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A Little Piece of Sky: A Novel
A poignant, powerful debut that combines the deep emotion of The House on Mango Street with uniquely creative storytelling, painting a story of survival and healing.
Unfolding in a series of vignettes, A Little Piece of Sky introduces an endearing new novelist and a truly unforgettable main character--Song Byrd, a young girl who keenly reports on the world around her. She is African American in a mostly Hispanic neighborhood and the unwanted product of an adulterous affair. While she is poor in the material sense, Song is extraordinarily rich in spirit and it is that inner strength which saves her.
In piercingly insightful prose, Nicole Bailey-Williams takes readers on Song’s journey through life as she struggles with feeling like an outsider and intense guilt over her mother’s murder. Behind it all, places of pure joy, “dreaming the hurt away,” and glorious little pieces of sky shine through. Song’s tales--and Bailey-Williams’s narrative gift--are truly words to treasure.
Unfolding in a series of vignettes, A Little Piece of Sky introduces an endearing new novelist and a truly unforgettable main character--Song Byrd, a young girl who keenly reports on the world around her. She is African American in a mostly Hispanic neighborhood and the unwanted product of an adulterous affair. While she is poor in the material sense, Song is extraordinarily rich in spirit and it is that inner strength which saves her.
In piercingly insightful prose, Nicole Bailey-Williams takes readers on Song’s journey through life as she struggles with feeling like an outsider and intense guilt over her mother’s murder. Behind it all, places of pure joy, “dreaming the hurt away,” and glorious little pieces of sky shine through. Song’s tales--and Bailey-Williams’s narrative gift--are truly words to treasure.
- GenresFiction
176 pages, Paperback
Published October 8, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 23, 2010
Ick. Just ick. Usually when I met or read about a racist I get angry. With this one I just felt saddened. I felt pity. It's all so obvious and Bailey-Williams doesn't think it is.
If this woman were my high school teacher I would have demanded to be in a different class. I'd love to know which school she works at. This woman should not be teaching our children. She shouldn't be allowed to train a dog IMO.
Let's keep it simple. I understand the book. Frankly, I wish I didn't. But, I do. And I've never, in the whole of my life, read a book so beautiful and so ugly at the same time. The author deserves a pat on the back because, really, that's no small feat.
She's obviously educated on one hand and extremely uneducated on the other. I don't care who this book is "targeted" to. I read books not "targeted" to me all the time. I can deal with race issues, even issues that most would assume I couldn't deal with without anger if there is some reason for it and if it's done well.
What is the reasoning here? Racist remarks? Why? Because the white man is holding her down? Give me a fucking break. How about her talking about her ugly dark skin? It was painfully obvious that while this story is fiction it's coming from the author in a way not unlike non-fiction. Song's hangups are Bailey-Williams' hangups. You'd have to be blind not to see it. So, about her "ugly dark black skin". The author photo shows a woman damn near as white as me. What does she know about feeling ugly about her dark skin?
Sounds to me like the author has real identity/emotional/mental problems. She probably takes whatever "advantages" she can that come from her light skin all the while yelling about how being black is holding her back. Maybe she needs an identity because she's not happy with who she is?
pg. 29 - "Wisdom sits at the tables of Black women. It also occupies a seat at the tables of Latinas as well." What, praytell, sits at the tables of white women? Stupidity? Ignorance? Come the fuck on. The only part in the book, besides the racist remarks against whites where Bailey-Williams needed to shoulder up against another race in the fight, is that the family supposedly lives in a Latina neighborhood. Besides that the story is all about black people. Okay. So why is everything against whites alone? Spanish people are cool! Indians are awesome! Whites are the DEVIL!! Grrrrr... watch out for the white people!
Song's brother gets put away for raping an elderly lady. Now, in case anyone needs a reminder here you go: HE RAPED AN ELDERLY LADY. Yet, Song is upset that the judge "judged him". Yes, society would be better if we just put rapists in a plush hotel room with unlimited amounts of money and women and drugs so they can live the good life.
Before this Song is "overlooked" by the judge on the street when she reported a fire and he thanked them both yet hugged her lighter friend. Hmmm, maybe, just maybe, could it be possible that it wasn't about dark skin? That maybe, just maybe, something else came into play for him to make the choice on who to hug? Taking two seconds I can think of 4 possible other reasons yet in the story Bailey-Williams had to make it racist. Of course. Because she's an uneducated, racist pig.
pg 127 tells the differences between living in a white world and a black world. Apparently here in the white world our check cashing places don't charge to cash the check. They give their services to us for free. They only charge black people those fees. Why? Can anyone guess? Duh! Because all white people are racist and we're trying to hold black people down!
Give me a fucking break! I want to vomit. The only thing that scared me more than what this author believes is the (few) high ratings for this book. It scares me that people aren't seeing through this like I did. I know I'm more attentive to race issues than a lot of people but only a little common sense is needed to see all this here.
Nicole Bailey-Williams is equal to a KKK member in my eyes. The only difference is her skin is slightly darker. That's it. KKK members hate blacks and Bailey-Williams hates whites and they both do it for no reason.
oh, oh, oh, oh,
see you right there like you're bathin' in Windex,
oh, oh, oh, oh,
you on your job, you're hatin' hard,
oh, oh, oh, oh...
:-D
If this woman were my high school teacher I would have demanded to be in a different class. I'd love to know which school she works at. This woman should not be teaching our children. She shouldn't be allowed to train a dog IMO.
Let's keep it simple. I understand the book. Frankly, I wish I didn't. But, I do. And I've never, in the whole of my life, read a book so beautiful and so ugly at the same time. The author deserves a pat on the back because, really, that's no small feat.
She's obviously educated on one hand and extremely uneducated on the other. I don't care who this book is "targeted" to. I read books not "targeted" to me all the time. I can deal with race issues, even issues that most would assume I couldn't deal with without anger if there is some reason for it and if it's done well.
What is the reasoning here? Racist remarks? Why? Because the white man is holding her down? Give me a fucking break. How about her talking about her ugly dark skin? It was painfully obvious that while this story is fiction it's coming from the author in a way not unlike non-fiction. Song's hangups are Bailey-Williams' hangups. You'd have to be blind not to see it. So, about her "ugly dark black skin". The author photo shows a woman damn near as white as me. What does she know about feeling ugly about her dark skin?
Sounds to me like the author has real identity/emotional/mental problems. She probably takes whatever "advantages" she can that come from her light skin all the while yelling about how being black is holding her back. Maybe she needs an identity because she's not happy with who she is?
pg. 29 - "Wisdom sits at the tables of Black women. It also occupies a seat at the tables of Latinas as well." What, praytell, sits at the tables of white women? Stupidity? Ignorance? Come the fuck on. The only part in the book, besides the racist remarks against whites where Bailey-Williams needed to shoulder up against another race in the fight, is that the family supposedly lives in a Latina neighborhood. Besides that the story is all about black people. Okay. So why is everything against whites alone? Spanish people are cool! Indians are awesome! Whites are the DEVIL!! Grrrrr... watch out for the white people!
Song's brother gets put away for raping an elderly lady. Now, in case anyone needs a reminder here you go: HE RAPED AN ELDERLY LADY. Yet, Song is upset that the judge "judged him". Yes, society would be better if we just put rapists in a plush hotel room with unlimited amounts of money and women and drugs so they can live the good life.
Before this Song is "overlooked" by the judge on the street when she reported a fire and he thanked them both yet hugged her lighter friend. Hmmm, maybe, just maybe, could it be possible that it wasn't about dark skin? That maybe, just maybe, something else came into play for him to make the choice on who to hug? Taking two seconds I can think of 4 possible other reasons yet in the story Bailey-Williams had to make it racist. Of course. Because she's an uneducated, racist pig.
pg 127 tells the differences between living in a white world and a black world. Apparently here in the white world our check cashing places don't charge to cash the check. They give their services to us for free. They only charge black people those fees. Why? Can anyone guess? Duh! Because all white people are racist and we're trying to hold black people down!
Give me a fucking break! I want to vomit. The only thing that scared me more than what this author believes is the (few) high ratings for this book. It scares me that people aren't seeing through this like I did. I know I'm more attentive to race issues than a lot of people but only a little common sense is needed to see all this here.
Nicole Bailey-Williams is equal to a KKK member in my eyes. The only difference is her skin is slightly darker. That's it. KKK members hate blacks and Bailey-Williams hates whites and they both do it for no reason.
oh, oh, oh, oh,
see you right there like you're bathin' in Windex,
oh, oh, oh, oh,
you on your job, you're hatin' hard,
oh, oh, oh, oh...
:-D
March 20, 2007
fastest darned book I've ever read! To the point and poetic.
May 31, 2018
What provides hope to a young girl locked in a bathroom waiting for her mother to come home? It is the little piece of sky she can see through the broken skylight. As we follow Song as she grows from a scarred ten year old child to a successful young woman, we feel her pain and disillusionment and fleeting contact with hope.
There are a few "coincidences" which would normally drive me crazy but were unable to detract from the beauty of the story.
There are a few "coincidences" which would normally drive me crazy but were unable to detract from the beauty of the story.
August 25, 2015
NOTHING LIKE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET but This book was a good read, but I should have finished it much sooner than I took the time to. Most of the symbolism Song talks about in her story with the dreams of her mom are understandable, but others aren't. The poem titled "Azul" is also a great part of the book. What I love the most about this short read is that it's told from the 1st POV, so I'm not reliant on an unreliable narrator. While Song is finding and understanding herself, so is the audience. The imagery used when talking about her own skin is captivating. When she speaks about her hair, I can relate to what she says and at times maybe even how she feels about her own hair. With the low self esteem is an uprising of some sort of self esteem, although it isn't really talked about.
I wish I could have known more about Song's siblings than I did, but especially her brother and her sister Caramia. They were introduced in the story as troublemakers, but i would have appreciated some flashbacks to them. Also, Olga is a favorite character of mine. She brings the tough love to the table that Song needed while growing up with her mother. A few of the stories in here could have been more developed, like her relationship with her father and how that grew. The relationship with her father's wife and how that grew despite her being a product of an affair and coming to live with someone who isn't her own mom.
Bottom line - I would read this book again. Don't trust other reviews about this book being "racist." It's a ridiculous claim and anyone who sees that is looking to find fault in Black literature, which is saddening.
I wish I could have known more about Song's siblings than I did, but especially her brother and her sister Caramia. They were introduced in the story as troublemakers, but i would have appreciated some flashbacks to them. Also, Olga is a favorite character of mine. She brings the tough love to the table that Song needed while growing up with her mother. A few of the stories in here could have been more developed, like her relationship with her father and how that grew. The relationship with her father's wife and how that grew despite her being a product of an affair and coming to live with someone who isn't her own mom.
Bottom line - I would read this book again. Don't trust other reviews about this book being "racist." It's a ridiculous claim and anyone who sees that is looking to find fault in Black literature, which is saddening.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2009
This book was about a girl named Song. She had a terrible childhood, until she had to move to her dad and stepmoms house, because of her mother’s murder death. Ever since she moved to her dads house her life has become successful and worth it. I really enjoyed this book, because it showed me how abandoned song felt and was without her dad throughout her childhood and her mother,brothers and sisters way of showing song non-loveble effection. I would recommend this book to anyone who reads this review.
January 9, 2008
About survival and healing, this book is told by a young African American girl named Song Byrd. The chapter's titles reflect her thoughts, which gives the reader an even closer look into her life. The story is about Song's evolution; surrounded by tragedy and darkness, she grew up to eventually create her own light. Simply told, yet powerful. Thumbs up on this one.
January 9, 2014
Hauntingly beautiful - Each tiny chapter is almost like a diary entry revealing a young woman's troubled past and her blessed future. It is amazing how the author pulls you slowly into the story and weaves the pieces together. There is hurt, anger, confusion, and despair, but above all HOPE.
July 10, 2007
girl moving from troubled childhood to adulthood, told in a series of poetic vingettes
January 27, 2008
its a sad book. but truly inspiring. shows how life can be for certain people.
May 10, 2012
Beautifully written and moving. The author was my 9th grade English teacher and she is a very lovely person.
December 28, 2012
Eloquently written in short simple prose. Very quick read (I read it in a couple of hours).
November 26, 2020
“I wish I could be enough”
- - -
We meet 10 year old Song Byrd living amongst poverty in Philadelphia within a family thats divided, angry and dispersed . Yet all Song wants them to do is reciprocate her unconditional love .
As she deals with the heart breaking reality that her love and unending forgiveness is not enough , she trapped in the bathroom crawling with roaches as an audible witness to a murder.
The book starts out so amazing it pains me how it just seems so rushed and the ending too soon that I couldn’t love this! There are some amazing moments here in regards to Songs relationship with Ms. Olga and her fight to love her family regardless of their actions that continually shame and hurt her .
But the story seems unfinished.
The poetic prose could standalone as individual poems but the foundation of the story seems unfinished and rushed to an ending filled with cliche and coincidences that leave you rolling your eyes.
But the beginning is so strong that I could just scream that the story and characters weren’t given the room to develop properly .
I’ve just reconciled to considering this a book of poems that happen to come together titled a little piece of sky.
-Kori
- - -
We meet 10 year old Song Byrd living amongst poverty in Philadelphia within a family thats divided, angry and dispersed . Yet all Song wants them to do is reciprocate her unconditional love .
As she deals with the heart breaking reality that her love and unending forgiveness is not enough , she trapped in the bathroom crawling with roaches as an audible witness to a murder.
The book starts out so amazing it pains me how it just seems so rushed and the ending too soon that I couldn’t love this! There are some amazing moments here in regards to Songs relationship with Ms. Olga and her fight to love her family regardless of their actions that continually shame and hurt her .
But the story seems unfinished.
The poetic prose could standalone as individual poems but the foundation of the story seems unfinished and rushed to an ending filled with cliche and coincidences that leave you rolling your eyes.
But the beginning is so strong that I could just scream that the story and characters weren’t given the room to develop properly .
I’ve just reconciled to considering this a book of poems that happen to come together titled a little piece of sky.
-Kori
October 31, 2020
All I can say is WOW! I finished it in 2 hours!
As soon as you read the first sentence; 'My mother was always running away, I suppose it's natural because she comes from a long line of runners"... You are catapulted into the mind and heart of the protagonist Song Byrd. The words on the page, like a bird - sings you a song that tunes out everything around you and keeps you mesmerised page by page.
Although only 155 pages in length and brief chapters, there are so many themes explored. Generational curses, colourism, substance addiction, childhood trauma, poverty, grief, absent fathers, resilient women, triumph, love, courage, infertility and infidelity and so much more all cleverly weaved together in a way that It feels so personal, so vulnerable that I almost feel like I've opened someone's diary and violated their privacy.
This is a book of fiction, but the way it is written is so heartfelt and authentic it feels like the accounts within have got to be based on reality. They don't say real recognise real for nothing.
By page 109 seeing Song's transformation into womanhood makes me feel as though I too can see a little bit of sky.
As soon as you read the first sentence; 'My mother was always running away, I suppose it's natural because she comes from a long line of runners"... You are catapulted into the mind and heart of the protagonist Song Byrd. The words on the page, like a bird - sings you a song that tunes out everything around you and keeps you mesmerised page by page.
Although only 155 pages in length and brief chapters, there are so many themes explored. Generational curses, colourism, substance addiction, childhood trauma, poverty, grief, absent fathers, resilient women, triumph, love, courage, infertility and infidelity and so much more all cleverly weaved together in a way that It feels so personal, so vulnerable that I almost feel like I've opened someone's diary and violated their privacy.
This is a book of fiction, but the way it is written is so heartfelt and authentic it feels like the accounts within have got to be based on reality. They don't say real recognise real for nothing.
By page 109 seeing Song's transformation into womanhood makes me feel as though I too can see a little bit of sky.
October 20, 2020
There is a lot to like in this slim volume. Song is a strong and engaging protagonist, and while her struggles and challenges are immense, she still manages to find the beauty in herself. While the poverty and violence in Song's life are not glossed over, they also never completely take over the narrative.
November 17, 2017
Song
A very short five Star read, this is a self exam thought provoking well written book. It shows what can happen in childhood to shove you eventually into your adult broke self!
A very short five Star read, this is a self exam thought provoking well written book. It shows what can happen in childhood to shove you eventually into your adult broke self!
December 16, 2025
had to read for school. it was easier to understand then the other books in school. the ending is super cute.
November 16, 2015
I gave this one 4/5 stars. It may seem that I give that rating to most books, but I view different books differently. I wasn't reading this one to compare it to Alice Munro's works or the Bronte sisters. I got this one for free from a library after their annual book sale. As I'm working on my Ed.M in English education, I have a strong interest in middle grade and young adult books. This one was very lyrical and dealt with some rough issues. It follows Song throughout her life, but there's not too much detail given. I feel that not having too much detail leaves room for a teacher or mentor to guide students in learning about the issues or even to not discuss the issue given the students' maturity level. I can't say it was one of the better books I read this year, but I feel that it would be one I could incorporate into the classroom.
September 5, 2013
I am sorry to say that I did no enjoy this book. I read it because I'm doing a part of it for my drama class. I really just couldn't get into the way that Son though. Sorry ;/
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July 1, 2008
As sad as it was for this girl who lived a crappy life in the ghetto to lose her mother, thank goodness her wealthy daddy and his wife could take her in and raise her so she could have a better life, even if she spent the rest of her life wondering about herself.
March 13, 2011
I liked this book. Would actually give it 3.5 stars if possible. Wished it would have gone into more depth, just seemed too short to me. Song Byrd's hope and resilience is truly touching and inspirational.
May 23, 2008
I wanted to like it, I really did. It lacked something, like maybe more than one or two musical notes, and it was predictable.
May 8, 2011
A quick, somewhat powerful and very poetic read about Song Byrd's rise from a life of suffering. I liked it a lot, but it was almost too quick and I wanted something more.
August 1, 2011
Quick read but a very nice one. Lots of lovely little moments to sit and ponder. I recommended it to a lot of friends in hard times and they really enjoyed it too.
February 15, 2013
A quick, easy read.
Read
March 2, 2015This book to me through the motions. I was breathless in some chapters, a great book. It makes you feel like you are apart of the book! ..I am so happy I chose this book! I was pleased
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews