Rise!: From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou

Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College of Education
Editor's Choice, Booklist
Notable Books in the Language Arts, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
Amelia Bloomer Project - Feminist Task Force, American Library Association (ALA)
Notable Poetry List, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
Septima Clark Book Award, National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)

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.

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.

Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Published: 08/13/2019
Pages: 48
Weight: 1.2lbs
Size: 10.90h x 9.20w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781620145876
Age: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.9
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 503795 / Rise! from Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 06/15/2019
Publishers Weekly 07/08/2019
Booklist 06/01/2019 pg. 82
Kirkus Reviews Fall Preview 08/15/2019 pg. 53
School Library Journal 09/01/2019 pg. 137
Horn Book Magazine 11/01/2019 pg. 112
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2019 - Superior,Well Above Average

About the Author

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 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.