I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing

1. Maya Angelou
2. I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing
3. n/a
4. autobiography
5. no subgenre
6. racism/strong black women
7. Maya Angelou, her mother, her brother-Bailey, her grandmother, her father, Uncle Willie
8. no awards, 1969
9. Random House Publishing Group

10. This was a very touching story. It was about the earlier years of the author, Maya Angelou, and told by her. In this book, she releases her feelings and let readers into her life. In the story, after their parents divorced, Maya and her brother, Bailey was sent by their mother to live with their grandmother. This story takes place in Arkansas during the 1930s-40s. At this time racism and segregation was taking place. Maya was 17 years old. Her grandmother owns the only black owned store in the black community in Arkansas. Maya faces many issues with herself and others. She has to deal with the fact that her parents divorced and did not want her or her brother and being bullied. Other children called her ugly. Then, the unthinkable happens and Maya is raped by Mr. Freeman, her mother's boyfriend. Maya goes through post trauma with the rape and becomes a mute. This is a touching story told by Maya and would work well in the classroom when discussing life struggles, racism, or even during black history month.