I Lay My Stitches Down

Title:  I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery
Author:  Cynthia Grady
Publisher:  Eermans
ISBN: 978-0-8028-5386-8

In this beautifully crafted text, we are introduced to poems of American slavery. The author provides poems written in free verse that consist of ten lines with ten syllables per line.  In the preface, the author explains the connection that quilt making and poetry both utilize patterns and that each poem is named for a quilt block.  In each poem, the author utilizes religious, musical, & sewing references.  After each poem, there is an example of what the quilt pattern consists of and then provides information related to the poem.  The illustrations for each poem were illustrated by Michele Wood and were wonderful imagery of what story has been told in the poem.  This is a must have for any library serving students in grades 5-8.  This is highly recommended by this reviewer and received a Kirkus Starred review in January 2012

Reviewer: Sarah Thornbery

School/Public Library: Springboro Jr. High School Library