Brown Girl Dreaming
Book description
The compelling story of a young Black girl growing up in 1960-70s America - a multi-award winning New York Times bestseller and President Obama's 'O' Book Club pick.
Brown Girl Dreaming is the unforgettable story of Jacqueline Woodson's childhood, told in vivid and accessible blank verse. She shares what it…
Why read it?
5 authors picked Brown Girl Dreaming as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
For young readers of poetry, this is an excellent read. It’s set in the Jim Crow and Civil Rights Eras, and it truly is an age-defining book. I loved the memoir aspect of it, and I found myself caring not only about each word in this book but every soul.
From Akana's list on oppression for young adults.
This one is pushing the limits of my list in a couple of different ways – it is technically not a novel, but rather a memoir in verse.
It’s also a middle grade work rather than an adult novel. I’m including it here because I feel it’s one of those books for children that every adult should read. The prose is beautiful, and the author’s coming-of-age story is a tale of resilience, love, and family. The author invokes the ghosts of her ancestors in a way that lends a bit of magic to the work.
From Dare's list on strong female characters, family secrets, and magic.
Jacqueline Woodson is a National Book Award Newbury and Coretta Scott King winner. But I know her as a great friend.
Brown Girl Dreaming is about her growing up in South Carolina during the 1960s and 1970s. My memoir Defiant takes places a few years before Brown Girl Dreaming. But the South was still the South, and segregation was still segregation. A great read from an outstanding writer.
From Wade's list on for young readers on growing up Black in the US.
Written in verse, this book is the rare piece of literature that has something to offer every single age group. I can imagine holding a baby and whispering Woodson’s poetry into their open ears. I can picture my own middle grade reader curled up on a couch being transported for the first time by the magic of Woodson’s language. And I remember my first encounter with this book as a grown up, read in a single sitting with a cup of coffee growing cold next to me as I absorbed Woodson’s captivating story. Which is to say, I don’t care…
From Julie's list on middle grade every grown up should read.
Brown Girl Dreaming is an absolutely beautiful book. I found the writing simply stunning, with images that stayed with me long after I finished reading. I also loved the use of a variety of poetic forms and found the haiku especially effective in delivering powerful moments with a punch.
This book is a memoir, based on Woodson’s years growing up in a tumultuous time to be a brown girl, placing YA readers in her head and heart during those years. It’s no wonder that this heartfelt book won so many of the industry’s top awards.
From Kip's list on YA books in verse that bring history alive.
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