MOD 3: Novel In Verse

Bibliographic Data

Grimes, Nikki. 2013. Words With Wings. Honesdale, Pennsylvania: Wordsong, an Imprint of Highlights. ISBN: 9781590789858

Summary

Gabby’s daydreams are an escape from the sadness of her parents’ separation, but will her coping mechanism bring her more trouble than relief?

Critical Analysis

Layout

The table of contents lists the titles of each poem, in which there are over sixty. This novel in verse contains two kinds of poems denoted by two different fonts. The first type is for the narrative. In the contents these poems are indented under the second type of poems, Gabby’s daydreams. Although “Words With Wings” does not include illustrations, fonts are sized and stylized to reflect meaning. In stilts “GABBY THE GREAT” is printed in a taller font and the words are stacked on each other like a person on stilts. Pages are numbered so that each poem is easy to find. Grimes does not include an author’s note, but does conclude the book with acknowledgements. The narrative poems are in a chronological order with the exception of memories of Gabby’s life.

Poetic Elements

The title, “Words With Wings,” is alliterative. Our protagonist Gabby uses daydreams as an escape and words lift her away with their wings. When she hears a word she dives into the depths of her imagination. The poems of her daydreams follow a consistent format for the first two lines, say-blank-and-blank.

In the poem, “Prologue” we see additional significance of the wings. Gabriella is named after a winged creature, an angel.

The poems about daydreams have a strong sense of imagery. In “Waterfall” rain transforms into a waterfall described as “liquid thunder.” Readers can see, hear, and feel the force of the water.

Appeal

Grimes’ novel in verse uses both imagery poems and narrative poems to show us how Gabby lives through this turbulent time in her life. I think young people will gravitate more to the imagery poems, which are the daydream poems particularly if they are to mimic a poetry style for a project. The narrative poetry is comparably appealing because it drives the plot of the story.

Young readers that find interest in diaries will find Gabby’s first person perspective similar. Her voice is candid and realistic for someone her age. She does not have the abstract, deep thoughts of a much older person. Reluctant readers may delight in the brevity of the 81 pages, especially pages that are mostly negative space.

Though the plot revolves around the emotional and serious subject of divorce, children who have experienced this life change may be relieved to find they can relate to the character. In the case that they have not experienced divorce this can be an opportunity to learn about the life experiences of others. Similarly, this is also a diversity read as it features African American characters.

According to a School Library Journal review this book is for those in grades 3-7. For readers on the younger spectrum, this title does a good job of explicitly saying the things Gabby thinks, but does not say to other characters. There is no need to try to figure it out. Readers really get to see what is in her head as if we were reading her diary.

The protagonist displays a wild imagination. Any encouragement to copy her writing style is certain to inspire the imagination of young people. Extension activities invite readers to show what their imaginations are capable of.

Overall Quality

Nikki Grimes has been writing children poetry for a long time her experience shows. Her work is dense with deliberate use of literary devices from alliteration in her title to the symbol of the wings. I read this book three times, and each time I found more clever, poetic surprises. Grimes creatively distinguishes the narrative poems from the daydream/imagery poems with two different fonts. Her format is consistent, especially in the poems about daydreams. The words that have wings are put in quotations, “Say ‘fly,’ and…” Grimes uses this format through the whole book. The plot in the narrative poetry is strong through the finish. We ultimately see that both Gabby and her mother find peace in her daydreaming. It turns out to be a healthy and beautiful activity.

Final Analysis

I would highly recommend this book for third grade students and up. I found it non-idealistic and therefore realistic, demonstrative of good use of poetic elements, and highly imaginative. I think discussing this book as well as conducting extension activities will bring to light the brilliance of this collection. Its brevity makes it approachable even for the most reluctant readers. I myself am inspired to write and read poetry by “Words With Wings” and I’m not the target audience.

Featured Poem

“Author”

Say “Gabriella,”

And Mom sees me,

Silver-tipped pen in hand,

Swirling “Best Wishes”

Across the front pages

Of dozens of books

With my name

Printed on them.

I sign hundreds

Round the clock

For a line of happy fans

That stretch a city block.

And there is Mom, beaming

Right beside me.

Poem Connections

This poem is a daydream poem following the say-blank-and-blank format. After reading allowed twice allow participants 15 minutes to daydream about what they wish to be when they grow up. Remark on how in the book Mr. Spicer did the very same activity. Then have the children write their own poems in the same format. Let volunteers read theirs aloud.