Brown Girl Dreaming in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Feb 16, 2020 Jessica Haider rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: poetry, bipoc-author, memoir, bookriot_2020

Jacqueline Woodson's memoir in verse is targeted at a middle grade audience however, it probably isn't something that my middle grade reader would pick up on his own. I listened to the audio book myself today as I was straightening the house and doing laundry and it was great. The author read it herself, which is as it should be with poetry.

Woodson tells of her childhood split between South Caroline and NYC with her 3 siblings...and of her discovery of her love of writing.

This book counts towa ...more

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Jan 21, 2015 Melle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: grief, juvenile, nonfiction, poetry, new-york, ohio, black-panthers, african-american, ny-new-york, children

One of the most powerful, personal, beautiful books I have ever read -- an autobiography of a girl growing up in the Deep South and in New York City during the Civil Rights movement. Rich, layered, raw, well-crafted, gorgeous, accessible, emotional, thoughtful, historical, timeless, and perfect -- can't think of a more deserving title for the National Book Award. (The poems featuring her grandfather are outstanding; I will have a lump in my throat for the rest of the week.) Read this book, revel ...more

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Aug 28, 2015 Lua rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ccpl, more-memoirs

Here's another book with a reference to one of my uncle's songs - yay - page 128 in my copy - "On the radio, a man with a soft deep voice is telling us to have ourselves a merry little..." ...more

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Nov 30, 2017 Jennifer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: owned, poetry, autographed

This book has been on my shelves for so long -- I have a lovely signed edition (I think from the We Need Diverse Books kickstarter?), but it was just languishing on my TBR shelves. Once I picked it up, though, I could not put it down. I haven't read many books in verse before (maybe not any, not counting ancient classics), but it worked beautifully. The poems were lovely and moving and told the story of her life quite well.

I think I was reluctant to read it because it was so hyped, but this is o ...more

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Mar 15, 2021 Rae rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: bio-memoir, 2021

South Carolina/New York. Poetic memoir. For all age groups. National Book Award winner. Beautiful.

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Mar 30, 2017 Journeywoman rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: w-read-in-2017, kids-ya-books-for-me

This might be one of the most beautiful books I have ever read.
The stories, told in blank verse, were amazing and touching.

It deserves all the praise and awards it has been given.

I will say this though, I think it is more for adults than children. It would take a very mature kid to be able to glean all the goodness from this book that is there.

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Oct 07, 2017 Cheryl rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: juvenile-fiction, newbery-award, free-verse, black-authors

I really loved this book and the free verse it was written in. Reminded me of another book I love Inside Out & Back Again. I love how she captured how home can be many different places but sometimes one more than another. The only thing I would change about this book would be for it to be longer. I wanted more story. I wanted to hear it all.

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