Brown Girl Dreaming

    Woodson, J. (2014). Brown Girl Dreaming.  NY: Nancy Paulsen Books

 

An autobiography written in verse that details a young black girl’s life and what it was like to grow up in the 60’s. Dealing with the changes in the country as well as the tragic changes going on in her family. She moves to the south to live with her grandparents after her parents divorce, then eventually ends up in New York with her mother.  During this time, she deals with the death of her aunt and her grandpa, who she was very close to.  She also learns that her fun-loving uncle is arrested and sent to prison, where she goes to visit him and sees a very sad and changed man. The unique way this book was written, made it easy to read.  I enjoyed the lyrical format. I would say this book has a very unique style. The sentence patterns and figurative language, make this book a very emotional and moving experience.

I think this book could be used with Grades 5-8.

 

To find some book club ideas and lessons to use with this book, click HERE!