I just finished a 2015 Coretta Scott King (Author) Honor Book Award winner, How I Discovered Poetry by Marilyn Nelson. It is a memoir in verse, which is becoming one of my favorite genres/formats. Several weeks ago, I featured Woodson's memoir in verse, Brown Girl Dreaming. These two books make perfect companions. It's wonderful that these stories in poetry are getting so much recognition!
My Goodreads Review:
2014-book, award-winner, civil-rights, intermediate-kids-book, memoir, multicultural, nonfiction, nonfictionchallenge2015, novel-in-verse, poetry, weneeddiversebooks
I enjoyed reading about Nelson's experiences with being the daughter of a military man and moving around frequently, civil rights, the "Red Scare" and atomic bomb drills, growing up, friendships and crushes, and discovering her love of words and poetry. I loved the photos and would have enjoyed seeing more.
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You have such a rich down-on-the-farm experience to write about. You could do it! I love verse novels and have one in the works. Not as easy as it looks.
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to read Marilyn's book. I enjoy verse memoirs too!
ReplyDeleteYes, I am loving these poetic memoirs! It's kind of the perfect way to record memories, isn't it? Like making a scrapbook, but with words. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSadly, we don't have this available in our library yet, but this would definitely be one of the titles I am recommending to our institution's librarian for purchase. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about this book, dear Holly, as I absolutely love verse novels.
ReplyDeleteLucky Baldwin kids! Irene, you're right about the scrapbook quality of a memoir and how poems fit that perfectly. Looking forward to this--thanks, Holly!
ReplyDeleteI've had the pleasure of meeting her and she is as thought-proving as her poetry. Can't wait to read this book, will do so later this week. NELSON POWER!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing about this book.
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