Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson is a memoir in verse detailing her childhood, family history, and the beginning of her writing journey. Woodson, born in Ohio, experiences life in both the North and the South, navigating family separations, religious upbringing, racial prejudice, dyslexia, and the civil rights movement, while forming lasting friendships and discovering her passion for storytelling. The book references the incarceration of a family member.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson combines poetic narrative and rich imagery to portray her youth in the segregated South and later in Brooklyn. Praised for its lyrical prose and emotional depth, the book is accessible and engaging for young readers. However, some critics felt the poetic structure may not appeal to all. Overall, it is a compelling, evocative memoir.

Ideal for fans of The House on Mango Street, readers who savor poetic prose and coming-of-age stories will find Brown Girl Dreaming captivating. Jacqueline Woodson’s memoir in verse appeals to those interested in themes of identity, family, and history, particularly within the context of African American experiences.

Contemplative / Emotional / Hopeful / Nostalgic / Heartwarming

- Brown Girl Dreaming won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2014, a prestigious honor recognizing exceptional literature for young people in the United States.
- Jacqueline Woodson's poetic memoir uses free verse to explore her experiences growing up in both the North and South of the United States during the 1960s and 1970s.
- The book received the Coretta Scott King Award, which is given to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.

**Jacqueline Woodson**  
Jacqueline is the main character and narrator, whose experiences and family history shape her journey towards becoming a writer, overcoming challenges with spelling and embracing her unique strengths.  

**Hope Woodson**  
Hope is Jacqueline’s older brother, known for his quiet and sensitive nature, who transitions from an interest in comic books in South Carolina to science and singing in New York City.  

**Odella Woodson**  
Jacqueline’s academically gifted older sister, whom Jacqueline admires but also feels pressure to live up to in terms of traditional academic expectations.  

**Roman Woodson**  
Jacqueline’s younger brother, born in New York City, who faces health challenges and initially seems like a stranger to Jacqueline.  

**Jack Woodson**  
Jacqueline’s father, a proud and determined man who cherishes his Northern heritage and is troubled by his family's move to the South.  

**MaryAnn Irby**  
Jacqueline Woodson’s mother, portrayed as strong-willed and adaptable, balancing her own desires with raising her children and adhering to family religious traditions.  

**Gunnar Irby**  
Jacqueline’s maternal grandfather, a charismatic and significant father figure for Jacqueline, whose life in the South impacts the family deeply.  

**Georgiana Irby**  
Jacqueline’s maternal grandmother, a strict Jehovah’s Witness who provides stability and comfort to the Woodson children while also enforcing religious discipline.

Jacqueline Woodson

Middle grade

Novel/Book in Verse

Nonfiction

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