I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Maya Angelou
About the book:
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" is based on the writer Maya Angelou's childhood. The story is about a young girl in the South who is sent to live with her grandmother after her parents divorce.
Maya Angelou herself:
Maya Angelou recently released her autobiography I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, one of seven books bearing her name. This book handles topics such as racism and segregation, displacement, and Mrs. Angelou's stories on resisting racism. However, Mrs. Angelou has not let the actions of her past defy the woman that she is today, she has used them to learn.
Bailey Johnson Jr.
Bailey is Maya's older brother. He is intelligent and mature beyond his age, quite like Maya. He enjoys sports and does well in social situations, unlike his isolated sister. Bailey senses the negative influences of racism, but ignores it and lets the negative moments pass.
Maya Angelou
Marguerite Ann Johnson grew up as a black girl in the rural South. Maya is haunted by her displacement and she often thinks that she is ugly. She isolates herself and turns to reading.
Annie Henderson
Maya and Bailey's grandmother, she raises them for most of their childhood. She brings the children up according to Christian values and has strict rules. Both children respect her and love her anyway.
Setting
Stamps, Arkansas; St. Louis, Missouri; Oakland, California; San Francisco, California
Action/Problem
Maya has to face her coming-of-age as a southern black girl, confronting racism, sexism, violence, and loneliness. Her parents divorce, and things are never the same between them afterwards. Maya is raped by her mother's boyfriend at a very young age, and that made her shut down. She didn't speak to anyone about it except for her older brother Bailey. Maya lived for a month in the junkyard with homeless teenagers. She then became San Francisco's first black streetcar conductor. She became pregnant and then graduated school. Later, she gave birth to her son and began to gain her confidence back.
My favorite part:
My favorite part of the book was when Maya gained her confidence back. It was very difficult to see her struggle through out the book but it made her stronger in the end. She has used her past to become the woman she is today.
I give this book....
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)