Grimes, Nikki. (2017). One Last Word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance. Bloomsbury USA Childrens.
Summary
Most people don't really dive into the Harlem Renaissance in depth until they're in high school or college, but Nikki Grimes brings the poetry that came from that era alive in her reimagined, three part, book of verse. Nikki Grimes pairs her own creatively "shoveled" poems with the original verse that was born in the Harlem Renaissance to answer her one question: "How do people deal with life when fear and hate are right outside the door?" She spends the entire book answering this question with original verse, historical poems, and beautiful African American artwork.
A Teacher's Perspective
This book's cross-curricular potential is insurmountable. Not only can teachers in the ELA classroom unlock its creative writing and poetic form options, but history teachers can use it as a reference for information about the Harlem Renaissance and African-American culture, both historical and presently.
From a teacher's perspective, the book's entirety is magic. Grimes offers a glimpse into her method by explaining her writing style as "the golden shovel," something she was taught. She offers background information on the Harlem Renaissance, historical context, and actual poetry from that era. Then, she divides her novel into key points by first asking a question, spending three sections breaking it down, and finally answering it with a bit of hope. I highly recommend this book for both history and ELA teachers alike.
Want to know more?
To purchase your own copy of One Last Word: Click here!
Bloomsbury offers a teacher's guide. Access it by clicking here!
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