Following Stephen Fry's text "A significant event" and Gary Soto's poem "Oranges" wich we studied in class with themes of autobiographic childhood, we went on to"My Crazy Beautiful World" , a short story written by Jacqueline Woodson, similarly dealing with the theme of childhood. It's the first short story that we have studied in class for a while now. Her story broaches themes like freedom, insecurity, origins and obviously autobiographic childhood.

Indeed, Jacqueline make us discover the story of Angela, a 16 year-old girl writing when she was 12 years old, before she forgets all her precious memories. She's an African-American teenager who faces with a vast world that she just doesn't understand yet, and who experiences insecurity issues because of her sister who is more intelligent than her and also her bestfriend, Maria, who is prettier than her. Or at least, that's what Angela thinks about all thos relatives that she lives with. Also we can discover an intimate relationship with her Grandmother. Indeed, we can feel the strong affection that she has for her grandmother when she lectures her or combes her hair, all those little things gestures create an intimate bond between them.

All along the narrative, she's asking herself about freedom, because at her age, you still obey to your mum's rules so she's limited in her choices. But a wild coast may emerge of Angela, because she's looking for of this freedom she doesn't have. For example, when she wants to play to a boy's game on the street or when she wants to watch a fight. Obviously, she longs for freedom on the sense of belonging to the world. She's feeling different from the other children at school (because she's being teased by her classmates) and in the street because of her religion. Indeed, she's a Jehovah Witness . We can see here the important place that takes her grandmother as a mother figure, she's the one who takes Angela 's family to the temple because her mother doesn't believe in this religion. So, her faith is just another element that defines her personality. Jacqueline Woodson tells us a part of African-American culture in this book. Especialy when she speaks about Jehovah Witness, the grandmother or street games.

I think every girl can identify herself to Angela which makes the story of Jacqueline Woodson more exciting ! Indeed, Who never felt apart from the others at least once ? Who has never been teased ? Who never had insecurity problems ? and who has never asked oneself about life's purpose, freedom and religion? It has happened to us at least once in our lives, especially at Angela's age !

So, this book is really good, I recommend it to every teenager who feels the same way as Angela. Jacqueline Woodson is also a great author, it's so easy to read her book and there is a lot of beautiful messages convoyed in it ! I loving reading some passages of this book and I loved discovering her touching story !

Hope you will like my article.

Best regards, Andrea.

Compte rendu Jacqueline Woodson - " My Crazy Beautiful World "

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