sandraagee's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really cool book. Nikki Grimes takes poems from the Harlem Renaissance and uses them as the basis for her own "Golden Shovel" poems, which appropriately comment on what it means to be Black today. The poems themselves are lovely and powerful, and especially impressive when you consider how challenging the Golden Shovel format is to work with. I really enjoy how Grimes' poems tie in with the Harlem Renaissance poems from which she draws inspiration, but also tell their own stories and stand strongly on their own.
This is an engaging book, but upon my first read it wasn't super easy. Part of that might have been the environment where I was reading, so I definitely want to try again at a time when I can better focus. It's worth noting that the book grabbed me enough that I WANT to do this.
My one critique of the book: When Grimes only borrows a line, or even a stanza, from a Harlem Renaissance poem, the line/stanza is highlighted in bold. If she borrows the entire poem, nothing is highlighted. I found this a bit confusing, and I wish that these poems would have been printed in bold to make it more clear.
This is an engaging book, but upon my first read it wasn't super easy. Part of that might have been the environment where I was reading, so I definitely want to try again at a time when I can better focus. It's worth noting that the book grabbed me enough that I WANT to do this.
My one critique of the book: When Grimes only borrows a line, or even a stanza, from a Harlem Renaissance poem, the line/stanza is highlighted in bold. If she borrows the entire poem, nothing is highlighted. I found this a bit confusing, and I wish that these poems would have been printed in bold to make it more clear.
afro8921's review against another edition
5.0
Nikki Grimes uses the Golden Shovel Method to great effect in "One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance". The Golden Shovel Method takes one striking line from another poem and uses it to create a new poem. The end of each line in the new poem ends with one word from the striking line of the old poem. I really enjoyed the selection of poems and the way Ms. Grimes used them to both reflect the old poem but breath new life into the words of the past.
befrazzledenby's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I've never read a poetry anthology aimed at MG readers, so this was new, but such a delight. Grimes' language and metaphors were simple, but well crafted and implemented, especially alongside her form and the stunning artwork. The first half wasn't my jam, hence the not 5 rating, but I really enjoyed the latter half. Felt like my grandfather was talking to me.:)
amarieads's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
loffy81's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful collection of poems! I’m not a poetry reader, but Grimes takes poetry written during the Harlem Renaissance and creates powerful “golden shovel” style poetry. Try it, you won’t be disappointed.
andreajay's review against another edition
4.0
This is a collection of Harlem Renaissance poetry, along with poems that Nikki Grimes spun off of each one. Nikki’s poetry is good, but I was absolutely stunned by the Harlem Renaissance poems.
mapleleaf's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
anamaria427's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
¡Qué sorpresa más maravillosa! Aprendí, me conmoví, me sorprendí, me ví en esos poemas... Qué gran libro. Por supuesto que merece una traducción al español. Urgente.