Legacy

November 15, 2020
Grimes' new collection of poems weaves a contemporary Black feminist impulse while recovering the underappreciated contributions of Harlem Renaissance women poets. Winner of both the Children's Literature Legacy Award and the ALAN Award, Grimes continues to deliver distinctively situated, heart-filled offerings that tie together generations of Black artistic excellence aimed at incubating positive social change. Here her focus turns toward less-well-known women poets of the early 20th century, women like Georgia Douglas Johnson, Jessie Redmon Fauset, Gwendolyn Bennett, Mae V. Cowdery, Anne Spencer, Effie Lee Newsome, Esther Popel, and Alice Dunbar-Nelson. To their poems included here, Grimes adds her own. These are done in the form of the Golden Shovel, invented by poet Terrance Hayes in homage to Gwendolyn Brooks, and they brilliantly resample the words of the women's works. All, both collected and Grimes', decidedly emerge from the experiences and worldviews of Black women and girls. They emphasize an ethos of care for oneself, one's communities, and the Earth together for the possibility of a brighter tomorrow. Accompanying them are contributions from an all-star cast of Black women illustrators, empowering artworks that could be at home in a museum. This book is exquisitely rendered. After more than 77 books, Grimes remains as inspired as ever, drawing on the historic strength of Black women's brilliance to give a timely, healing mirror to a new generation of readers. The ancestors are proud. Black girls everywhere, this collection is salve and sanctuary. (author biographies, illustrator biographies) (Poetry. 9-adult)

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Starred review from December 7, 2020
In this expansive introduction to Harlem Renaissance women poets, Grimes utilizes the Golden Shovel poetry technique, which Terrance Hayes conceived in homage to Gwendolyn Brooks, wherein one takes “a short poem in its entirety, or a line from the poem... to create a new poem using the words from the original.” The result is a thoroughly contemporary, compassionate collection in three parts (“Heritage,” “Earth Mother,” and “Taking Notice,”) that juxtaposes the work of poets—including Mae V. Cowdery, Alice Dunbar-Nelson, and Esther Popel—with Grimes’s innovative feminist remixes. Acclaimed Black women artists—such as Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Cozbi Cabrera, and Vashti Harrison—illustrate, making for an abundantly layered landscape of Black female experiences. Front matter includes a preface and introductions to the Harlem Renaissance and the poetic form; back matter includes an author’s note, poet biographies, sources, and an index. Ages 10–14.

December 1, 2020
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* This collection of golden shovel poems, a form that takes a striking line from one poem and uses it to create a new poem, builds on the work of women poets during the Harlem Renaissance. As the title suggests, Grimes builds on the legacy of oft unsung voices, such as Alice Dunbar-Nelson, Mae V. Cowdery, and Angelina Weld Grimk�, in a three-part exploration of heritage, the Earth, and visibility. There is much to chew on here as readers take in each poem and contemplate the relationship between the originals and Grimes' own remarkable takes on each work. Adding more depth to this collection, each poem is amplified in its message with illustrations from artists such as Vashti Harrison and Laura Freeman. With a wide array of mediums from highly textured collage work to digital watercolors, the art here is unified in its emphasis on portraying the beauty and uniqueness of Black girls and women. Included at the end is a resources section that offers poet and artist biographies to deepen readers' connections with the works. Whether you read this collection in full or in part or use it as a springboard for your own shot at some golden shovel poetry, this unique title is sure to spark thought and touch hearts.

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Starred review from January 1, 2021

Gr 7 Up-Grimes spotlights the work of lesser-known Black women poets of the Harlem Renaissance. The book begins with an explanation of the Harlem Renaissance and Golden Shovel poems. The collection is divided into three parts: "Heritage," "Earth Mother," and "Taking Notice." Golden Shovel poetry uses "a short poem in its entirety, or a line from the poem, called a striking line." The poem or striking line is then used "to create a new poem using the words from the original." Most of Grimes's poems incorporate lines of text or the entirety of a short poem into each verse. The text of the featured poet, which is used to create the new poem, is highlighted in bold type. The juxtaposition of Grimes's poetry and the original works provide a compelling reflection on gender, race, politics, and everyday life. Full-page, vibrant illustrations rendered by a variety of artists are included throughout, such as a woman whose head is a volcano for Lucy Ariel Williams's "Prelude" and "Slow Burn" by Grimes. Educators should note that the poem "Flag Salute" by Esther Popel describes lynching. Back matter includes brief biographies of the poets and artists, an index, and a list of sources. VERDICT A striking collection of voices, who examine and celebrate the experience of Black women from the past and present. An excellent introduction to Black women writers who were ignored by history.-Tamara Saarinen, Pierce County Lib., WA

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