Black Cat Bone- A Book Review for Children's Literature

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lewis, J. Patrick. 2006. BLACK CAT BONES. Ill. By Gary Kelley. Mankato, MN: Creative Editions.  ISBN 1568461946

PLOT SUMMARY

BLACK CAT BONE tells the story of the legendary Blues singer Robert Johnson through a series of poems.  It begins with his birth, tells the tales of his life, and ends after his death.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

In this biography in poems, Lewis tells the story of legendary musician Robert Johnson.  The author includes a forward, end notes and a bibliography in prose to share the facts that are known about Robert Johnson’s life.  Along the bottom of the pages, each poem is condensed to one line of prose to explain what is happening.  The feeling and voice of the poem are all found in the poetry.  The poems are told in present tense, with imagery such as, “Robert Johnson is born, and later baptized by the grace of the black gods of sound” to get the poem underway. The poems are unique in their use of dialogue, lists, and dialect from the region Johnson lived in.  The author uses contrasting connotative diction in his word choices, such as the church “congregation” and the jook “congregation” of the subsequent poem, which creates a paradox in the reader’s mind.  The author also includes Johnson’s original song lyrics intermittently throughout the poem to enforce the message about his life.

The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and unique.  The blue, black, and brown color palette adds to the mood of the poem.

I checked this book out from an elementary school library.  I was honestly shocked at the content of some the poems.  There are poems about Johnson selling his soul to the devil, womanizing, cheating, and being poisoned for cheating with another man’s woman.  This poem tells a compelling story, but it requires a depth of understanding of adult issues and higher level thinking.  When I read it as a selection for elementary grades, I do not feel it is audience appropriate.  However, when I read it for a middle or high school audience, the selection fits.  It is also fitting that the biography of this musician be told in verse.

AWARDS AND REVIEWS

*Starred review in School Library Journal: “What appears at first glance to be just an illustrated poetry collection is a well-supported narrative riff introducing Johnson- the man and his music.”

*Starred review in Booklist: “Lewis tells the story in evocative poems that… evoke the spirit of the blues… older readers… will feel the rhythm and understand the message of living for the moment and the music.  Kelley’s striking paintings, heavy with multiple shades of blue and brown, capture all the emotions that swirl around the Johnson myth…”

CONNECTIONS

*Also by J. Patrick Lewis:  HARLELM HELLFIGHTERS and WHEN THUNDER COMES; POEMS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS.

*Students could research somebody and create a series of poems in the style of Lewis.

*Students could read about other musicians and compare them to the “legend” of Robert Johnson.

Images taken from:  www.amazon.com