Home | Books By Year | Books from 1997
Carver: A Life in Poems
Buy Carver: A Life in Poems now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the book. And once you've experienced the book, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'Carver: A Life in Poems' is a 1997 collection of poems written by the American poet Marilyn Nelson about George Washington Carver.
Overview
Carver was an American inventor and educator; he was first born a slave in Diamond, Missouri, in about 1864. He lived with many struggles growing up while being raised by a white couple who owned his mother. Carver's life as a slave is described in poems written by those who once knew him during his lifetime, such as his friends and family all in one book.
The book was first published on April 23, 1997. It received positive reviews and was awarded with the John Newbery Medal. The author of the book, Marilyn Nelson, is an American award-winning writer. Nelson was born on April 26, 1946 in Cleveland, Ohio.Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014. http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/marilyn-nelson She began writing in elementary school and attended the schools, the University of Minnesota and the University of Pennsylvania.
Individual poems
* "'Out of 'Slave's Ransom'"' (Written by John Bentley): Moses Carver loses his slave-girl, Mary, and her son. Carver begs Bentley to find his slave-girl in exchange for a horse. Bentley later finds Mary and her son in Arkansas, and hands them to Mrs. Carver.
* "'Prayer of the Ivory-Handed Knife"' (Written by Susan Carver): Susan's father had given her Mary's orphans, Jim and George. Susan believed that the orphans would feel as though they were strangers. However, it wasn't until Susan got to know them that she was thankful to have them in her life.
* "'Watkins Laundry and Apothecary"' (Written by Mariah Watkins): Mariah takes in a ten-year-old child who attended her school for colored children. He has no mother and has only a handkerchief tied to a stick to his name. He is sweet to the neighborhood children and taught girls to crochet. Over time, the child grew and left to find a teacher that knew more than he knew."Nelson, Marilyn. Carver: A Life in Poems. Asheville, NC: Front Street, 2001. Print.
* "'Drifter":' A short poem on unanswered questions with hidden meaning, such as why rain falls, what makes corn proud and squash so humble."
* "'The Perceiving Self"' (Written in Fort Scott, Kansas): A detailed description of the sighting of George Carver. Carver, the music shaped and colored by brown lips, white teeth, pink tongue."
* "'Washboard Wizard"' (Written in Highland, Kansas 1885): Carver is talented when it comes to using the washboard, hence the title Washboard Wizard. It is said that he is very smart and was offered a scholarship to college. Even though he lives in poverty in a little shack, he was still the best wash woman in town."
* "'Old Settlers Reunion"' (Written in Ness County, Kansas): After the narrator encounters Carver, Carver is said to have kept to himself. However, during the short time that he spent with Carver, Carver was always joyous and humble.
* 'A Ship Without a Rudder' (Written by Helen Milholland): Helen had fallen in love with John at first sight at the church. The love became mutual, and Helen was confident with her decision to marry him.
* 'The Prayer of Miss Budd' (Written in Simpson College, Iowa, 1890): A professor at Simpson College vents to God on a student she has become acquainted to. The student is a poor artist who paints with such lostness." The professor prays for the ability to teach that talented painter.
* 'The Last Rose of Summer:' Simple actions become pointless when Jim gets smallpox. What good piano lessons paid for with paintings, what good a rosebud boutonniere if Jim your brother smallpox."
Critical reception
Critics have found 'Carver: A Life in Poems 'to be a great portrayal of George Washington Carver's life. Nina Lindsay, of School Library Journal, found Carver: A Life in Poems to be a beautiful and intricate interior biography of a man whom many readers will be familiar with from much drier introductions."Lindsay, Nina. "Carver: A Life In Poems." School Library Journal 51.4 (2005): 57. Alison Follos, of School Library Journal, writes off Nelson's collection of Carver's poems to have eloquent verses told in different voices that come together as a tight-knit documentary."Follos, Alison. "Carver: A Life in Poems." School Library Journal. N.p., n.d. "Marilyn Nelson has engaged the extraordinary George Washington Carver as a biographical subject in a book which renews our appreciation of his creative legacy.""Project MUSE - Carver: A Life in Poems (review)." Project MUSE - Carver: A Life in Poems (review). Callaloo, n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
Awards
Newbery Medal"2002 Newbery Medal and Honor Books." American Library Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2014 http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/newberymedal/newberyhonors/2002newberymedal> Honor Book in 2002.
References
See also
* Children's Literature
* Marilyn Nelson
Category:American poetry collections
Category:1997 novels
Category:Newbery Honor-winning works
Category:George Washington Carver
Buy Carver: A Life in Poems now from Amazon
<-- Return to books from 1997