Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

147 reviews

madde's review against another edition

medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, and Pedophilia

sandysmith's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

I certainly want to read more of her memoir, particularly her involvement with Malcom X and Martin Luther King. However, this book is about her early life from age 6 to about 17, growing up with her brother, and they were brought up mainly by their grandma. A beautiful lyrical prose and writing style. Read as part of my banned book series it's one of my favourites I've read so far. Yes, it explores racism, rape and molestation but it's so sensitively written and in the context of her growing up. It's her memoir, after all, and testament to the strong black woman she becomes. Would I ban it? Absolutely not. Would I let my children read it? Absolutely, for it has many discussion points and such wonderful writing. The only negative thing for me is the books title, as singing caged birds are not mentioned in the text, nor is understanding why they do so. I can come to my own conclusions re the title, metaphor, or descriptive, but I wanted the title to be more reflective of the book itself rather than my lacking interpretation. That aside wonderful wonderful stuff.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Racial slurs, Racism, Child abuse, and Rape

julia815's review

challenging hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault

samburkhouse's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Racism

meaghanelizabook's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Racial slurs, Racism, and Child abuse

Minor: Death

abception's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Ableism and Abandonment

Minor: Alcohol, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Dysphoria, Pregnancy, Racism, and Classism

misssleepy's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

This was on my tbr for 2024 because of its place as a classic in American literature. 

I really loved hearing the story be told in Maya Angelou’s voice. She has a very soothing and deep voice that added depth to the story.

There were very challenging chapters in this book, but they were told with the perspective and understanding of a child. Her honesty and child-like writing style created a unique perspective that one can only really experience through writing. 

Chapter 29 is one I hope to visit again. The ending describes the difference in attitudes towards illegality and crime by white and black Americans. It then works its way until the differences in how they use langue. It’s a striking and honest encapsulation of the Black experience from a perspective that maybe white people don’t dare to explore or ponder.

This book has motivated me to want to continue to read more of Angelou’s work and I think I will start making an effort to read one of her works each year.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Child abuse

evella_epub's review against another edition

challenging hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.25

Wonderful book overall, and a beautiful, ending to a story that starts uncertain of itself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault

Moderate: Violence and Murder

Minor: Sexual harassment

violetends's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Child abuse, and Rape

Moderate: Pregnancy

mirandaleighhhh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.0

Ohhhhhhhh wow. What a treat to listen to Maya Angelou tell her story (and even sing!). This was very difficult to listen to in the beginning pertaining to what happened when she was 8 years old, and I had to take a break before journeying on. I loved how she mentioned her journey with reading since she was very young, and I was flabbergasted at some of her experiences (the junk yard!). This is an important read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, Racism, Murder, Racial slurs, and Violence