Becoming Billie Holiday
Wordsong, 2008
Poetry
ISBN: 159078507X
117 pages
Synopsis
A series of fictionalized poems, chronicling the life of Billie Holiday from birth until 25, this text provides an interesting insight into the life and rhythm of one of the greatest jazz performers throughout history. The poems themselves are more like stories broken into poetic line than writing that follow the typical constraints of poetry. Each of the poems is titled after one of Holiday’s songs, bringing a depth into the story of the song, possibly where it came from. Also, the text is, in places, accompanied by beautiful artwork that enhances the experience.
Critique
I feel like “experience” is a truly fitting adjective for this text. I would actually recommend it to children and adults alike, not only because of the richness in historical value, but also because the stories of Holiday’s life that are told through this medium create a rich experience for all readers.
I believe, however, that Weatherford’s most phenomenal accomplishment with the text is that it communicates the story in a very similar way to the songs and jazz style of Billie Holiday—her signature style of singing just behind the beat, improvising in subtle but profound ways. All of that, although not represented in the same way, is brought to life throughout the text. I recommend this to all readers.
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For the Classroom
This text is a gem for the classroom, not only because of its historical relevance, but because of its poetic style. This is the perfect example of modern poetry that doesn’t have the typical constraints. It would be good for children to grow up believing that poetry doesn’t have to rhyme or have meter in order to be considered poetry. It should be expression, flushed out through whichever medium or style fits the content the best.
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