Another Brooklyn

by Jacqueline Woodson
Nov 20-27, 2016

Family. Friendship. "This is memory." As a child growing up in the 70s, for August, this was everything. Woodson used a very unique writing style to illustrate August's life. As the adult August reflects, her memories come in snippets. Some clear as crystal, some a little hazier. But with jumps and shifts in time and past, the result was magical.

Although the novel is short, I feel like the ultimate reveal (to August) about her mother was a slow burn. The denial was raw and sad and real. It was also a protective barrier for her little brother.

"When my brother cried, I shushed him, telling him not to worry. She’s coming soon, I said, trying to echo her. She’s coming tomorrow. And tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow." 

The way the story is told is truly poetic. These short sentences, or memories, must sound lovely when read aloud. The mood is one of pain and sorrow, yet I felt a sense of calm after the last page.

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