Brown girl dreaming

 

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. Nancy Paulsen Books.

 

 

Brown Girl Dreaming is an autobiographical memoir centering around the author, Jacqueline Woodson.  She gives us a solid view of what life was like in the South and how it compares to New York.  The author gives us a detailed look at life as an African American girl at the time of Civil Rights movement.  Jackie visits her family down South and is able to learn from her grandparents about the treatment of different people, whether it be by class or color of skin. 

 

Jackie immediately notices the differences when her mother moves her family to New York after her parents separate.  While in New York, Jackie meets new friends and she is able to see the differences amongst social classes.  It is in New York that Jackie decides to become a writer. 

           

The book is highly credible due to the fact that it is based on the author’s memoirs.  There is a true sense of reality when the reference to time and place is clear.  The author’s point of view on religion is touched upon, but not judged.  She questions her religion and bases that on what she is seeing in real life. 

           

Havighurst’s Development Task is addressed with the changes that Jackie experiences.  A more mature reading audience would benefit from this book as well as a reader that is aware of social injustice or historical events.  Additional readings might include Kindred by Octavia E. Butler or The Color Purple by Alice Walker.