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bibliokris's review against another edition
4.0
A well-written, heartfelt exploration, via poetry, of Seneca Village, Manhattan's first sizable African-American community. It existed from 1825-1857, when the houses and buildings were taken by the state to build Central Park. Using historical documents and her imagination, Nelson creates families, love stories and the feel of a real town. Nelson's books also explore the poetic structure and introduce young readers to Nelson's methods and artistry. Beautiful, bittersweet and worth reading. For ages 10 through adult.
livingpalm1's review against another edition
5.0
Another enjoyable series of Marilyn Nelson's imaginative and heartwarming verse (which I've just learned can be referenced as lyric histories. How delightful!) inspired by the real lives, work, and suffering of a community of people I'd never heard of before. I appreciated the brief description preceding each poem that served almost as a screenplay to help me imagine what the poem invited me to see. Now I want to visit Central Park with their stories in my heart and mind. I also want to know a whole lot more about the real-life New York City residents of Seneca Village.
libscote's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't know anything about Seneca Village until reading this book, which is shameful. Who hasn't heard of Central Park? It also reminded me of Malaga Island here in Maine, where a community of free black people were relocated to improve the view.
Anyway, Nelson's poetry, each prefaced by a statement setting the scene, shows you the bustling life of Seneca Village between the 1820s and late 1850s. People dream, die, fall in love and explore. The Fugitive Slave Act and violence hovers around the edges, but life seems pretty normal.
I would personally shelve this in a YA collection, as I think that base knowledge of the slave trade and the upcoming Civil War would enhance the reading.
Anyway, Nelson's poetry, each prefaced by a statement setting the scene, shows you the bustling life of Seneca Village between the 1820s and late 1850s. People dream, die, fall in love and explore. The Fugitive Slave Act and violence hovers around the edges, but life seems pretty normal.
I would personally shelve this in a YA collection, as I think that base knowledge of the slave trade and the upcoming Civil War would enhance the reading.
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