Poetry
Woodson,
J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. New
York: Penguin Group.
PLOT SUMMARY
Brown Girl Dreaming is a memoir, by Jacqueline
Woodson, that tells the story of her childhood.
Shortly after her birth in Columbus, Ohio, Woodson’s parent’s stormy
marriage ended, and her mother takes her and her two older siblings to live
with their grandparents in Greenville, South Carolina. It was here that Woodson developed a love for
storytelling. Although she and her
siblings never quite felt at home in South Caroline, they had come to love the
red dirt roads, the sound of crickets, and their grandparents. However, this was not to last as their mother
had gone to New York to make a life for them there. When Woodson was finally old enough to attend
school, they were uprooted once again and moved to Brooklyn, New York, with a
new baby brother and some new challenges.
As her family struggled through tragedy, illness, and poverty, Woodson finds
she has a passion for words and a talent for writing.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Woodson
uses a first-person present tense voice coupled with free verse to give the reader
a glimpse of how interpreted her world as a child. Although written in free verse, she makes it
easy for one to understand the people, places, and events of her life through
the use of imagery, figurative language, similes, and metaphors. While there are no illustrations in this
book, the reader is provided family trees of both her parents at the beginning
of the book and pictures of her family members at the end to tie the names and
faces together.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
“You
can read “Brown Girl Dreaming” in one sitting, but it is as rich a spread as
the potluck table at a family reunion.
Sure, you can plow through the pages, grabbing everything in one go,
like piling a plate high with fried chicken and ribs, potato salad and
cornbread. And yes, it’s entirely possible to hold that plate with one hand
while balancing a bowl of gumbo and a cup of sweet tea with the other. But since the food isn’t going anywhere,
you’ll make out just as well, maybe even a little better, if you pace yourself.”
– New York Times
“The
writer’s passion for stories and storytelling permeates the memoir, explicitly
addressed in her early attempts to write books and implicitly conveyed through
her sharp images and poignant observations seen through the eyes of a
child. Woodson’s ability to listen and
glean meaning from what she hears leads to an astute understanding of her
surroundings, friends, and family.” -Publisher’s
Weekly, starred review
CONNECTIONS
This
book can be used in writing lessons on free verse, imagery, or figurative language.
Lewis,
J. P. (2006). Once upon a tomb: Gravely humorous verses. Ill. by Simon Bartram. Massachusetts:
Candlewick Press. ISBN 0763618373
PLOT SUMMARY
Once Upon A Tomb, by J.
Patrick Lewis pokes fun at the death of different persons based on either their
profession or personality.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Simon
Bartram’s illustrations are so incredibly bold and detailed, it almost leaves one
feeling as if the poems are there to support the artwork and not the other way
around. Most of Lewis’ poems are in verse and have a distinctive rhythm. His choice of language is fun but cumbersome
at times. I found the funniest poems to
be those which described the profession of the deceased in one or two
lines. My personal favorite is the
mailman’s epitaph.
REVIEW EXCERPTS
“A
couple of poems lack the instantly accessible images that make the others such
winners, but overall these are a total scream.” -Publisher’s Weekly
“The
devilishly deadpan acrylic paintings raise the dead to a higher humor level,
infusing liveliness into the scenes and animating the hearse verse with visual
puns.” -Kirkus Reviews
CONNECTIONS
The
illustrations in this book can be used in an art lesson on shadow and light.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
McCall,
G. G. (2011). Under the mesquite. New York: Lee & Low Books.
PLOT SUMMARY
Under the mesquite, by Guadalupe
Garcia McCall, is a story of a daughter’s resiliency in the face of death. Fourteen-year-old Lupita just wants to be a
normal teenager. When her mother is
diagnosed with cancer, Lupita struggles to maintain that normalcy and hold her
family together as she navigates her way through high school.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Under the mesquite is a series of free
verse poems that read like individual vignettes, which combined tell a story. Although McCall uses a combination of
imagery, similes, and metaphors in her writing, the emotions of the piece are palpable. The author’s injection of Spanish from the
beginning to the end of the text highlights her retention of her heritage. And while many of the words used are defined in
the text, there is a glossary of names, Spanish words, and cultural references
at the end of the book.
REVIW EXCERPTS
"With
poignant imagery and well-placed Spanish, the author effectively captures the complex
lives of teenagers in many Latino and/or immigrant families.” -Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“The
Spanish words and phrases sprinkled liberally throughout Under the mesquite add an exotic flavor to the free verse, yet
never inhibit the flow or clarity of the story.” -Mary Englefried, Common Sense Media
CONNECTIONS
This
selection can be used in a diversity lesson or book talk for middle school
students.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lewis, J. P. (2005). Heroes and she-roes: Poems of amazing and everyday heroes. Ill. By Jim Cooke. New
York: Dial Books for Young Readers. ISBN
0803729251
PLOT SUMMARY
Heroes and
she-roes
is J. Patrick Lewis’ tribute to some culturally diverse heroes and heroines. While many of those he chose to honor are
famous, some represent a generalized group such as teachers and firefighters, and
one of which is a dog. There is a brief annotation after each poem to provide
some background on the person or profession being spotlighted.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
J.
Patrick Lewis effort to honor the efforts of a diverse group of individuals
fell a somewhat flat with Heroes and
she-roes. Most of the poems are in
verse and many of them feel contrived and off key. The illustrations seem to fit the same
pattern, some with features which border on caricature.
REVIW EXCEPTS
“The
illustrations, oil paint on illustration board, feels ponderous. Ghandi looks like Yoda…Cesar Chavez’s head
floats in a migrant worker’s sky like the Wizard of Oz.” -Kirkus Reviews
“This
is an important title that will inspire young people and perhaps encourage them
to look more deeply into the lives of others as well as their own.” -School Library Journal
CONNECTIONS
This selection can be
used to emphasize the culturally diverse humanitarian efforts men, women, and
children from around the world
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