Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

187 reviews

shaniac's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

Maya Angelou was truly the greatest of her time. Every other page changed the way I think about life. This book is a gift to the world.

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sandysmith's review against another edition

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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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