BOOK REVIEW: WORDS WITH WINGS by Nikki Grimes

Welcome to Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (MMGM), a weekly event hosted by author Shannon Messenger. For a list of other MMGM posts, click HERE .
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WORDS WITH WINGS
Nikki Grimes
WordSong (Boyds Mills Press)
Ages 8 - 12
84 pp.

Gaby daydreams to tune out her parents’ arguments, but when her parents divorce and she begins a new school, daydreaming gets her into trouble. Her mother scolds her for it, her teacher keeps telling her to pay attention, and the other kids tease her...until she finds a friend who also daydreams and her teacher decides to work a daydreaming-writing session into every school day. With a notebook “thick with daydreams,” Gaby grows more confident about herself and her future. This verse novel poignantly celebrates the power of writing and the inspiration a good teacher can deliver.

MY REVIEW: 

This slim little volume packs an emotional punch. Reminiscent of Sharon Creech's Love That Dog (which I loved) Words with Wings explores a child's sense of loss when her parents divorce and she begins attending a new school. Escaping into a world of daydreams, Gaby worries about many things: if she'll ever meet a new best friend, if she'll get in trouble with her teacher, will she see her father again. These little poems are not overly sentimental, yet they reveal a compelling story with which many young readers will relate. And it's a wonderful way to introduce children to contemporary poetry. I admit I got a bit teary-eyed at the end and can recommend this book with confidence.



CONTENT RATING:

Violence - None
Profanity - None
Sexuality - None