Brown Girl Dreaming

This is an autobiography in free-verse vignettes that presents the author’s family and her childhood in Ohio, South Carolina, and New York City. It presents a child’s first-hand view of larger events such as the civil rights activism occurring across America in the 60s and 70s. But also details her personal growth in making friends, bonding with relatives, learning to read, and learning to love writing. I’m from the same generation as Woodson, so the child’s perspective on the cultural events she described resonated perfectly with me. I also recognize the magic of visiting grandparents in the country, enjoying summer nights, home grown vegetables, and neighborly interactions. The book is a lovely mix of recollections of moments both national and individual that shaped the author. While it’s marketed for middle schoolers, probably because of the age of the narrator, the story would be appealing to adult readers, too.