Words with Wings by Nikki Grimes

"Some words

sit still on the page

holding a story steady.

Those words

never get me into trouble.

But other words have wings

that wake my daydreams."

Bibliography:
Grimes, Nikki. 2013. Words with Wings. Honesdale, PA: WordSong. ISBN: 9781590789858

Plot Summary:

Words with Wings is a realistic-fiction story written in verse poetry about a young girl's acclimation to her parent's divorce and how she copes with life upheaval, moving, and a new school through daydreaming. Gabrielle often drifts into daydreams to dismiss her parents' arguments. When her parents divorce, Gabby moves across the city with her mother and enrolls in a new school where she continues to cope with recent changes by getting lost in dreams of colorful memories and ocean breezes. In the new school, Gabby struggles to make friends and pay attention to the teacher's lesson as she disappears into her wandering mind for fear of being misunderstood. Until one day, Gabby quits daydreaming altogether, tired of being in trouble with her mom and teacher, and over being bullied by her peers. At the brink of giving up entirely, Gabby meets another quiet kid named David who inspires her to be her true self: the cool daydreamer, Gabby the Great, and a new best friend. Together, Gabby and David motivate their teacher to organize a new practice in the class where all of the students take time to daydream, reflect, and thrive in their full potential.

Critical Analysis:

Words with Wings by Nikki Grimes is an award-winning verse novel that depicts the emotional struggle of adapting to changes and family heartache.

Nikki Grimes' skillful craft comes to life through imaginative details, clever arrangement, and relevant emotional impact. Gabrielle is a charismatic protagonist who celebrates imagination, friendship, and spirit. Grimes creates realistic life experiences with her ability to fuse expressive language, sound, and imagery. For example:

"Say 'carousel,'
and pale painted ponies
gallop past.
I reach for the reins of one,
swing up into the saddle,
and race,
standing still,
wind whipping my braids
as I fly."

The author uses literary elements like alliteration (pale painted ponies and wind whipping) to illustrate authentic daydream imagery. Grimes also plays with arrangement and sensory to capture unique sounds like the echo of the Grand Canyon from the poem "Canyon":

"ELLA!

E l l a!

e l l a!"

Readers will easily picture Gabriella's emotional significance as she escapes into her daydreams through the thoughtful layout of verse and words. The rhythm of the story also beats strong as each verse flows into the next page, advancing the plot into a satisfying ending.

This novel is best suited for middle-grade readers, but people of all ages and backgrounds will enjoy Gabby's daydreams and relate to her emotional responses of safety and sanctuary. The story will inspire readers to drift into their dreams too.

Review Excerpts:
Awards & Recognitions:

2014 Coretta Scott King Book Award for Author Honor
2014 ALSC Notable Children’s Book in the Middle Readers Category
2015- 2016 Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Finalist
Junior Library Guild Selection
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2013
Lee Bennett Hopkins/Penn State Award Master List
Mighty Girl's "75 Mighty Girls Books for Tweens’ Summer Reading List"
Nerdy Book Club Finalist
Nevada Young Reader Award Finalists for the Young Reader 2016
Pennsylvania Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award Finalist

From Booklist, "...Grimes has written a novel in verse that is an enthusiastic celebration of the power of words and imagination. . . Always accessible, Grimes’ language is vivid, rhythmic, and figurative. . . Grimes’ words speak to the daydreamer in every reader."

From Kirkus Reviews, "In this delightfully spare narrative in verse, Coretta Scott King Award-winning Grimes examines a marriage’s end from the perspective of a child. . . Throughout this finely wrought narrative, Grimes’ free verse is tight, with perfect breaks of line and effortless shifts from reality to dream states and back. An inspirational exploration of caring among parent, teacher and child–one of Grimes’ best."

From Publishers Weekly, ". . . Grimes packs substantial emotional heft into her poems, especially the way that Gabby’s parents’ separation weighs on her. . . her poems lovingly convey the rich inner life (and turmoil) of a girl in the process of finding her voice."

Connections:

Discussion: Read poems about daydreaming from Words with Wings, such as "Sled" or "Waterfall," and have patrons or students discuss the meaning of daydreams and their interpretations.
Play classical music or soft instrumentals and encourage patrons or students to daydream for 5 to 10 minutes. Afterward, have them write down what they dreamed about. Ask for volunteers to share their stories.
Divorces are not easy transitions in families, and many children are affected by their parents moving or splitting up. Encourage patrons or students to anonymously journal about their experiences. They don't have to turn in the work or share anything. The activity can be a therapeutic method for children to write down their feelings. What they choose to do with the story once it is written is up to them.

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Words with Wings by Nikki Grimes