ParentsPick

Who Was Maya Angelou? — Content Guide for Parents

By Ellen Labrecque, Who HQPenguin Young Readers Group2016-01-12ISBN 9780448488530112 pages
Who Was Maya Angelou?

Themes present

Violence
Religious themes
Racial/cultural content
Sexual identity
Gender roles

Not found

Scary contentProfanityClimate changeLGBTQ+ 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

Born in Missouri in 1928, Maya Angelou had a difficult childhood. Jim Crow laws segregated blacks and whites in the South. Her family life was unstable at times. But much like her poem, "Still I Rise," Angelou was able to lift herself out of her situation and flourish. She moved to California and became the first black—and first female—streetcar operator before following her interest in dance. She became a professional performer in her twenties and toured the U.S. and Europe as an opera star and calypso dancer. But Angelou's writing became her defining talent. Her poems and books, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, brought her international acclaim.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Who Was Maya Angelou? appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    The book discusses Maya Angelou's traumatic childhood, including her sexual assault at age 7 by her mother's boyfriend, which is a significant and violent event in her life that impacted her deeply. This content is presented as part of her life story. The book does not contain genuinely frightening content. While it discusses traumatic events, it does not present them in a way that would be considered scary for children.

  • Does Who Was Maya Angelou? have violence?

    The book discusses Maya Angelou's traumatic childhood, including her sexual assault at age 7 by her mother's boyfriend, which is a significant and violent event in her life that impacted her deeply. This content is presented as part of her life story.

  • Does Who Was Maya Angelou? have scary content?

    The book does not contain genuinely frightening content. While it discusses traumatic events, it does not present them in a way that would be considered scary for children.

  • Does Who Was Maya Angelou? have religious themes?

    The book mentions Maya Angelou's Christian faith and its influence on her social justice work, including her involvement with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. This reflects her engagement with religion in her life and activism.

  • Does Who Was Maya Angelou? have racial/cultural content?

    The book addresses themes of race, particularly through Maya Angelou's experiences with racism and her role as a civil rights activist. It highlights her struggles against systemic injustices and celebrates her contributions to social change.

  • Does Who Was Maya Angelou? have profanity?

    There are no indications of profanity in the book 'Who Was Maya Angelou?'. The content focuses on her life and achievements without including explicit language.

  • Does Who Was Maya Angelou? have climate change?

    There are no references to climate themes in the book. The content focuses on Maya Angelou's life, achievements, and social justice work without addressing environmental issues.

  • Does Who Was Maya Angelou? have sexual identity?

    The narrative includes references to Maya Angelou's experiences with sexual violence, specifically her sexual assault at a young age, and later mentions her work in the sex industry. These aspects are part of her life story and are discussed in the context of her broader experiences.

  • Does Who Was Maya Angelou? have gender roles?

    The book discusses Maya Angelou's experiences as a woman in a male-dominated society and her role as a civil rights champion. It touches on gender roles through her life story, particularly in relation to her achievements and challenges as a woman.

  • Does Who Was Maya Angelou? have lgbtq+ themes?

    No LGBTQ+ themes are explicitly present in the book 'Who Was Maya Angelou?' by Ellen Labrecque. While Maya Angelou is recognized as a champion of equality and diversity, the book's narrative does not focus on her sexual orientation or LGBTQ+ issues.