Brown Girl Dreaming

Woodson, J. ( 2014). Brown Girl Dreaming. New York: Penguin.

     This beautifully written memoir tells of Jacqueline Woodson's childhood, her family's roots in both Ohio and South Carolina, and the family's progression that led them to New York. What a blessing to any family to have the stories and memories she recalls so eloquently. The collaboration of her aunts' memories and the perspectives of her brothers and sister takes the reader through this family's journey during a tumultuous time in our nation's history. Jacqueline was aware early on that her skin color made life different for her. Her poems tell of family, change, and life in the mid 1960’s and beautifully capture her memories in poetic verse.

Textbook Assignment #6

Comparison - Of the four books on our reading list, it is most similar to Love That Dog in its free verse poetry. Like in El Deafo, it similarly tells of the author’s childhood and touches on many serious subjects, like divorce, death, and racism. 

Appeal - Regardless of race, this book captures the genuine thoughts, feelings, and innocence of a child. Woodson’s description of her close bond with her grandfather is one that many children will connect with. Her uncertainty of her place in the family or her value as a student are relatable and add to the authenticity of the story. As a librarian, I would be tempted to recommend this to a shy girl who hasn’t fully realized her true potential in the hopes that it would develop a sense of confidence and drive. 

Three other books by Woodson include: 

•  If You Come Softly tells of an interracial relationship between two teenage prep school students, Jeremiah and Ellie. Woodson grapples with racism and a doomed relationship in this  novel aimed at older students. Jeremiah is from Brooklyn which is an integral part of the setting in Brown Girl Dreaming but that is where the similarities end as this is a much more mature theme and subject matter.

• Feathers is a Newbury Honor book that also seems to focus on race in its descriptions of characters and their conversations. Like Brown Girl Dreaming, it is told from the perspective of a young girl so the reader has access to her thoughts and feelings. Both books have undertones   of religion and make references to the historical events of the time.

• Peace, Locomotion shares the same lyrical language that Woodson is known for in this second novel about Lonnie, or Locomotion. He and his sister, Lili, live in separate foster homes after the death of their parents. Written as a series of letters from Lonnie to Lili who are dealing with their separation and their new families. It deals with a disconnected family like Woodson’s  own family, as documented in Brown Girl Dreaming.

Book Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHNXWSAsoyY

Teaching Books link

http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=39186&a=1