Author: Jacqueline Woodson
Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir
Woodson, Jacqueline. Brown girl dreaming. NY, NY: Penguin
Group, 2014. Print.
ISBN: 978-0-399-25251-8
Recommended for: Grades 5 and up
Lexile Level: 0990
Awards:
Newbery
Medal Winner
National
book award Finalist
Personal Response:
This is a
memoir book written in a lyrical format about an African-American girl named
Jackie. She grew up in 1960’s when there was still segregation and marches for
social equality. She tells about her life as a child, enjoying the comfort of
grandma’s Carolina Home; as a student, struggling with reading but being able
to memorize whole books; as a grown dreamer who grew up in a beautiful and
strong woman and an honor writer. This book was a real easy read and I can even
use it in my upper elementary grades. I believe many of my African American
children can relate to some aspects of Jacqueline’s life.
Selling Tool: Book talking
This book
is a great find for social studies students, no matter the grade level. Topics
like racism, segregation, marches, peaceful protest have a big place in this
book along with Jacqueline’s life story. When you read it, it sounds like a
novel but then it hits you that this is a memoir and it adds a whole different
meaning to the situations described in the book. This book is also great if
anyone is looking for insights about the religion of Jehovah witnesses. It has
many references to the religion and religious practices. Overall, the book is
very multifaceted and is a great read not only for children 10 and up but I
believe adults will find it very interesting as well. I strongly recommend it
for its authentic stories that are told in beautiful poems.
Read-alikes:
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Also by Jacqueline Woodson:
Feathers
Miracle’s Boys
Activity: after reading the book, students will think of some events that happened to them and pick one to write a short poem about it. Remind them that it doesn't have to rhyme all the time, but it would definitely be nice if it does. Demonstrate by writing a short poem that the whole class can make together about the school life.
Standards: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.3.A
Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
Goal: Students will learn how to write short poems
Objective: Students will write a short poem about one event that actually happened in their lives, creating at least 4 lines.
Outcome: Students will be able to put a story in a poem
