Rise!

From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou
By Bethany Hegedus, Tonya Engel

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the publication of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, this beautiful biography of Maya Angelou describes how she rose above a childhood of trauma and emotional pain to become one of the most inspiring voices of our lifetime.

Description

Writer, activist, trolley car conductor, dancer, mother, and humanitarian–Maya Angelou’s life was marked by transformation and perseverance. In this comprehensive picture-book biography geared towards older readers, Bethany Hegedus lyrically traces Maya’s life from her early days in Stamps, Arkansas, through her work as a freedom fighter to her triumphant rise as a poet of the people.

A foreword by Dr. Angelou’s grandson Colin Johnson, describes how a love of literature and poetry helped young Maya overcome childhood trauma and turn adversity into triumph. Coupled with Tonya Engel’s metaphorical and emotive illustrations, this biography beautifully conveys the heartaches and successes of this truly phenomenal woman, and in a powerful tribute to the written word.

About the Creators

Bethany Hegedus

Bethany Hegedus is an award-winning author of picture books and middle-grade novels, including Grandfather Gandhi and Alabama Spitfire. A former educator, she teaches widely and enjoys mentoring young writers. Hegedus is owner and creative director of the Writing Barn, a writing workshop and retreat center. She lives with her family in Austin, Texas. You can find her online at www.bethanyhegedus.com.

Tonya Engel

Tonya Engel is a self-taught painter and children's book illustrator, including the pictures for Our Lady of Guadalupe and the jacket art for Hurricane Child. Her work is inspired by southern folk artists. Early in her career she explored abstract painting, but soon began to concentrate on figurative form mixed with emotion and expressionistic narrative. This art style was the perfect complement to Maya Angelou's lyrical storytelling. Engel lives in Houston, Texas. You can see more of her work at www.tonyaengel.com.

Awards

  • Best Children's Books of the Year

    Bank Street College of Education

  • Editors' Choice

    Booklist

  • Notable Books in the Language Arts

    National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

  • Amelia Bloomer Book List

    American Library Association (ALA)

  • Notable Poetry and Verse Novels

    National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)

  • Septima Clark Book Award

    National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)

  • Dogwood Readers Award

    Missouri Association of School Librarians

Reviews

  • * "An important and powerful addition to any biography collection."

    - School Library Journal
  • "In propulsive free verse and vibrant illustrations, Hegedus and Engel present the life and legacy of Maya Angelou. . . Engel's warm, swirling acrylic and oil paintings illustrate the various moods of the story, from the anticipation of journey and discovery to the looming shadow of the young girl's abuser to the passionate work of the civil rights movement—and the metaphorical cage Angelou finds herself in after tragedy. The thoughtful back matter includes a detailed biographical timeline, photographs, an author's note, websites of sexual assault organizations, selected bibliography, and quotation sources."

    - The Horn Book
  • "This deeply important story will foster further discussion around racism, sexual abuse, and courage."

    - Kirkus Reviews
  • "In Engel's colorful paintings, strong women are rooted like trees, injustices are weighed in scales, and words soar and fly, representing the magical realities, emotional expressiveness, and deep resonance of Angelou's poetic vision."

    - Publishers Weekly
  • "In merely 48 pages, Maya Angelou's remarkable life is presented in full, through rhythmic free verse that emphasizes her formative years."

    - Booklist

Hardcover

  • ISBN 9781620145876
  • Publication Date Aug 13, 2019
  • Trim Size 10.75 × 9 in
  • Weight 1.125 lbs
  • Page Count 48
  • Interests

  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JNF / Biography & Autobiography / Women
  • BISAC Category 2 JNF / Poetry / General
  • BISAC Category 3 JNF / Social Topics / Sexual Abuse
  • Themes African / African American / Black, Art, Biography / Memoir, Childhood Experiences and Memories, Courage, Dance, Dreams & Aspirations, Heroism, History & Civics, Identity / Self Esteem / Confidence, Informational / Expository Nonfiction, Integrity / Honesty, Nonfiction, Overcoming Obstacles, Persistence / Grit, Poetry, United States History
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 7 - 10
  • Grade Range Grades 2 - 8
  • Guided Reading T
  • ATOS Book Level 4.9
  • DRA 44
  • Interest Level Grades 2 - 8
  • Lexile Level 900
  • Reading Level Grades 5 - 6
  • Bebop Reading Fluent
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