Author: Maya Angelou
Genre: Autobiography/Classic
Series: Yes (1st in a 7 book series)
Brief Overview:
The book recounts the author's life spanning from the ages of 3-15. Along with her older brother, Bailey, she is sent to live with her maternal grandmother in the small town of Stamps, Arkansas. It is a time of racial unrest and overt racism, and young Maya ( Marguerite) learns quickly to deal with all the prejudices that a small Southern town in that era sadly offers.
Hers is a life filled with triumphs and tragedies, hopes and shattered dreams, and a young girl's unflagging belief that something better was just around the corner. From the small-town confines of Stamps to glitzy San Francisco, her journey is unforgettable.
Here is what Goodreads has to say:
My take:Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local "powhitetrash." At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors ("I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare") will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.
Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read.
There are some very adult themes in the book, so it may not be quite suitable for younger readers, but this book is one that I would encourage everyone to read at least once in their lifetime. I can't even describe adequately how the book touched me. I laughed, cried, mourned, and rejoiced throughout, and it was an honest privilege to share her journey, albeit in such a small way. It made me more aware than I've ever been of self, society, and the very real need for social change. There have been very few books that have honestly changed my life, but this is one of them. It was far more than just a story.
