Genre: Literary Fiction

I have long loved Jacqueline Woodson novels, but had lost track of her just a bit when I retired from being a high school librarian. As I was looking for books to read - Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson appeared. I’m not sure how I missed it before, and what an easy choice! Focusing primarily on August, this short, lovely, lyrical book follows the growth of her and her girls: Sylvia, Angela, and Gigi. August moves to Brooklyn with her dad and brother after the death of her mother. She is left largely on her own, trying to find her way in her new urban home, believing for a long time that her mom is not really dead. She doesn’t truly begin to blossom until she becomes a part of her foursome. These girls navigate creepy old men, coming of age moments, first love, death, poverty always supporting each other.

August is such a multidimensional character. Through retrospect, we are given insight into her childhood. We learn of her mother and the probable mental illness that contributed to her death. Somehow Woodson paints this extraordinarily difficult childhood with an almost magical brush. She captures the innocence of August’s childhood in an almost painful way. She captures much of her growing up in Brooklyn the same way - young girls who become accustomed to men offering them money to “see their panties” at a very young age. August - who is fully grown and mourning the loss of her father reflects back on her life in Brooklyn in a very objective way. She threads together the good, the bad, all of the experiences in a very thoughtful way (I find I want to say that she has had excellent counseling and can’t find the one word to encompass that). The friendships these girls create are also beautiful to read about - in spite of their differences, losses, and difficult environments. Though they are extremely close, the friendships do not transfer into adulthood. That fact of life makes me a little sad, but also reflects much of my experience. I’ve had different friendships that define different times in my life. Dramatic events don’t always break up a friendship; sometimes time, distance, and growth in different directions do the same. I have been known to duck out of an aisle at the store to avoid contact with someone from my past - for no real notable reason. Woodson captures the spirit of the 70s. She weaves in Vietnam and music and other cultural allusions seamlessly. We feel the 70s for certain, but also get the sense that what these girls experience is timeless.

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson is a poetic and thoughtful slice of life that captures the coming of age of August and her friends. I have to say that the book reminded me in some ways of Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street. The juxtaposition of innocence and very adult experiences are part of both. And both end with hope, with a processing that suggests a good future for these girls as adults.