The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni

Bibliography: Giovanni N. (2003). The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni. New York, NY: HarperCollins publishing.

Brief Annotation: This book is a set of the poems written my Nikki Giovanni (1968-1998) herself. She focuses on African American life and ways such as how they feel about things and how they have been harshly judged in historical times. She also focuses on her house, women and men, and other things that are important to her.

Genre: Poetry

Grade Level: 7-8th

Readers who will like this: Anyone who is looking for a good read of poetry from an African American perspective and those who are looking to research the African American struggles in America.

Response/Rating: I would give this book a 3 because I liked Nikki's contemporary language that helps describe her cultures struggles in the past as well as her feelings in todays world. If you are looking for a book with strong language from the perspective of an African American woman, this is the book to read.

Question to ask before a read aloud: When you think of African American culture, what do you think of? Do you think of happy times or times of struggle that people of this ethnicity went through?