5 stars
A fantastic autobiographical novel-in-verse that beautifully showcases Woodson’s voice.
Set in the 1960s and 1970s, Woodson shares stories from her life living in Ohio, South Carolina, and New York. Woodson tackles so many themes in this book. From family upheaval to moving to a new place, experiencing death of family members to standing up to racism, a developing passion for words and stories to historic moments in America.
Throughout, Woodson learns about and experiences her family’s ties to enslavement, segregation during Jim Crow, and the Civil Rights movement, and must navigate the changing racialized behavioral expectations depending on where she is and who she’s with. The story also works in themes of family, friendship, religion, school, and a love of storytelling.
This is such a fantastic read. I was pulled in from the start. The poems are all relatively short, free-verse, and accessible. Each tells its own story. Whether you love poetry or are unsure about it, this is a wonderful read that can be enjoyed by all.
At the end are black-and-white photographs of Woodson growing up and various members of her family. It was nice to put faces to the names after reading.
Beautifully told and expertly crafted. This book definitely deserves all the hype. Timeless, engaging, and enlightening, with a beautiful blend of love, hope, and pride.