Brown Girl Dreaming

 Memoir by Jacqueline Woodson.

This is such a beautifully written memoir of the author’s growing up years. Told entirely in free verse, it touches on divorce, moving, civil rights protests, extended family, life as a Jehovah’s Witness, lead paint poisoning, an uncle in jail, sibling rivalries, friends and neighbors, and most of all, her desire to become a writer. And although my growing up years were different from hers, there are things we have in common. Our humanity, our dreams, our love for our families... these are the things that bind us all together as people, that give me hope for unity rather than racial divisions. Ages 10-adult.