Becoming Emily: The Life of Emily Dickinson by Krystyna Poray Goddu
Title: Becoming Emily: The Life of Emily Dickinson
By: Krystyna Poray Goddu
Published: 2019
Call #: x Biog Dicki. E
Introducing Emily Dickinson to middle grade readers using Emily’s own words from letters and poems, this book focuses on her early years and friendships, but also includes the rest of her life. Ms. Goddu shares the cultural context of Emily’s time, but, as a reader, you also feel you know Ms. Dickinson well by the end. I love the author’s restraint — no made up dialogue, no theorizing about mysteries, just presenting what we can know of Emily from her letters as clearly and deeply as she can. Biography beautifully done, for middle grade readers and adults interested in a personal introduction to Emily.
Tags: biography, poets and poetry