I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

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Summary: Hope is a great thing!!
Review: I know why the caged bird sings is a story of hope. Marguerite goes from being ignorant of being ignorant to being aware of being aware.This book shows us how we can be blind to the outside world. It is about Marguerite's triumph to be recognised in a world where blacks are no more than cotton pickers. She goes from an innocent little girl to an experienced woman who has the world under her belt.

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Summary: An exciting work, filled with exceptional detail.
Review: This book was required reading for my Pre-International Baccalaureate English class. It gave a great deal of detail about what the life of any Black American in the south is like, and I recommend this novel to anyone curious as to how it was growing up a black female in the south

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Summary: An entrancing tale of a woman's life
Review: Maya Angelou is a wonderful writer. I got so caught up in her book, that when it was done I was not ready to put it down. I shared with her all her griefs and sorrows, her joys and triumphs as I read. And I know I will never forget what this book did to me. I feel it made me an enlightened person. I also know for sure that I will be reading more of Ms. Angelou's books. My one problem is that the story never finished. I reached the last page and couldn't see where the story ended. It was like she had been interrupted while writing. My greatest pleasure would be to meet Ms. Angelou

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Summary: It gives you a real look into Maya Angelou's troubling life.
Review: This book gives you a real understanding of how hard Maya Angelou's life really was and all the troubles she had to face. She did a great job of telling her story. Reviewed by Amy Van Horn-Lincoln Southeast High Schoo

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Summary: A good start for hard-line white republicans
Review: I think this book helped me a lot to understand the African-American culture and roots of the current friction in between two races in this country. Anyone who wants to learn about the long way blacks are coming along in U.S. should read this book and reflect what they learn into their actions and opinions. It is a must read for young white generations for living in peace with their black counterparts

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Summary: Pushing 'the best ever'.....
Review: The one modern book on the MEB a-level reading list that is worth reading. This is the most touching, intelligent, truthful book I have ever had the pleasure to read. Get rid of history books, if you want to knpw what life for a young black girl in the southern sates is REALLY like read this. Takes complete control of your emotions and has you laughing and cry ing at the same time. Completely 'unput-downable'!!!

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Summary: Remember when you were a kid?
Review: ...did it seem that grownups treated you like you didn't really know anything about what was going on around you? Nobody take you seriously? Tell you that you'd 'understand' when you got older? Ms. Angelou's story of her childhood will confirm that you did know what was going on and that grownups weren't the only ones that had feelings and a point of view. And that in spite of cruelty, neglect, poverty, racism and abuse, your life as a human being can shine and have meaning

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Summary: Machiavellian
Review: Not a man to judge others by their Christian names, I opened this book expelling my prejudices and bias. I admit, however, that my history has caught up to me, and I will be unable to complete the undertaking. It is now obvious to me that the author, like the central character of the novel, is an insidious rebel and a Negress who will never belong here. Shut your mind - and your soul - from this treason.

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Summary: Maya as an inspiration for teachers
Review: While reading "...Caged Bird" I payed attention to Angelou's innovative writing style. She is of a new generation who dares to write about life as it really is. Instead of an autobiography that idealizes and candy-coats life, this book tells about life's embarassing and not-so-enjoyable details. I enjoyed this book. It was a fast and easy read. I would recommend it for older audiences (9th grade--on). Some of the content may not be appropriate for younger readers. Teachers: this book could be coupled with Mildred D. Taylor's "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry". It would be a great complement for authors like Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, Zora Neal Hurston, Jean Toomer, Walter Dean Myers,James Baldwin... for a unit on Multicultural American literature. You could address topics like: racism, rape, relocating and its adjustments, teen pregnancy, parental roles, autobiography writing styles... I'm a 21-year-old female studying to be an Enlish teacher.

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Summary: literary brilliance
Review: <br /><br />Ms. Angelou writes with literary brilliance, and "I Know Why The caged Bird Sings" is no exception. Part poetic, part memoir...she brings her life in to full view for all to see, read and feel. She has triumphed.and isn't afraid to tell about it. I rate this highly with books such as "Nighmares Echo" and "The Color Purple" among other wonderful memoirs written in the past year or so.