant and visceral.
It's about the importance of listening, of representation in literature, of finding your brilliance, and of telling your stories.
I love how Woodson's family stories are so central to her own. I love how a sense of place and the things you're told about the place you live, and your place in the world, are so clearly linked to self worth and belief in yourself.
I love the world through Woodson's lens.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Abandonment, Terminal illness, Grief, and Racism
Minor: Slavery
buttercupita's review against another edition
4.0
Really good, often powerful, poetic autobiography of a developing young writer in a complex family.
hannahsutherland's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
Because this is poetry and I am not a poetry girlie, this took me a little while to get into. However, I love that there are memoirs aimed at a middle grade audience that tackle such important topics and themes.
sam0hopkins's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
jencunn2024's review against another edition
5.0
This a an autobiographical YA novel written in Jacqueline Woodson’s poetic verse style. It is a family history written during the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. Themes covered include racial discrimination, segregation, social justice, religion (Jehovah’s Witness/Christianity/Islam/atheism, mixed beliefs), friendship, loss/grief, family, abandonment, overcoming adversity, economic struggle & adaptation, and political/social movements of the time. It also includes popular references of music, entertainment, and leadership of the 1960s and 1970s. It is told from her childhood perspective and is set in Ohio, South Carolina, and New York.