75 pages 2 hours read

Nikki Grimes

Ordinary Hazards

Nonfiction | Memoir in Verse | YA | Published in 2019

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes narrates the author's challenging childhood, including her experiences with addiction, abuse, and neglect, and her journey through adolescence. Writing and faith become her sanctuaries, helping her cope with her tumultuous life. The book delves into themes such as trauma's impact on memory, emotional support's role in resilience, and creative expression's healing power. The book includes references to child abuse, substance use, addiction, sexual assault, and trauma.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes is a compelling memoir in verse that has garnered positive attention for its raw emotional depth and lyrical prose. Reviewers praise Grimes' ability to navigate harrowing life experiences with resilience and hope. Some critique the fragmented narrative, feeling it may challenge reader engagement. Overall, it’s a poignant, inspiring read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Ordinary Hazards?

A reader who would enjoy Ordinary Hazards by Nikki Grimes is likely someone drawn to emotionally potent memoirs and poetry. Fans of Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming or Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings would find this blend of vivid verse and profound autobiography compelling. This book will appeal to readers who appreciate resilience and poetic storytelling.

RecommendedReading Age

14-18years

Book Details

Themes

Values/Ideas: Literature

Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

Relationships: Family

Genre

Biography

Topics

Mental Illness