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lindseymbm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
carlisajc's review against another edition
4.0
JACQUELINE WOODSON AND NON-FICTION REQUIREMENTS.
Brown Girl Dreaming is a free-verse memoir written by Jacqueline Woodson about her life in South Carolina and then Brooklyn as a young, black girl.
This book is beautiful. I've come to realize that I have an affinity for free-verse novels just because of how powerful they can be in such a small amount of words. When you are more limited with your word count, you really have to choose every word carefully. Which word could make the most impact, which word could bring forth right emotion. Everything is considered, and you can see that is Woodson's story.
Memoirs are interesting because it's just a story of certain parts of her life. It's not like a fiction novel where a direct story is told, or a biography where the entire life is laid out. Instead Woodson picks and chooses what she wants her audience to see, thus shaping the experience we have. And it's a great experience. We see how different people have treated her because of her race in many different areas of the country, and even though we might never have experience what she did...we empathize. And that's what makes a great story.
Brown Girl Dreaming is a free-verse memoir written by Jacqueline Woodson about her life in South Carolina and then Brooklyn as a young, black girl.
This book is beautiful. I've come to realize that I have an affinity for free-verse novels just because of how powerful they can be in such a small amount of words. When you are more limited with your word count, you really have to choose every word carefully. Which word could make the most impact, which word could bring forth right emotion. Everything is considered, and you can see that is Woodson's story.
Memoirs are interesting because it's just a story of certain parts of her life. It's not like a fiction novel where a direct story is told, or a biography where the entire life is laid out. Instead Woodson picks and chooses what she wants her audience to see, thus shaping the experience we have. And it's a great experience. We see how different people have treated her because of her race in many different areas of the country, and even though we might never have experience what she did...we empathize. And that's what makes a great story.
rgoodhart's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written, this verse novel tells the story of the author’s life. Moving from Ohio to South Carolina, to NYC, it maps the changes in her life as she grows up, providing insight not only into her life but into some of the attitudes and changes she experienced in those societies.
It’s a gentle book, yet doesn’t shy away from some tough themes.
Through it all we see the importance of both place and family in making us the people we are, as well as the author’s growing determination to become a writer.
It’s a gentle book, yet doesn’t shy away from some tough themes.
Through it all we see the importance of both place and family in making us the people we are, as well as the author’s growing determination to become a writer.
joslynmyers's review against another edition
2.0
I personally wasn't a huge fan of the writing style, as I'm not a huge fan of poetry, but it was still beautifully written and a wonderful biography!
ttaylorthompson's review against another edition
5.0
I am usually not a fan of books written in poems, but this book was amazing. Really great book.
bhnmt61's review against another edition
5.0
Woodson’s moving story of a childhood that started in Ohio, moved to Greenville, SC, and ends up in Brooklyn. The format is free verse, which might be a little intimidating, but don’t let it stop you from reading this. It’s terrific.
thechanelmuse's review against another edition
5.0
Brown Girl Dreaming tells the story of Jacqueline Woodson's childhood in verse in the 1960s and 1970s, living amongst the remnants of Jim Crow, the growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement, and finding her voice within that space through writing stories.
Everyone knows my sister
is brilliant. The letters come home folded neatly
inside official-looking envelopes that my sister proudly
hands over to my mother.
Odella has achieved
Odella has excelled at
Odella has been recommended to
Odella’s outstanding performance in
She is gifted
we are told.
And I imagine presents surrounding her.
I am not gifted. When I read, the words twist
twirl across the page.
When they settle, it is too late.
The class has already moved on.
I want to catch words one day. I want to hold them
then blow gently,
watch them float
right out of my hands.
Just call her Jacqueline "Lyrical" Woodson, everybody. Her writing is always delightful.
Everyone knows my sister
is brilliant. The letters come home folded neatly
inside official-looking envelopes that my sister proudly
hands over to my mother.
Odella has achieved
Odella has excelled at
Odella has been recommended to
Odella’s outstanding performance in
She is gifted
we are told.
And I imagine presents surrounding her.
I am not gifted. When I read, the words twist
twirl across the page.
When they settle, it is too late.
The class has already moved on.
I want to catch words one day. I want to hold them
then blow gently,
watch them float
right out of my hands.
Just call her Jacqueline "Lyrical" Woodson, everybody. Her writing is always delightful.