A Wreath for Emmett Till (Boston Globe-Horn Book Honors (Awards))
by Marilyn Nelson
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Read in January, 2008
The book that I read was "A Wreath for Emmett Till" the story was about a selection of short poems explained in deep meaning in the back of the book it gave the meaning of each short poem that related to Emmett Till. In the book it described the struggles of African-Americans back then and the separation of white and blacks also the world's reaction to the slaying of Emmett Till.It all happened by one day when young Emmett Till was in a store he whistled at a white woman who was ...more
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Linda by:
I had read her book about Washington Carverrecommends it for: anyone wanting to learn about the Civil Rights Movement in a new way
This book, with Ms. Nelson's finely wrought lines and Mr. Lardy's stark and symbolic imagery accompanying the sonnets, is a work of art. These 15 sonnets evoke our feelings of loss, disgust and pain associated with Emmett Till. To accomplish such a feat is rare, to do it again and again is a remarkable achievement. This book begs us to question, ask us to act, to speak, to see that brings history alive and into our lives in a very relevant way.
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While I appreciated the often stunning poetry of this volume, something about it was "off." The art is far too juvenile for the text offered by this title, treating the hanging of Emmett Till and racism with complex poetry ripe with literary allusions and classical style. In the end, I think it will lose some of its appeal to both kids and teens, despite the need for material dealing with this subject matter.
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Read in May, 2008
I read this book b/c a patron asked me to pull it for a hold. It is INCREDIBLE! The format is called a heroic crown of sonnets, which is a series of 15 sonnets, where the last sonnet uses the 1st lines of the previous 14 sonnets to create final message. I have always been interested in the story of Emmet Till, and this book captures so much of the story from several different viewpoints. A MUST READ!
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recommends it for:
English and History teachers/students
I'm always impressed by anyone who can write a sonnet, keeping the correct meter, rhyme scheme, etc. This is even more impressive because the last line of each sonnet becomes the first line of the next, AND all the sonnets together tell a story. I use this book in my poetry unit and a civil rights unit.
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Read in January, 2007
Nelson uses a heroic crown of sonnets (a sequence of fifteen inter-linked sonnets) to tell the story of a fourteen-year-old African American boy’s death by lynching in 1955. These are incredibly moving sonnets about a horrendous death.
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Read in July, 2008
A book written in sonnet-form about a young African-American who was murdered for whistling at a white lady by a group of five men. This book is a masterpiece with carefully crafted sonnets that are highly symbolic. Very powerful!
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Read in January, 2007
In poetry form, this book describes the true background and lynching of 14 year-old Emmett Till in Mississippi when he was accused of whistling at a white woman. Painful yet beautiful this is one book worth buying.
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Read in May, 2008
An beautifully illustrated memorial to a teen that was falsely lynched in the early 50's. Although the book was truly beautiful visually, at times I felt confused by the poems.
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Read in September, 2005
recommends it for:
teens and adults wanting to know more about emmett till
"Wreath" of poems about Emmett Till. Packs a real punch, but also deals with this tragic story in a beautiful way. AMAZING feat by Nelson! Don't miss this YA gem.
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Read in August, 2006
A moving bunch of poems about the martyred boy, well deserving of the Coretta Scott King Award it received.
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Read in February, 2008
Emotional book of poems about Emmett Till's murder and the events following. Highly recommend to anyone.
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Read in April, 2008
re-read in order to write booktalk for NoveList
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2006 Printz Honor Book
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