Brown Girl Dreaming is a unique collection of free verse poems that come together to create the lovely memoir written by Jacqueline Woodson. It tells of her growing up in the 1960's as an African American girl that was born in Ohio then moves to South Carolina and eventually to New York. We learn about the separation of her parents, rivalry between Jacqueline and her siblings, the dear role her maternal grandparents played in her upbringing, her early love of words, and desire to write, and how the Civil Rights era affected her family and her mindset. The trials that Jacqueline and her family travel through are written in a way that display the constant love that young Jacqueline feels and witnesses within her family and friendships.

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown Girl Dreaming. New York, NY: Puffin Books

When I picked this memoir up from the public library, I didn't realize it was written in free verse, and I have to admit, when I noticed what the format of the novel was, I was reluctant to begin reading it. I am so glad that I did though! It was full of so many short and powerful stories of Woodson's life and family. I was moved at several sections, but I found such a connection with the poem, the blanket. Woodson writes about how perhaps she and her sibling should have felt a sadness when their mother goes to New York to establish a new life for them and leaves them with her maternal grandparents, but they didn't know they were suppose to feel a loss. All they felt was the weight of their grandparent's love like a blanket that was "safe and warm". (p. 79). It immediately took me back to my own fond memories with my grandmother.

Each poem was full of Woodson's memories while growing up without a presence from her father, her experiences moving multiple times, her relationships with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and friends. I couldn't help but draw connections between her relationships and mine. Although the experiences are different, a friend is a friend and family is family, and there was always love. This was a beautiful autobiography that was uniquely written with a strong emotional pull.

Brown Girl Dreaming could be used in classrooms grade three and above, its lexile is at 990 and would be great for fluent readers in grades three or above, and would be suitable for less fluent readers as well, especially if an adult is assisting in the reading. The poetry is written in a way that even elementary students would be able to read, understand, and enjoy.

Since I enjoyed the blanket so much, I would use it as a way to teach metaphors within writing. (p. 78-79). I would ask students what metaphor they would use for perhaps their own grandparents, or any other special person in their life, and to expand on why that person is comparable to whatever item they chose.

Woodson has written several other books, and she shares a bit of background on each of her titles on her website.

Her most recent book is Red at the Bone.

This is a video of Woodson discussing Brown Girl Dreaming.