I thoroughly understand that there are scientists to whom the world is merely the result of chemical forces or material electrons. I do not belong to this class.
- George Washington Carver
Summary
Marilyn Nelson tells the story of George Washington Carver in her touching poetic format by revealing significant aspects of his interesting life of challenges, inspiration, love for education, profound research and contribution to America's agriculture and discovery of many uses of peanuts.
George Washington Carver was born a slave and raised by his mother's owners. He achieved beyond expectations and earned an education at some of the most prestigious institutions in America. Earning a bachelors degree from Iowa State Agricultural College and a master's at Tuskegee after he was rejected from Highland College (Highland, KS). Carver becomes the first black director of a U.S.D.A Agricultural Experiment Station. While achieving all of this - he still made time to crochet and do needlework, which were two of his favorite hobbies.
Appeal to an audience
Young adult readers and African American History scholars will truly enjoy the story of Carver's life told in a dramatically effective format or poem and verse. Nelson gives us a presentation of Carver's life by highlighting the details in her creative poems and also sharing real life photographs to give her audience a true picture of the times Carver lived in and how he looked throughout his life. More geared for ages in middle school, high school and interested persons of all ages (young and matured), this book is exciting, informative and inspiring to those that understand Carver's obstacles in life. The most interesting aspect of Nelson's tribute to Carver's life is the timeline of pictures that can tell a story within themselves. Nelson's hard work and use of networking to contact the holders of the artifacts, photographs and that had notable information on George Washington Carver, exudes her hard work and proves the honor of the accolades she has received preceding the publishing of this piece. Not only is the life of Carver an inspiration to the audience, but also, Nelson's dedication to presenting such an important American contributor. Young adults can appreciate A Life in Poems on many different levels, including, an appreciation of fine work.
This book can be used to enhance a collection of African American books and novels, for biographical research on George Washington Carver, Black History Month, the study of those that contributed to American agriculture and for review of author Marilyn Nelson.
AWARDS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
John Newbery Award
Coretta Scott King Honor Award
National Book Award Finalist
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
"Each Poem stands as a finely wrought whole of such high caliber that one can hardly name a favorite."
- The Horn Book Magazine
"The poems seem not works of artifice, but honest statements of pure, natural truths."
- School Library Journal
"Oh, Marilyn Nelson, what a magnificent job you have done to bring the past so alive it looks like our future."
- Nikki Giovanni
CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS:
·African Americans
·Agriculture
·Historic Figures
·Prejudice and Racism
Other Books By Nelson
For the Body (1978)
Mama's Promises (1985)
Partial Truth (1992)
Magnificat (1994)
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