Meet Danitra Brown

Bibliography

Grimes, Nikki. 1994. MEET DANITRA BROWN. Ill. by Floyd Cooper. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0688120733

Plot Summary

In this touching poetry collection about a cherished friendship, the reader is introduced to Danitra Brown through her best friend Zuri Jackson's eyes.  Zuri is the narrator of these poems, and she allows the reader an intimate glimpse into her friendship with "the most splendiferous girl in town."  Danitra's fearless attitude and her ability to feel comfortable in her own skin prove that she is wise beyond her years, and Zuri's admiration and respect for her good friend Danitra resonate throughout the thirteen poems in this book.  These two girls show a genuine understanding of the true meaning of friendship - through how they comfort each other during times of distress, forgive each other when promises are broken, and believe in each other more than they believe in themselves.  When a new girl moves in down the street, Zuri immediately knows which person she should meet - after all, there is no one quite like her special friend, Danitra Brown.

Critical Analysis

Nikki Grimes is an accomplished and widely recognized poet who has written countless children's poetry books, so it comes as no surprise to the reader that Meet Danitra Brown is a charming book of poems that perfectly captures the comfort of a special friendship.  The emotional impact of these poems is powerful, as every reader has most likely experienced the type of connection that Danitra and Zuri have.  Through the use of carefully chosen rhymes, the author creates a rhythmical arrangement of verses that sounds as lively and spirited as the main characters' friendship when read aloud.  The language used throughout the poems is purposeful in portraying cultural authenticity for these African American young women.  Poems entitled "Coke-Bottle Brown" and "Sweet Blackberry" both describe the cruel insults that each girl must learn how to handle when taunted about the color of their skin.  The vivid imagery that Nikki Grimes creates through her use of language will encourage children to read these poems more than once.  In the poem "Sweet Blackberry," the image of Zuri's sorrow is made strikingly real through the lines "I never cry, but inside there's a hurting place. / I make sure no one sees it on my face."  The distress that Zuri experiences when she inadvertently shares one of Danitra's secrets is conveyed beautifully in the poem "The Secret" - "Danitra's scared of pigeons. I promised not to tell, / then I opened my big mouth and out the secret fell. / I tried to shove it right back in, though it was much too late."  This book of poetry flawlessly captures two ordinary girls and their extraordinary friendship.

Awards

• ALA Notable Book
• Coretta Scott King Award Honor Book
• ABA-CBC Backlist Title
• 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
• 1996-97 Sequoyah Children's Book Award Masterlist
• 1996-97 Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award Nominee
• 1997-98 Pennyslvania Young Readers' Choice Master List

Review Excerpts

“In a series of poems, an African-American girl sings the praises of her best friend and their special relationship...Grimes's poetry has a very deliberate rhyme scheme, but it also smoothly describes a number of vignettes and links them with consistent themes and characterizations.  Issues of race, feminism, and family structure are delicately incorporated, and successfully build an emotional connection for the reader.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The poignant text and lovely pictures are an excellent collaboration, resulting in a look at touching moments of friendship with universal appeal.” – School Library Journal

"In a lively cycle of 13 poems by the author of Something On My Mind (1978), Zuri Jackson celebrates her vibrant best friend Danitra: 'the most splendiferous girl in town'...Danitra shares work, play, and confidences with equal verve, knows how to defuse a mean tease or comfort a friend, and loves to wear purple...The joyous portrayal will appeal to a broad age range." - Kirkus Reviews

Connections

The fact that the main characters in this book of poetry are two best friends that bring out the best in each other makes this the perfect book to explore the theme of friendship with students and help children build skills in social awareness.  After reading the poem "Coke-Bottle Brown", the teacher can lead a discussion about Danitra's non-violent behavior when others say cruel things to her about the color of her skin.  Allow students to discuss why they think Danitra and Zuri do the right thing by walking away from the boys who are taunting them.  Another activity this particular poem lends itself to is allowing students to write about a time when they felt upset from being teased or insulted.  They can describe the details of the incident, along with their feelings and the type of action they took as they write their story.  Encourage students to include whether they wish they had responded differently - and if they do wish they had responded differently, in what way would they have responded?


After reading this touching collection of poems, students can share the qualities and character traits that make their friends truly wonderful.  Once everyone has had a chance to share, students can write a short poem about one of their special friends - just as Zuri did when writing her poems about Danitra.