Cynthia Grady is an author whose works delve deeply into themes of identity and history through potent and evocative language. As a former teacher and children's librarian, she brings a unique perspective to her writing, often exploring the voices and experiences of those historically marginalized. Her prose is marked by a keen attention to detail and an ability to bring past events to life, offering readers profound reflections on human resilience and memory.
The Art of the American Slave Song
The book explores the profound emotional depth of slave songs, which reflect the pain of bondage while also serving as a source of spiritual resilience. Through vibrant illustrations by Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist Michele Wood, the rich symbolism and historical significance of these songs are vividly conveyed, highlighting their dual role as expressions of sorrow and calls to strength.
A moving, memorable poetry collection shaped around the stories of enslaved people in America. This rich and intricate collection of poems chronicles the various experiences of enslaved people in the United States. Named for traditional quilt block patterns like Log Cabin, Cotton Boll, and Schoolhouse, each poem—ten lines of ten syllables each—mimics the square shape of a quilt block. Readers experience slavery in America through fourteen different perspectives, including a woman humming “Gilead” as she quilts, a mother losing her daughter to the auction, a child discovering the freedom of learning, and a young man fleeing on the Underground Railroad.Brought to life by vivid, expressive artwork from Michele Wood, this stirring and eloquent book offers a timeless witness to the hardship endured by enslaved men, women, and children. Each poem is supplemented by historical information and notes on quilting, musical, and spiritual references in the text.