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lindsayb's review against another edition
4.0
Really cool presentation of this historic area. I don't think I knew about the Seneca Village before reading this. As expected, Nelson gives it a beautiful treatment.
smlaurie's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
The inspiration for this book is interesting, and as a history nerd, I appreciated the author’s process, but the poems themselves felt flat to me. I would have appreciated a fully developed narrative story.
2023 PopSugar Reading Challenge #26: The shortest book on your TBR list.
peachykeenebooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
4.75
yapha's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fascinating history told through a series of poems. It felt like I was reading a play, the way each vignette was set up. The poems are beautifully written and really give a flavor of the time and all that was lost when Seneca Village was destroyed to create Central Park. I am not sure why this is being talked about as a children's book, however. It does not strike as a book for children at all.
stenaros's review against another edition
4.0
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I loved both the concept and the execution of this book of short poems inspired by Nelson's research about Seneca Village, which now is known as Central Park in New York City, but prior to the 1850s was a diverse community of free blacks, Irish immigrants and others.
Nelson's poems are easily accessible for tweens and above. I would suggest reading the book in one sitting (completely doable) so as to best follow the through-line of the stories.
I loved both the concept and the execution of this book of short poems inspired by Nelson's research about Seneca Village, which now is known as Central Park in New York City, but prior to the 1850s was a diverse community of free blacks, Irish immigrants and others.
Nelson's poems are easily accessible for tweens and above. I would suggest reading the book in one sitting (completely doable) so as to best follow the through-line of the stories.
lrcartee's review against another edition
4.0
Seneca Village was the first community of African America property owners. It as located on the Upper West Side in an area that is now part of Central Park. A viable community with a school, businesses and three churches that was acquired by eminent domain and whose inhabitants were forced to leave by 1857 for the creation of the park.
The book is a collection of poems told by the citizens imagined by Mary Nelson depicting of their lives and livelihoods during their time living in Seneca Village.
This unique little book offers a glimpse into a little known place in history.
The book is a collection of poems told by the citizens imagined by Mary Nelson depicting of their lives and livelihoods during their time living in Seneca Village.
This unique little book offers a glimpse into a little known place in history.
wordnerd153's review against another edition
2.0
Having never heard about Seneca Village, I was intrigued by the subject matter, and I generally really enjoy novels in verse, but the execution fell flat. There were so many characters that I didn't feel connected to any of them and, therefore, didn't become invested in their lives and the destruction of the Village.
readitcourt's review against another edition
4.0
Nonfiction verse-almost-novel about Seneca Village the mostly African American neighborhood that was razed to help in the creation of Central Park. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about a part of history that I knew nothing about, but I also really enjoyed seeing the recurring characters grow over the time that the poems covered.
e_tully4's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting in terms of how it was written and the actual material-yay historical fiction!
lindsayb's review against another edition
4.0
Really cool presentation of this historic area. I don't think I knew about the Seneca Village before reading this. As expected, Nelson gives it a beautiful treatment.