Book Review - One Last Word: Wisdom from Harlem

 

  1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Grimes, Nikki. (2020). ONE LAST WORD: WISDOM FROM THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE. Ill. by Cozbi A. Cabrera, R. Gregory Christie, Pat Cummings, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Ebony Glenn, Nikki Grimes, E.B. Lewis, Frank Morrison, Christopher Myers, Brian Pinkney, Sean Qualls, James Ransome, Javaka Steptoe, Shadra Strickland, and Elizabeth Zunon. Bloomsbury Children’s Books. New York. ISBN: 9781681196022

  1. PLOT SUMMARY

This book contains a collection of poetry inspired by the Harlem Renaissance. With original poetry written by Nikki Grimes and a handful of poets from history such as Jean Toomer, Georgia Douglas Johnson, and Gwendolyn Bennett provides insight into a cultural movement that spanned two decades. Each of Grimes’ poems provides a unique picture created by an African American illustrator that takes the emotion and turns it into imagery.


  1. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The structure of this novel is compelling as it offers alternating poetry from the author and a different poet from history. These historical poets were prolific during the Harlem Renaissance and provided true awareness into the society and culture during that time. This adds a captivating juxtaposition between the past and a more modern perspective.


The author uses a special form of poetry called Golden Shovel where the word at the end of each line is used to create an entirely different poem. She connects the themes of her larger poem with the second one that she creates using the end of her lines, designing a seamless flow between the two. Along with aligning her stanzas to the right and bolding the final word, the author makes it clear and easy how to read the “hidden” poem. The only two times this method is not used is on the very first and last poem of the book. This signifies the entrance and exit of the Harlem Renaissance era for the reader and poet alike.


Using various illustrators added a unique aspect to the book as each picture had a different style. Some looked like sketches, some were more realistic, and some were abstract, but they all fit with the poem they were associated with. The emotion of each of the poems is shown through the pictures like when a mother is clutching her two children or how the studious girl is walking down a graffiti lined street or the slight lilt in the lips of a painted woman wanting to reach her dreams. Every illustration is completed with thoughtfulness and feeling as to what the poem is truly saying, and how African Americans felt back then and continue to feel now whether those emotions are positive or negative.


  1. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE LEGACY AWARD WINNER

HORN BOOK HONOR AWARD

KIRKUS STAR REVIEW: This striking, passionate anthology reminds young readers and adult fans of poetry alike that while black life remains “no crystal stair,” there remains reason to hope and a reserve of courage from which to draw.”

BOOKLIST REVIEW: “This anthology has plenty to offer, including effective introductions to Harlem Renaissance poets, well-expressed ideas and images, and, for young writers, a challenging way to turn admiration into inspiration.”


  1. CONNECTIONS

* A collection of a mix of modern and historical poems

*Have students create their own poetry using the Golden Shovel style with a focus on making sure that both poems compliment each other well.

*Students could analyze the various historical poets that Grimes picked and have a discussion on why they were chosen or why those specific poems were picked, making connections between the past and more modern poems.

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