Brown Girl Dreaming in ENGL 596 / EDCI 551

Jan 28, 2015 Jacob Mroczkiewicz rated it liked it

With this book Jacqueline Woodson not only created the narrative of her own life, but the intertwined existences of an entire family. These poems, like little snapshots of memory that one often sees in one's own whimsical daydreaming, are microcosms of America's ever-changing landscape during the time when these poems were set. I appreciate Woodson's work immensely on that level. I mean, the reader plainly sees life in all of its suffering complexities through the eyes of a young girl. Seeing th With this book Jacqueline Woodson not only created the narrative of her own life, but the intertwined existences of an entire family. These poems, like little snapshots of memory that one often sees in one's own whimsical daydreaming, are microcosms of America's ever-changing landscape during the time when these poems were set. I appreciate Woodson's work immensely on that level. I mean, the reader plainly sees life in all of its suffering complexities through the eyes of a young girl. Seeing the nation and its people change through that perspective made for an exceptionally engaging reading experience.

Woodson's free verse reads as light as the breeze that she says would often bring her the words she loved. Her continuous use of enjambment rendered the poems similar to if one would transcribe the nature of their dreams. Flowing from word to line -- with some quite impressive choices in line breakage -- there is almost a fluid sense to her verse, almost as if I was also floating through her dreams. Its weird the effect that poetry can have on a reader, as if the actual process of reading can lull one into a trance-like state. That's the effect Woodson's poems had on me. Like I was floating through her history, like I was on that "revolution" with her. Like her history is somehow intertwined with my own, as well as everyone else's.

This text would be wonderful for middle school students, but may not bear the weight necessary for the upper secondary classroom. Aside from offering a wonderful insight into an integral period of our country's history, students can also learn about the positive experiences writing personal narratives can have. Personally, I am a big proponent of such narratives in the classroom. On a basic level, I think that it is a painless means of engaging young writers with writing as an active process of thought and introspection. Also, personal narratives can be so much more than that, as students can certainly learn from Woodson. They can encompass history -- personal, family, local, even national -- and offer an insight into how memory and experience help shape us as humans. If I ever find myself teaching middle school, Woodson's narrative will certainly that of my own in the classroom.

That was a lot of words just to say: damn solid work. ...more

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Jan 26, 2015 Morgan rated it really liked it

Brown Girl Dreaming was a nice, simple read. The language was accessible for a younger audience (lower spectrum of YAL). The poetry format was a refreshing change of pace from thep rose format that I tend to read. I developed an appreciation for her style of writing. The emphasis she put on certain words or groups of words was interesting to me. Sometimes the emphasis was right where I expected it to be; other times, I had to change how I thought of the sentence to fit how she had actually writt ...more

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Jan 29, 2015 Matthew Troxel rated it really liked it

Brown Girl Dreaming is an autobiographical collection of poems about Jacqueline Woodson's childhood. To be honest, I struggled to stay interested at first.

"There is no conflict!" I whined to a friend. Of course what I meant was that there was no life or death situation at the core of the story. Jacqueline's childhood isn't exactly the most exciting, which in reality, is probably a good thing.

She shushed me. "Yes there is. It just isn't external which is what you prefer." She then goes on to scol Brown Girl Dreaming is an autobiographical collection of poems about Jacqueline Woodson's childhood. To be honest, I struggled to stay interested at first.

"There is no conflict!" I whined to a friend. Of course what I meant was that there was no life or death situation at the core of the story. Jacqueline's childhood isn't exactly the most exciting, which in reality, is probably a good thing.

She shushed me. "Yes there is. It just isn't external which is what you prefer." She then goes on to scold me for making an absolute statement.

So the night before class I sat down, determined to get this book read. It is poetry and some pages have single haikus. I figure I could get it done in a single night.

That is when I found what I needed to fall in love with this book. The more I read, the more I enjoyed her prose. What seemed elementary at first is precise and minimalistic. She manages to paint vivid pictures with few words, a goal any writer should strive for. Even better it feels like the thoughts of a little girl, which solidified its authenticity.

Her stories about the civil rights movement and her journey into writing are what interested me most. One was something I never experienced, being a white male. Her observations paint an interesting picture, one that offers a different perspective than what is commonly told. It isn't preachy but it definitely leaves you thinking about race.

The poems about her fascination with words brought back my own childhood memories of writing. I remember falling in love with prose just as Jacqueline herself had. The composition notebook, her uncle encouraging storytelling, her first book. I found these parts of the books inspirational.

This isn't normally something I would read. As my friend pointed out, I typically prefer my novels to be about 50/50 internal and external conflict. Often they are sprinkled with zombies or robots or something. I still would recommend this book though. Its exploration of race, identity and family are as real and fleshed out as any novel's with about a third of the word count. ...more

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Jan 29, 2015 Hannah Alexander rated it really liked it

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson is one of the most unique novels concerning the writing style and overall plot. I found that the poetry style allowed me to piece together details which held my attention throughout. The novel embodied deep and progressive themes, but they were definitely ones to be extracted through close reading. Brown Girl Dreaming was truly a hand crafted story that took us through American history while exploring the diverse struggles of a young black family. The no ...more

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Jan 29, 2015 Michelle Parsons rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-lit

I definitely understand why Jacqueline Woodson's poetic autobiographical novel was a finalist for the National Book Award. The use of individually titled free verse poems allowed each episode to be a separate moment, each bit separate though connected to each of the others. In particular, the word or concept "infinity" in relation to writing is used to connect various portions of the text, from "the beginning" to the end.
I find it difficult to explain exactly what this book makes me feel and th I definitely understand why Jacqueline Woodson's poetic autobiographical novel was a finalist for the National Book Award. The use of individually titled free verse poems allowed each episode to be a separate moment, each bit separate though connected to each of the others. In particular, the word or concept "infinity" in relation to writing is used to connect various portions of the text, from "the beginning" to the end.
I find it difficult to explain exactly what this book makes me feel and think. In some ways, I know that I can never really relate to the experience of being brown or black or anything else other than white. I was never part of the civil rights movement, nor did my life depend on it being successful. I have never been followed around a store (other than Nordstrom's) where someone assumed I would steal just because of how I looked. And I have never been a Jehovah's witness or had a religion that made my social life difficult. However, Woodson's language makes me feel as though, perhaps, it doesn't entirely matter that my experiences have been so different. I see through her eyes, her mind, her heart, her words. The imagery throughout is lush and gorgeous without ever crossing into the world of difficult vocabulary, all the clearer for the simple words.
The family experiences are the ones that I relate to the most. Odella is the genius of the family who sets up the teacher's expectations for Jacqueline, who is a year behind her in school. While school was not difficult for me, in particular, I remember the feeling of half-pride and half-dread that I would get when a teacher would read my name and then ask, "Oh, are you Greg's sister?" because I would never be seen as completely separate, but always held in comparison. The absolute obsession with words is the other part of Woodson's story that resonated with me. I began telling myself stories and writing poetry when I was seven or so. "composition book" and "on paper" were particularly resonant to me, and the last few lines of "gifted" that read "I want to catch words one day. I want to hold them/then blow gently,/ watch them float/ right out of my hands."
In a novel full of beautiful or moving moments, a few in particular stood out to me. "the right way to speak," where Hope is whipped for using "ain't" highlighted the importance of speech in the racial and socioeconomic identity that Woodson's mother was hoping to foster in and for her children. In addition, the series of poems entitled "how to listen" for all their brevity, give some of the strongest visions of the growth of this girl, this Jacqueline Woodson into the writer that she hoped to be. The only limitation related to this book is my own inability to fully express all the colors and thoughts that were raised throughout. ...more

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Jan 29, 2015 Lauren H. rated it really liked it

I found Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming to be unlike other YA books that I have read. The poetry structure of Brown Girl Dreaming is by far a highlight for me in this book. The ways in which Woodson manipulates and guides the reader through the text, especially through her use of pauses and spaces, creates a story-teller momentum throughout the book. As an MA student in literature, this really connected to my studies, and I thought it was fascinating to see how a YA novel could use the sometimes- I found Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming to be unlike other YA books that I have read. The poetry structure of Brown Girl Dreaming is by far a highlight for me in this book. The ways in which Woodson manipulates and guides the reader through the text, especially through her use of pauses and spaces, creates a story-teller momentum throughout the book. As an MA student in literature, this really connected to my studies, and I thought it was fascinating to see how a YA novel could use the sometimes-daunting poetry genre. Woodson uses poetry that sounds very much like prose when real aloud, yet, the way that the words are structured on the page creates starts and stops in the story’s momentum in very smart, intriguing ways.

Beyond the poetic elements, I thought the strength of the book was in its ability to take the author’s life, reveal its nuances and intricacies, and to end by giving a broad-reaching message to all readers. She supports an African American population through her personal stories, but she ensures that all young adults, no matter their hardships or personal protests, will be able to connect to her story in some way. Woodson understands the necessity of giving a real, genuine portrayal of African American lives, especially the lives of children, and she uses her hardships to reach towards all youth (but especially African American young people) who struggle with their social labels.

The last aspect of the book that was striking to me was the fact that there was no real driving plot, no major “what if” question, no sharp and pinpointed conflict. There was certainly conflict and “what ifs” throughout the book, but the book still didn’t follow the typical narrative pattern of many novels. On a personal level, this made the book a bit dull for me to read through, and I could also see young adult readers also experiencing a bit of a lag while reading this book. However, at the same time, this rhetorical choice absolutely worked to show all the details of Woodson’s normal life, without creating a larger-than-life story to frame her memories.

In the end, I definitely recommend this book to any young person who is in the midst of negotiating his or her identity in terms of the world and labels surround them.
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Jan 26, 2015 Jung Han rated it really liked it

This book “Brown Girl Dreaming” is such a magnificent book that turns readers happy, sad, ache, and peaceful. Unlike most young adult novels, this book doesn’t contain any violence, curse, and delinquency. However this book is arguably more powerful than any other books in that it leads the readers to emphasize and reflect on themselves and our society. When I started reading this book, I did not expect that I would be moved so deeply and emotionally like now, but as I followed the poems, I foun This book “Brown Girl Dreaming” is such a magnificent book that turns readers happy, sad, ache, and peaceful. Unlike most young adult novels, this book doesn’t contain any violence, curse, and delinquency. However this book is arguably more powerful than any other books in that it leads the readers to emphasize and reflect on themselves and our society. When I started reading this book, I did not expect that I would be moved so deeply and emotionally like now, but as I followed the poems, I found myself lost in the story and quickly moved into tears.
Woodson starts the story with her birth. She was born brown-skinned, and as she grew older, she came to know that it is not easy to live as a colored person. She remembered her mother saying, “You’ll face this in your life someday: a moment when you walk into a room and no one there is like you. It’ll be scary sometimes.” But this girl never felt shame about her skin-color. She never felt fearful but believed in change as her grandfather said, “Because you are colored, and just as good and bright and beautiful and free as anybody, and nobody colored in the South is stopping, until everybody knows what’s true.”
I am not black or white. I’m Asian, but sometimes I know and can feel how hard it is to live in a place where I’m treated as a stranger. This book tells us about what people generally overlook or don’t want to take into consideration. Woodson never cries from the prejudice, but she responds by defining the situation through her observations, which the readers can find as a better alternative. Even when she was talking about the dark side of the 60’s, where colored people were not allowed to live freely without the white men’s contemptuous look, she believed in hope and dreamed of change. Her voice is not loud, however it is extremely powerful. Readers are enabled to dream together with this brown girl following her lyrics that reflect her own dreams which could be ours at the same time.
This book can be an extremely helpful experience especially for young readers since they are at their process of finding themselves and dreaming. “I believe in one day and some day and this perfect moment called Now.”
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Jan 26, 2015 Logan rated it it was amazing

Jacqueline Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming is a best-seller for a reason. Written from the perspective of a young Jacqueline Woodson, the semi-autobiographical piece follows Jacqueline through her early childhood and early young adult years as she moves across countries, through families, and into her own understanding. Written in poetry, rather than a more traditional prose format, Brown Girl Dreaming challenges not only its readers’ perceptions of the Civil Rights movement, but also the very fun Jacqueline Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming is a best-seller for a reason. Written from the perspective of a young Jacqueline Woodson, the semi-autobiographical piece follows Jacqueline through her early childhood and early young adult years as she moves across countries, through families, and into her own understanding. Written in poetry, rather than a more traditional prose format, Brown Girl Dreaming challenges not only its readers’ perceptions of the Civil Rights movement, but also the very function of storytelling in the lives of children and young adults.

I found myself initially reluctant to read Brown Girl Dreaming because of its poetry format. I have always felt more comfortable in prose, and in a general sense, I lose myself more quickly in narratives that follow a more traditional format. Woodson’s book, however, proved to be different. The poetry is simple and easy to comprehend, and it fits the main character well. Though Woodson’s decision to write the piece in poetry makes it feel jumpy at times, she masterfully brings all the poems together, precluding any sense of disconnect. Beyond this, I must admit that while I almost never read epilogues or thankful sections, after finishing Brown Girl Dreaming I read these two sections almost immediately. Woodson’s writing is such that I was able to connect emotionally with each of the characters detailed in the novel, so much so that I wanted to know how they factored into the writing of the piece itself.

Woodson’s decision to cast the piece in poetry rather than prose makes it, in many ways, more accessible to readers struggling with reading more traditional alphanumeric texts. The hints Woodson’s character drops regarding her own difficulty reading — which are distinctly reminiscent of dyslexia — make poetry a natural choice for the book, and allow for a more creative structuring. In a world in which traditional prose is falling increasingly out of fashion (and I use this phrase loosely — by and by, traditional prose still dominates the literary landscape) and is giving way to the rise of interactive fiction, video game narratives, and even the long-existing film, Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming takes risks with the print-and-paper medium, reimagining it in an accessible, interesting, and somehow more fitting way. ...more

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Jan 26, 2015 Nancy C rated it really liked it

From the first pages of Brown Girl Dreaming, it is immediately reminded me of a favorite book of mine from my childhood called Out of the Dust, by Karen Hesse. They both have a similar format—short journal-like entries that are written in a style akin to free verse. However, the parallels between the two books do not end there—despite the simultaneous presence of certain marked contrasts between the works. One is about a “brown” girl’s perspective of what it is like being black and growing up du From the first pages of Brown Girl Dreaming, it is immediately reminded me of a favorite book of mine from my childhood called Out of the Dust, by Karen Hesse. They both have a similar format—short journal-like entries that are written in a style akin to free verse. However, the parallels between the two books do not end there—despite the simultaneous presence of certain marked contrasts between the works. One is about a “brown” girl’s perspective of what it is like being black and growing up during the 1960s, and the other about a white girl growing up in the dustbowl—both living in poverty, both dealing with issues of losing and gaining family members, and both highlighting the struggles of a young woman deciding for herself what it means to grow up, and how exactly she should mature.

What I most enjoyed about this book was that it was a joy to read, almost easy—but at the same time it was obvious that the descriptions and phrases were quite thoughtfully put together by the author. This makes it so young readers can explore many different areas of literature without even realizing it—reading and learning simple rhymes which enclose within them complicated, philosophical thoughts and issues.

This book seems especially appropriate for “tweens.” It is a great introduction to so many different genres and styles—it is both poetic and somewhat autobiographical, while also offering young readers new points of view concerning race, economic status, culture and even religion. The short entry in which Jacqueline talks about being a “witness” really resonated with me—not because what she describes is my own practice, but because several classmates I recall from my own primary school days perfectly fit what this novel described as “witnesses.” I recall their frustrations during their school years–whether or not to turn down invitations to parties, or refusing to accept pencil pouches filled with writing utensils, erasers, and candy that our second grade teacher would give each of us on our respective birthdays. The notion of “witnesses” as described in this work is just one example of many of literary moments from this novel that have resonated with me ever since I have finished the book.
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Jan 25, 2015 Mykala rated it really liked it

Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming utilizes prose in a way not often found in young adult literature and it swept me right into this wonderful story. This is a quick read with chapters no longer than two to three pages and a narrator whose voice draws you in almost immediately. Woodson uses poems to tell her own childhood story in this autobiographical book. I thoroughly enjoyed that the entire book was written in free verse, as it presents a different approach to the more “common” novel f Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming utilizes prose in a way not often found in young adult literature and it swept me right into this wonderful story. This is a quick read with chapters no longer than two to three pages and a narrator whose voice draws you in almost immediately. Woodson uses poems to tell her own childhood story in this autobiographical book. I thoroughly enjoyed that the entire book was written in free verse, as it presents a different approach to the more “common” novel form. Woodson’s writing is almost lyrical, creating ebb and flow within each chapter. Every poem brings to life the inner dialogue of Jacqueline and the way in which she constructs her world. Early in the book she emphasizes the power of words and storytelling, presenting them as a portal to another world, which I think her book does beautifully. Even though Jacqueline faces hardship, I love that she emphasizes the power of love, hope, and relationships and the positive impacts they have on the formative years of young adult life.

In this story Jacqueline is connecting with young readers on multiple levels that include her struggles with identity, religion, and race. She questions who she is compared to her siblings, elders, and activist leaders. She connects with her audience regarding her difficulties in school, being somewhat rebellious with her best friend, and exploring her passion in life. She is searching for her place in the world and learning that her story is one that is worth telling. Jacqueline does deal with some very adult situations throughout this book. She faces loss, death, moving to a whole new environment, and having to confront the racial disparities still present during the 60’s. Through these situations she shows growth and an unwavering passion for storytelling, which even led me to reflect on situations within my own life.

I think this book gives readers a chance to see what it was like for an African American girl to grow up during the 60’s. I don’t think we have enough literature looking at the world from this perspective and we can’t ignore this time in our history. Woodson allows the viewer to see how this affected her daily life, from where she sat on the bus, to what stores she went in, to raising her hand and saying, “I’m black and I’m proud”. A limitation in this story is that we only have one narrator throughout the entire book and it becomes evident that she doesn’t always have all of the information. The readers know just as much as Jacqueline knows but not much more, which leaves several storylines somewhat ambiguous. I think this book could be more accessible to young adults who are intimidated by lengthy novels or simply want something different. I feel that this book has a lot to offer its readers while also bringing more diversity to the young adult genre itself.
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Jan 23, 2015 Jawaria rated it really liked it

I thoroughly enjoyed Brown Girl Dreaming. It is a unique novel and an easy read. The free verse style pairs excellently with the author's intricate way of telling her story and filling it with emotion. It's the first novel I have read in free verse and I must say I am amazed at how the writer used minimal words to convey such deep messages and paint a full a rich picture. I also feel that this style complimented the memoir genre of the book, as poetry beautifully combined content with emotion.

Em I thoroughly enjoyed Brown Girl Dreaming. It is a unique novel and an easy read. The free verse style pairs excellently with the author's intricate way of telling her story and filling it with emotion. It's the first novel I have read in free verse and I must say I am amazed at how the writer used minimal words to convey such deep messages and paint a full a rich picture. I also feel that this style complimented the memoir genre of the book, as poetry beautifully combined content with emotion.

Emotion, not necessarily in a sentimental way, rather handled in a strong, mature way, was integral to the various aspects of Jacqueline Woodson's story. The topics explored, of, racial struggle and Black identity, events of deaths/divorce/jail, issues of class and socio-economic status, culture, religion, even geography (North/South), were all expertly told with a balance of restraint and emotion. Thus, I really liked the intelligent writing of this book. The titles of 'chapters' or poems and the parts that divided the novel, held a lot of significance in how the story was carried, helping make meaning.

This book, from the very onset, reminded me of 'The Help'. I have only seen the movie, but that too thrice! I have yet to read the book, and after Brown Girl Dreaming, I can't wait to get my hands on 'The Help' and other similar books. I have gained a deeper insight into the reality of the struggles and hardships that were faced in light of racial discrimination. I have my own personal share of relatable experiences, though of completely different nature and race or religion. Yet it is certainly intriguing how alike the feelings and experiences are, of those that are marginalized in various contexts and degrees. I love how the author, through her upbringing and family members, communicates a strong sense of self-respect and dignity. Even after things have changed, they do not go into Woolworths due to how they had been treated. They continue to sit at the back of the bus, due to internal intimidation and avoidance of possible conflict. There lies a wary sensibility, life has been unsure for too long to let the reins free now. Yet freedom is there in full strength as well, within each one's own persona. Despite what the media might portray, they have their own strong upbringing and guidance, not to lose their true self worth. They hang onto lampposts and shout slogans. It is that daring exploration of identity, which if we come to think of, is precisely what teenagers or young adults do themselves, regardless of which background they hail from. The section titled 'the revolution, (pages 308/309) is a beautiful description of the true realities of revolution and history, and each individual's place in the tale of time - "a carousel".
I also loved the sense of constant contemplation and finding where one really belongs. She is always torn between what is truly 'home'. Similarly, the 'how to listen' parts are enjoyable and reflect how the author was a thoughtful, young girl growing up, discovering and trying to make sense of how to mature appropriately, learn to do things the 'right' way and also continue to ponder why. In this, her relationship with her grandparents plays quite a meaningful role.

My favourite parts were where Woodson explores her feelings/thoughts on 'Writing'. The words she prints very much mirror my own reflections of 'writing'. The richness of "world and words and people and places" all to be remembered and written down, so much to tell, saved forever - to be "closer to the dream", "every wish, one dream", a burning desire and insistent need to write, write it all down!
Finally, the last poem/chapter (page 319/320) was a remarkable intertwining of everything discussed beforehand in the novel and link to the general bigger picture. The author amazingly tied together contrasting entities, and hence, "what I believe" shows truth of tolerance, embracing it all as natural; despite her stricter upbringing, she has an open heart and mind to all the variances she has seen - a message as well for young adult readers in confusing times.

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Jan 29, 2015 Michelle rated it liked it

Brown Girl Dreaming is an absolutely beautifully written book that I greatly enjoyed reading. At first I was a little uncertain how much I would like the format of an entire book written in the style of free verse poetry, but the style in which Woodson wove the various focus of the poems together flowed much more smoothly than I had imagined they would. As I got more invested in the story I found myself relating to the narrator more and more. We may have very different cultural backgrounds, but Brown Girl Dreaming is an absolutely beautifully written book that I greatly enjoyed reading. At first I was a little uncertain how much I would like the format of an entire book written in the style of free verse poetry, but the style in which Woodson wove the various focus of the poems together flowed much more smoothly than I had imagined they would. As I got more invested in the story I found myself relating to the narrator more and more. We may have very different cultural backgrounds, but I could understand her desire to be a writer and how words resonated with her. As a writer, I too have felt the similar struggle of having a story wanting to burst forth from you, coupled with the uncertainty of exactly how to go about letting it out.
But perhaps the detail of the story that stuck with me the most was of the narrator and the best friend she makes living in Brooklyn. It reminded me so, so much myself and my own Forever Friend. When I finished the book I pawed through so quickly to the ending notes from the narrator because I had to know if they were still friends. I was so happy when I saw that they indeed are.
I believe that this novel's two greatest strengths are its overall use of free verse to portray a much larger story than today's society might normally associate with poetry, and its focus upon a minority group. Not only that, but with changes in the family's demographic location, the reader was able to see how growing up in different parts of the States can affect the upbringing of minority children. That was a topic I had never really considered before, at least not any deeper than the difference between the north and the south equality differences of that time. It was eye-opening to see the different treatments the children recieved not just in the different cities, but in different areas of each city.
I have read a handful of YA novels that contain side character who are persons of color (and other minority races as well), but I struggled to think of another YA novel that I had read recently with the central protagonist as a character of non-white ethnicity. As such, this novel was even more interesting to me because it focused on topics that I am not frequently exposed to. It kept the text fresh and exciting and I felt like I learned more about a culture that is deprived of the recognition it deserves in YA literature. ...more

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