Sweet Words So Brave: The Story of African American Literature [Hardcover]

James Michael Brodie (Author), Jerry Butler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1996 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

This work is suitable for ages 9-12. During the time of slavery, African Americans could be out to death for reading or writing. But despite tremendous obstacles, African American authors have become some of the world's most respected writers, and created some of the most powerful and beautiful works of literature ever published. This book brings their extraordinary stories to life and, for the first time, makes their work accessible to young people.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bidding his granddaughter to sit by him while he tells stories of "orators turned into writers, brave all in all," the narrator of this enlightening book adopts a folksy, conversational tone as he chronicles the history of African American writing. Yet this is more than a celebration of a remarkable literary legacy. From early "slave narratives" to the poetry of Langston Hughes and the autobiographical writing, the literature discussed here becomes a springboard to an account of the African American experience. Curry and Brodie describe such phenomena as the musical highlights of the Harlem Renaissance, the role of black servicemen in WW II and civil rights activists of the '60s. Speaking with genuine passion and immediacy, the narrator introduces many writers as though they were his personal friends, often giving his story the sound of an eyewitness account; at one point, he even notes, "Sure enough, youngster, I was there." Excerpts from several authors' works and clearly reproduced, large-scale photos offset the book's considerable text. But what really catches the eye here are Butler's stunning, stylized paintings featuring groups of African Americans in a variety of settings. At times evocative of the work of Jacob Lawrence, these compositions contain cogent images and symbols, and are often iconic in their impact. Ages 8-up.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5^-8, younger for reading aloud. In the informal voice of an African American man telling his granddaughter about the literature and history of their people--from the early slave narratives to the poetry and fiction of the best contemporary writers--this large, gorgeously illustrated book is an exciting andinformative introduction. The voice is warm and enthusiastic ("Youngster, you haven't lived 'till you've read this book") but never cute. The literary discussion is direct, relating the work to the writer's life and times, enticing you to the classic books without condescending messages or detailed plot summaries (Invisible Man "doesn't have any easy answers. But that's why lots of people say it's so good"). A few pages are cluttered in design, but the large-size volume is great for sharing, with big, clear type in different sizes and boldly colored oil paintings in the style of Jacob Lawrence. There are also many moving black-and-white photos, including portraits of the authors. The great authors get their due, from Frederick Douglass to Nikki Giovanni, and the long recommended reading list on the last page makes up a kind of core canon of adult writers.

So who's the audience for this book? Most young people won't be ready to read Richard Wright and Toni Morrison for themselves, but they'll feel the excitement in words and pictures, and they will love the poetry and the history, the sense of rich literary connection among people who were once forbidden to read and write. This is a book for sharing across generations in the home, library, and classroom. Even younger listeners will get the power of story to "sing America." Hazel Rochman

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Zino Pr Childrens Books (December 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559331798
• ISBN-13: 978-1559331791
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,399,999 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?, November 20, 2001

By 

Beverly C. Sanders (USA, Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sweet Words So Brave: The Story of African American Literature (Hardcover)

Sweet Words So Brave... what's up with that? The title would more appropriately read- Listen little girl and I'll tell you a story.
An abbreviated history of Black folk in America is given. Since the book is only 20+ pages long, you know not much history can be told in those few pages. However, what is shown is very good.

I am most impressed with the fact that this book gives a serious picture of Black people in America. The Ilustrator, Jerry Butler, needs to produce books on his own as his pictures make the book. Every picture is packed with so much reality I thought I saw myself on one of those pages. Every house on the planet should read this book and dust-off a place on the bookshelf for this book.