Brown Girl Dreaming

"A small gift from the universe waiting to be discovered"

p. 233

Jacqueline Woodson uses verse to tell the story of her childhood while highlighting social and racial challenges as well as her own struggles with learning.  Knowing that, it could be used to open discussion on civil rights, but I think it is a beautifully written story to inspire children to believe in themselves and strive for their dreams.  She knew she learned differently, did she realize it as a child or later as an adult writing the story? As a child growing up in the 60's and 70's she most likely didn't receive support or understanding as the term 'learning disability' was first used in 1963. 

This is a recollection of her own childhood memories including leaving Ohio and her father behind,  whom we learn she doesn't reconnect with until she is 14, and being raised for some time by her grandparents and their move to New York City.  She learns about Jim Crow law, civil rights, and later the beginning of Black Panther.  Her religious up bringing is guided by her grandmother as a Jehovah Witness.  Her best friend is from Puerto Rico.  Along with her 3 siblings she is raised by a single mother.  And until her grandfather, whom she calls Daddy, dies her world is split between life in the north and in the south, learning the nuances of both.  

Woodson recalls her frustrations as a child when she started school.  Being a year younger than sister Odella was hard as teachers instantly compared Jacqueline to Odella.  She recalls hearing Odella is bright, she is gifted.  Woodson thought, "I am not gifted. When I read, the words twist twirl across the page. When they settle, it is too late.  The class has already moved on" (p169). Woodson recalls her Uncle coming to visit and describes the earrings he gives Odella for being smart and how she (Woodson) wishes  someone would give her "silver and gold just because my brain clicks into thinking whenever it needs to but I'm not smart like Dell", (p 171-172).  I expected to her describe gifts she or her brothers received, but whatever she was given I think was overshadowed by how the gift to Odella was presented.  The impression that her Uncle does leave on her is how he believes in her, and maybe that was more important than the gifts.  She (Woodson) is telling a story and encouraged by her Uncle Robert.  "But my mother accuses me of lying, If you lie, she says, one day you'll steal." 

"It's hard to understand 

the way my brain works - so different

from everybody around me.

How each new story

I'm told becomes a thing 

that happens,

in some other way

to me...!" (p 176)

Woodson who once struggled in school, who felt inferior to her older sister goes on to be come an award winning author.  Who encouraged and inspired her?  Her uncle Robert and her grandfather are mentioned several times as encouraging and enjoying her stories.  Finally when she shares a poem in class she hears,   

"Brilliant! my teacher says, smiling.
Jackie, that was absolutely beautiful."

"And I know now
words are my Tingalayo. Words are my brilliance" (p 248).

Her story is one of resilience. How words of encouragement inspired her to keep writing her stories, to dream her dreams. Woodson has been the winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award, the recipient of three Newbery Honors, the Coretta Scott King Award and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.

                                          

Woodson helps readers connect with her and her family by adding family trees and pictures of the Woodsons of Ohio and the Irbys of South Carolina.  I also enjoyed her Author notes about how she approached her memories, the family members that were able to help fill in the gaps and how this bittersweet walk down memory lane helped her understand herself as a writer.

Readers who like this book might also enjoy Words with Wings by Niki Grimes.  It is another story told in short poems or verse that highlights trouble in school and home with day dreaming and how writing her day dreams is the key to her success. 

Additional books on learning and living with different disabilities that would pair well are:
Educating Tigers by Wendy Sand Eckel
Sounds Like Home: Growing up Black and Deaf in the South by Mary Herring Wright
Reversals: A Personal Account of Victory over Dyslexia

Woodson, J. (2014).  Brown girl dreaming. New York, NY: Penguin Random House.

Lexile Level 990. Reading age 10-14

http://www.ldonline.org/article/11244/