I loved Woodson's approach of presenting this memoir through verse. It really heightens the emotional aspects of her book, whether that's her relationships with her family, her aspirations of becoming a writer, or living through a historic period of the fight for civil rights. Her passion for these elements is within each line, each verse as she recounts memorable moments from her childhood. Though somewhat differing in tone, it reminded me of Nikki Grimes' Ordinary Hazards, another brilliant and evocative memoir in verse. Grimes' memoir delves into heavier topics, but there is a bit of overlap. But what the two hold in common is the complete honesty and openness of their tones. Grimes' displays a deep vulnerability, but a great strength at the same time, while Woodson's words shine with inspiration and hope. 

I think the passage that hit me the most was 'The Selfish Giant' with Woodson closing out the poem with "Words are my brilliance." As someone who also finds comfort in writing, that phrase just struck me. It was all I could think about for the last half of the book. This memoir is full of poignant moments like that, all while structuring the material in a very readable way. Would definitely recommend this to middle graders who share that same passion for writing or enjoy poetry, though it can really be read by anyone.