Free to Dream: The Making of a Poet, Langston Hughes [Hardcover]

Audrey Osofsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1996 | Age Level: 9 and up

From alienated beginnings in predominantly white Kansas towns emerged one of the great voices of the Harlem Renaissance. This lyric portrait of one of America's finest poets transcends conventional biography to touch the hearts of young readers. Ages 9 up.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9?A biography of an important figure in African American literature, culture, and politics. Osofsky concentrates on Hughes's childhood and the formation of his character in the face of adversity, portraying a young man interested in the world, in schooling, and in poetry. The poet's extraordinary accomplishments, even in elementary and high school, are documented, with no invented incidents or language, and supported by black-and-white photographs. This is a readable, thorough work equal to the task of presenting the subject's genius and importance. But the last 25 years of Hughes's life are passed over with remarkable haste and lack of commentary, and the issue of his sexuality is handled without the honesty it deserves. The peculiarity of the dense commentary on the poet's youth, as opposed to the lightning race to the end, begs more questions than it answers.?Ruth K. MacDonald, Bay Path College, Longmeadow, MA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Scientific American

A biography of an important figure in African American literature culture, and politics. Osofsky concentrates on Hughes's childhood and the formation of his character in the face of adversity, portraying a young man interested in the world, in schooling, and in poetry. The poet's extraordinary accomplishments, even in elementary and high school, are documented, with no invented incidents or language, and supported by black-and-white photographs. This is a readable, thorough work equal to the task of presenting the subject's genius and importance. But the last 25 years of Hughes's life are passed over with remarkable haste and lack of commentary, and the issue of his sexuality is handled without the honesty it deserves. The peculiarity of the dense commentary on the poet's youth, as opposed to the lightning race to the end, begs more questions than it answers.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Lothrop Lee & Shepard; 1st edition (February 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688106056
• ISBN-13: 978-0688106058
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,085,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars About a famous black poet, March 27, 2001

By 

W. K. Miller "kenmiller32" (NC, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Free to Dream: The Making of a Poet, Langston Hughes (Hardcover)

This book is a biography of the poet Langston Hughes; it is arranged in typical chronological fashion, primarily including information about his youth and early career.

Free To Dream is excellent overall. Langston Hughes was a successful writer with an entertaining and exciting career. Osofsky doesn't skimp on the depressing details, including mention of Langston's thorny relationship with his father, rejections at soda counters and restaurants (due to his race), and several other disappointments, mostly economic. ("To save money, he borrowed textbooks from the library instead of buying them, and washed his socks and handkerchiefs by hand.") Still, this is an entertaining read and a good overall assessment of the author's career. High school students who have been entertained or inspired by his poetry will find more inspiration here.

This is a good biography, probably best for young readers, aged 10-18. It's just over 100 pages, which makes it a good resource for a report. It's not so long you can't read the whole thing in one day.