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Why it matters
It shows a young writer discovering voice amid family and historical change.

2014 selection · Young readers
A verse memoir recalls Woodson's childhood in South Carolina and New York during the civil-rights era.
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It shows a young writer discovering voice amid family and historical change.
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You enjoy lyrical memoirs about identity and belonging.
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Primary record
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National Book Award for Young People's Literature — official winner recordOfficial record↗ (opens in a new tab)NPR Books We Love — official recommendation recordOfficial record↗ (opens in a new tab)NPR Books We Love — official recordOfficial record↗ (opens in a new tab)