Central Kansas Library System

The author and poet recalls the anguish of her childhood in Arkansas and her adolescence in northern slums. "Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou's debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Sent by their mother...

This second book from Angelou's autobiographical series follows "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." With gripping poignancy, wisdom, and a fierce passion (dosed with a dash of humor) she tells the story of her life as a young black woman in 1940s America, beginning with her teen years