ParentsPick

UC Brown Girl Dreaming — Content Guide for Parents

By Jacqueline WoodsonPenguin Audio2014-09-19ISBN 9781611763492
UC Brown Girl Dreaming

Themes present

Violence
Religious themes
Racial/cultural content

Not found

Scary contentProfanityClimate changeSexual identityGender rolesLGBTQ+ themes

Content themes

Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.

Get the full theme breakdown in the app

Detailed evidence, confidence ratings, and source citations for every theme.

Download for iOS

Example theme card

Religious themes

PRESENT

Contains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.

About this book

Product description Jacqueline Woodson, one of today's finest writers, tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse. Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child’s soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson’s eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become. Praise for Jacqueline Woodson: Ms. Woodson writes with a sure understanding of the thoughts of young people, offering a poetic, eloquent narrative that is not simply a story . . . but a mature exploration of grown-up issues and self-discovery.”— The New York Times Book Review About the Author Jacqueline Woodson (www.jacquelinewoodson.com) is the winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults, the recipient of three Newbery Honors for After Tupac and D Foster, Feathers and Show Way, and a two-time finalist for the National Book Award for Locomotion and Hush. Other awards include the Coretta Scott King Award and Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Miracle's Boys. Her most recent books are her novel Beneath a Meth Moon and her picture books Each Kindness and This Is the Rope. She lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is UC Brown Girl Dreaming appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    The narrative includes discussions of violence related to the civil rights movement, specifically violent reactions to peaceful protests and the fears faced by African Americans traveling in the South during the 1960s. This context highlights the societal violence experienced by the community. There are no genuinely frightening elements in the book. While it addresses serious topics like racism and violence, it does so in a way that is age-appropriate and reflective rather than scary.

  • Does UC Brown Girl Dreaming have violence?

    The narrative includes discussions of violence related to the civil rights movement, specifically violent reactions to peaceful protests and the fears faced by African Americans traveling in the South during the 1960s. This context highlights the societal violence experienced by the community.

  • Does UC Brown Girl Dreaming have scary content?

    There are no genuinely frightening elements in the book. While it addresses serious topics like racism and violence, it does so in a way that is age-appropriate and reflective rather than scary.

  • Does UC Brown Girl Dreaming have religious themes?

    The book discusses themes of Christianity and includes references to the author's upbringing as a Jehovah's Witness. It explores the benefits and contradictions of organized religion, contrasting various sects of Christianity and Islam with more abstract forms of spirituality.

  • Does UC Brown Girl Dreaming have racial/cultural content?

    The memoir centers on the author's experiences with race, detailing the impact of segregation, discrimination, and the civil rights movement on her life. It highlights the struggles and resilience of the Black community during this period.

  • Does UC Brown Girl Dreaming have profanity?

    The book does not contain profanity. It emphasizes good manners and respectful behavior, aligning with the values of the author's upbringing.

  • Does UC Brown Girl Dreaming have climate change?

    There are no themes related to climate activism or environmentalism in the book. The narrative does not address climate issues but focuses on personal and societal challenges faced by the author.

  • Does UC Brown Girl Dreaming have sexual identity?

    No sexual content is present in the book. The memoir focuses on the author's childhood experiences, family dynamics, and identity without delving into sexual themes.

  • Does UC Brown Girl Dreaming have gender roles?

    While the book touches on themes related to gender, it does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. The narrative primarily focuses on race and identity rather than explicitly addressing gender dynamics.

  • Does UC Brown Girl Dreaming have lgbtq+ themes?

    No LGBTQ+ themes are explicitly present in the narrative of 'Brown Girl Dreaming.' While Jacqueline Woodson's broader body of work includes LGBTQ+ themes, this specific memoir focuses on her experiences growing up as an African American girl in the segregated South and does not address her sexuality.