I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

 


    "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou is one of the most classic autobiographies to date. She tells of her difficult childhood, and the hardships she faced, but she does so in a poetic manner. Maya explains the racism she experiences in Stamps, Arkansas, as well as her familial problems she suffers in Missouri and California. Everywhere she goes, her life is followed by tragedy, until she is finally old enough to find her own footing in the world and stand up for herself. Her story is very emotional, painful and yet so moving and inspiring. 

    As a teacher, I would suggest this book for 10th - 12th grade, as there is some very mature and intense moments in the novel. I also believe it is important to preface with the culture of the time, and explain what most people of color were experiencing at the time. This is a great novel to teach about autobiographies and memoirs, and also to delve into a poetry unit. I also view it as an opportunity to teach about diversity and tolerance, and that you never know what someone has been through.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Princess Boy

Image
My Princess Boy by Cheryl Kilodavis Illustrated by Suzanne Desimone     The theme for this week was "boys and books". I chose "My Princess Boy" by Cheryl Kilodavis because it is something different than what a teacher may usually read. The book does not have much of a plot, but it is very colorful to look at, and makes a profound point. I would say the writing is reminiscent of a poem, and it's told from a mother's point of view. There is a sing-songy sound when you read it, as each page begins with "My princess boy...".  Nothing in this book is even mildly inappropriate, but it is on several "banned book" lists throughout the United States. The reasoning for this is along the lines of the book "indoctrinating" or "Brainwashing" students, but in my personal opinion, that really misses the mark.     Boys are often taught from a young age it's "wrong" for them to like pink, or it's "wrong" for...
Read more

Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka

Image
   "Hey, Kiddo"     To begin, I'd like to say that I am glad books like this exist.  The author, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, grew up mostly with his grandparents- Joe and Shirley. They took custody of him when he was only 3 or 4 years old, because his mother was an addict, and his father was completely absent.  Jarrett's mother ended up in jail or rehab on and off, and he was not able to see his mother often after he was taken in by his grandparents. He did not really understand why until he was in third grade, and they explained the reality to him. Overall, his grandparents took very good care of Jarrett. They made sure he had shelter, food, and a good school to attend. He had aunts and uncles that were present in his life, and good friends. He always has a love of drawing, and his art takes him many places. The book is his life story, and it highlights the ups and the downs. He makes a beautiful point; that life can be terrible in so many ways- but it can also ...
Read more

After The Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again) by Dan Santat

Image
  "After The Fall" Cover      "After The Fall" by Dan Santat is a play on the popular children's nursery rhyme "Humpty Dumpty". Most of us know the story of Humpty Dumpty. He was an egg sitting on a wall, but then he fell and was cracked into many pieces. In the original rhyme, we are led to believe that is the end of Humpty Dumpty's story. However, author Dan Santat took it upon himself to explain what happened to Humpty Dumpty afterwards.  The author explains that our favorite egg friend is in fact an avid birdwatcher, and that ever since his infamous fall he has been afraid of heights. The fear of heights has hindered his ability to view the birds, which has made his life less enjoyable. Humpty Dumpty then decides to start making paper planes. He is shown working very hard to create a paper plane that resembles a bird. He then goes outside to fly the paper plane, and the plane lands on the other side of the wall- the exact wall where he had fall...
Read more