Danitra Brown Leaves Town

Bibliography

Grimes, Nikki. 2002. Danitra Brown Leaves Town. Ill. by Floyd Cooper. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc. ISBN 0688131557

Plot Summary

Danitra Brown Leaves Town is a series of 13 poems and letters about two best friends who are spending the summer apart. Through these poems and letters each character has their own summer adventures.

Critical Analysis

Nikki Grimes has used a combination of narrative poems and letters, which describe the feelings, and attitudes of two best friends being apart during the summer. A good example of showing one of the characters ( Zuri) feelings is in "The Letter."
"…I said mean things when she left me.
I was so mad at her then.
Was she writing to forgive me,
or say I’m not her friend?
I ripped Danitra’s letter open,
in spite of my worst fear.
I bit my lip until I read
"I wish that you were here".
Through Grimes choice of rhyming words you can feel Zuri feeling guilty about being mad at her friend for leaving. Many young readers can relate to saying something to a friend when they were angry at them, yet not really meaning what they had said, as Zuri did in this poem.
Each poem and letter represents a particular mood. The beautifully painted pictures by Floyd Cooper really help portray the characters attitudes, and feelings. The overall meaning of the two friends being separated and going through their own adventures is something many readers will be able to relate to and especially the feeling at the end when they reunite.
Both the poetry and the illustrations help make the characters come to life. One letter that really shows the characters voice is in, "Zuri at Bat",
"…At the softball game last week,
smart-mouth J.T. snickered loud and said,
"What makes you think a puny girl like you can help us win?"
"Exactly where you been?" I asked him, stepping in.
When the pitch came, I slammed the ball so far,
It ripped through the clouds and headed for a star.
I strutted ‘round the bases, took my own sweet time…" The descriptions represent Zuri’s attitude.
Grimes uses distinctive rhythm and language which makes this book enjoyable and appeal to young people.

Review Excerpt(s)

Children’s Literature

"Grimes tells the story in free verse with occasional rhymes, both ending and internal, that hint at poetry but don't sacrifice meaning for rhyme or rhythm. Cooper's paintings depict Danitra with glasses and Zuri with puffy hair but it is difficult to tell who each girl is without reading several poems first. The final picture of Danitra and Zuri hugging is accompanied by a poem that's sure to ring true with other friends"

Publishers Weekly

"Zuri describes in verse the summer that she and her best friend Danitra are separated in Danitra Brown Leaves Town by Nikki Grimes, a follow-up to Meet Danitra Brown. Floyd Cooper's luminescent pastels chronicle the long days and Zuri's many moods."

Connections

* This would be a great book to read as part of a friendship unit.

* Read other books by Nikki Grimes such as: Meet Danitra Brown, Danitra Brown, Class Clown, or Stepping Out with Grandma Mac.