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Who Was . . . ? Series
Who Was Maya Angelou?
Born in Missouri in 1928, Maya Angelou had a difficult childhood. Jim Crow laws segregated blacks and whites in the South. Her family life was unstable at times. But much like her poem, "Still I Rise," Angelou was able to lift herself out of her situation and flourish. She moved to California and became the first black—and first female—streetcar operator before following her interest in dance. She became a professional performer in her twenties and toured the U.S. and Europe as an opera star and calypso dancer. But Angelou's writing became her defining talent. Her poems and books, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , brought her international acclaim.
112 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2016
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467 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
October 8, 2024
Project Learning English by myself through children's books. "Maya was many things - an author, poet, civil rights activist, playwright, actress, director, composer, singer and dancer. But above all, she was a storyteller - and her greatest stories were true," said President Barack Obama. "A childhood of suffering and abuse actually drove her to stop speaking - but the voice she found helped generations of Americans find their rainbow amidst the clouds, and inspired the rest of us to be our best selves." (Pages 100 and 101)
December 22, 2020
“You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
February 27, 2019
It is a great book!! I was so into the book,that I sat on my bed and read without ever looking up. I am 10,by the way. I knew who Maya Angelou was, but never in detail. I found the events in her life soooooooooooooooo interesting and she did so much with her life that it seems that the longest book in the world couldn't hold her life's work,yet this book covers it all. This is the greatest Who Was book I have ever read!
February 22, 2019
Maya was an interesting woman to learn about and had a very busy and fruitful life. One of the best quotes in the book was Words mean more than what is set down on paper." This helped Maya to start talking again and continue to write her poems and stories.
February 28, 2021
I know her name and her quites, but I never knew her story. She lived an extraordinarily life, filled with so many experiences and travel! So much travel! And, honestly, I didn't realize she had published when she was 41. In my mind, I always assumed she was younger. I haven't read nearly enough of her, and I will have to remedy that promptly.
April 1, 2017
Very interesting book
I did learn a lot about this talented woman. I knew very little before reading this, I just knew she was a writer/ poet. Very informative book.
I did learn a lot about this talented woman. I knew very little before reading this, I just knew she was a writer/ poet. Very informative book.
July 20, 2017
I really enjoyed Maya's story. I personally have yet to read any of her books, but I have heard many good things about them.
May 22, 2023
One of my daughters did a report and a speech about Maya Angelou and needed a book about her life. This book was perfect for a 4th grader.
May 20, 2024
Trying to educate James on all the greats :) He's been writing a lot of stories lately, so he found this one particularly inspiring, as did I.
April 21, 2020
I can read these books all day , love it
October 28, 2019
"The book who was Maya Angelou" by Ellen Labreque is a biography about a strong woman named Maya Angelou. As a young child she grew up in a world where people were judged by there skin color, not only was Maya able to make a change but she made an impact on what the world is today.
July 6, 2018
After finishing I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS I was curious about Maya Angelou and her life. I did a little research online but was excited to see this book on my recent trip to the African History Museum in Washington D.C. I appreciated the overview of her life but would highly recommend reading Maya Angelou's own books to get the whole story. She is a gifted writer.
I thought this book was tastefully done for a younger audience. I learned in I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS that Maya Angelou was raped as a young girl and I was pleased with how that event was explained. The beginning of the book was perhaps disappointing because I knew so many more of the details of her life but the parts after the birth of her son were of particular interest because that is where I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS ended.
I'd have loved to read some of her poetry in the book. The book talks about her poetry and her awards but only has one small stanza of a poem. I'd have loved to see a few of her poems in an appendix or in the text.
I thought this book was tastefully done for a younger audience. I learned in I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS that Maya Angelou was raped as a young girl and I was pleased with how that event was explained. The beginning of the book was perhaps disappointing because I knew so many more of the details of her life but the parts after the birth of her son were of particular interest because that is where I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS ended.
I'd have loved to read some of her poetry in the book. The book talks about her poetry and her awards but only has one small stanza of a poem. I'd have loved to see a few of her poems in an appendix or in the text.
February 7, 2018
I picked this up from the library from a Black History Month display. I didn't know much about her life, but my class will be reading her poem "Caged Bird" later this month, so I thought it would be good to have some background information about her life. The "Who Was" series does a good job of making things kid-appropriate (like talking about how she became pregnant as a teenager) although a picture of her as a calypso dancer made me cringe a bit (my school is very conservative!).
2018 Literary Escapes Challenge - Arkansas (she lived all over the place -- Missouri, California, New York, Egypt, Ghana, but Arkansas was part of her growing-up years, so I settled on that one).
2018 Literary Escapes Challenge - Arkansas (she lived all over the place -- Missouri, California, New York, Egypt, Ghana, but Arkansas was part of her growing-up years, so I settled on that one).
September 4, 2022
A great soul.
—-
“You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.”
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”
“If you don't like something, change it.
If you can't change it, change your attitude.”
—-
“You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.”
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”
“If you don't like something, change it.
If you can't change it, change your attitude.”
March 6, 2016
it was ok.
October 5, 2017
We're starting up our Wax Museum research in 5th grade and I told the students that I would do one this year as well. I have a giant stack of biographies the kids could pick from and I chose one that was left over about someone I didn't know that much about.
All I know about Maya Angelou is some of her poetry, so it was fun to read about her.
While she was a child, she and her brother were sent to live with their Grandma. Their grandma made sure they worked hard and completed all their studies. Maya got her name, because when she was born her brother couldn't say her full name so he called her "My-a sister" and the name stuck. Her brother, Bailey, was always one of her closest friends and supporters.
Maya always loved words but when she was young something bad happened. She was abused and told her brother about it. Through a random act, the man who abused her ended up dying the next day. Maya thought her words had killed him so she stopped speaking for seven years.
As you all know, Maya found her voice again and became a famous poet, singer, and author. She even started in the popular miniseries, Roots. She spent a large portion of her life advocating for black civil rights in America and around the world. She had a son that she doted on and always kept with her.
Honestly, when I was reading about her, my thought was, "She'd be someone I'd like to sit down and have dinner with." She lived such a full life and did such amazing things. A lot of bad stuff happened her but she was able to overcome and use her experiences to inspire others.
All I know about Maya Angelou is some of her poetry, so it was fun to read about her.
While she was a child, she and her brother were sent to live with their Grandma. Their grandma made sure they worked hard and completed all their studies. Maya got her name, because when she was born her brother couldn't say her full name so he called her "My-a sister" and the name stuck. Her brother, Bailey, was always one of her closest friends and supporters.
Maya always loved words but when she was young something bad happened. She was abused and told her brother about it. Through a random act, the man who abused her ended up dying the next day. Maya thought her words had killed him so she stopped speaking for seven years.
As you all know, Maya found her voice again and became a famous poet, singer, and author. She even started in the popular miniseries, Roots. She spent a large portion of her life advocating for black civil rights in America and around the world. She had a son that she doted on and always kept with her.
Honestly, when I was reading about her, my thought was, "She'd be someone I'd like to sit down and have dinner with." She lived such a full life and did such amazing things. A lot of bad stuff happened her but she was able to overcome and use her experiences to inspire others.
July 12, 2020
Labrecque writes a biography of Angelou that is aimed at middle grade readers.
I have long been familiar with Angelou, but I didn't know anything about her biography.
I was amazed to read about what a breadth of experience Angelou had. She had a difficult childhood because of frequent moves and separation from her parents and then at age 7, she was sexually assaulted by her mother's boyfriend. After her abuser was killed, she became mute for five years. That's when she started to write.
Over the years she held a number of jobs--cable car driver, singer, dancer, journalist, etc.
She was able to meet a number of Civil Rights leaders, including Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. She was hired to work for both of these men, but were not able to start work because they were assassinated. She was bereft, but she was inspired by James Baldwin to write her first of several autobiographical books.
There are a lot more details because she was incredible well connected and productive. I am in awe of this woman for her talent, resilience, intellect, and passion.
I have long been familiar with Angelou, but I didn't know anything about her biography.
I was amazed to read about what a breadth of experience Angelou had. She had a difficult childhood because of frequent moves and separation from her parents and then at age 7, she was sexually assaulted by her mother's boyfriend. After her abuser was killed, she became mute for five years. That's when she started to write.
Over the years she held a number of jobs--cable car driver, singer, dancer, journalist, etc.
She was able to meet a number of Civil Rights leaders, including Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. She was hired to work for both of these men, but were not able to start work because they were assassinated. She was bereft, but she was inspired by James Baldwin to write her first of several autobiographical books.
There are a lot more details because she was incredible well connected and productive. I am in awe of this woman for her talent, resilience, intellect, and passion.
May 9, 2017
Children’s Biography
Labrecque, Ellen. Who Was Maya Angelou? New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 2016.
This book traces Maya Angelou’s life and growth as a writer, poet, and storyteller from her difficult childhood in the segregated south, to her death in 2014, just four years after President Barack Obama recognized her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1928 to an unstable family, as a black female she had the odds stacked against her. However, Angelou was driven and persevered through the challenges and difficulties life threw her way. Early on, her grandmother encouraged her to study and get an education, and Angelou excelled in school and writing. In 1941 she moved to California with her mother, and at 15 she became the first African American street car conductor in San Francisco. Through her twenties she was a calypso dancer and singer, and toured the world as a cast member of “Porgy and Bess.” In her 30s, she began to focus more on her writing while still performing, and working with numerous civil rights leaders trying to improve conditions for African Americans. However, despite her many professions, it was her writing talent that she ultimately became best known for.
“Who Was Maya Angelou?” is simply written and laid out in a very straightforward manner, making it very accessible for young and reluctant readers. The text is large and surrounded by plenty of white space on the page. There are simple, realistic, black and white pencil line drawings on nearly every page that help support and clarify the text. For example, a drawing of a calypso drum accompanies the page of text that explains calypso music. In addition, the book offers sidebars explaining topics and concepts readers might not be familiar with, including information on calypso music, the Harlem Writers Guild, Civil Rights, and author James Baldwin. The writing is engaging and provides a full account of Angelou’s life struggles and experiences, including Angelou’s survival of sexual abuse at the age of seven by her mother’s boyfriend. The author, however, presents this delicate material factually and with great sensitivity. In addition, significant personal facts, such as Angelou being an unwed, teen mother and her many personal relationships and marriages are shared, as well as her many professional accomplishments. A timeline of Maya Angelou’s life and of the world at the end of the book does a great job of summarizing the main points of Angelou’s full-lived life and the major world events that took place at the same time. Although slim in pages at only 103, and consisting of just 9 short chapters this book is great way to introduce young readers to Maya Angelou and her perseverance through struggle and suffering to become “the rainbow amidst the clouds” for millions of people throughout the world.
Target Audience: Ages 8-13
Labrecque, Ellen. Who Was Maya Angelou? New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 2016.
This book traces Maya Angelou’s life and growth as a writer, poet, and storyteller from her difficult childhood in the segregated south, to her death in 2014, just four years after President Barack Obama recognized her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1928 to an unstable family, as a black female she had the odds stacked against her. However, Angelou was driven and persevered through the challenges and difficulties life threw her way. Early on, her grandmother encouraged her to study and get an education, and Angelou excelled in school and writing. In 1941 she moved to California with her mother, and at 15 she became the first African American street car conductor in San Francisco. Through her twenties she was a calypso dancer and singer, and toured the world as a cast member of “Porgy and Bess.” In her 30s, she began to focus more on her writing while still performing, and working with numerous civil rights leaders trying to improve conditions for African Americans. However, despite her many professions, it was her writing talent that she ultimately became best known for.
“Who Was Maya Angelou?” is simply written and laid out in a very straightforward manner, making it very accessible for young and reluctant readers. The text is large and surrounded by plenty of white space on the page. There are simple, realistic, black and white pencil line drawings on nearly every page that help support and clarify the text. For example, a drawing of a calypso drum accompanies the page of text that explains calypso music. In addition, the book offers sidebars explaining topics and concepts readers might not be familiar with, including information on calypso music, the Harlem Writers Guild, Civil Rights, and author James Baldwin. The writing is engaging and provides a full account of Angelou’s life struggles and experiences, including Angelou’s survival of sexual abuse at the age of seven by her mother’s boyfriend. The author, however, presents this delicate material factually and with great sensitivity. In addition, significant personal facts, such as Angelou being an unwed, teen mother and her many personal relationships and marriages are shared, as well as her many professional accomplishments. A timeline of Maya Angelou’s life and of the world at the end of the book does a great job of summarizing the main points of Angelou’s full-lived life and the major world events that took place at the same time. Although slim in pages at only 103, and consisting of just 9 short chapters this book is great way to introduce young readers to Maya Angelou and her perseverance through struggle and suffering to become “the rainbow amidst the clouds” for millions of people throughout the world.
Target Audience: Ages 8-13
February 28, 2019
This little book gives the reader lots of information on the famous and talented Maya Angelou. I have read her first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Maya was extremely gifted. She worked for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. She was a Civil Rights Activist, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010 which was the country's highest civilian honor. Maya was asked by President Bill Clinton to read one of her poems at his first inauguration on Jan. 20, 1993. She was also a singer and a dancer; she appeared also on the TV ministeries "Roots."
Truly a woman to be admired and honored.
Truly a woman to be admired and honored.
March 30, 2019
I finished the book “ Who was Maya Angelou” by Ellen Labrecque and my thoughts on this book is.. I really liked this book. This book taught me about a person who had a successful life. She was a poet, author, singer, dancer, and civil rights activist. Maya published her first autobiography in 1969 titled “ I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”, this book made a huge success and became a bestseller. As a young child, Maya suffered a lot such as going through abuse. During her lifetime, she published more than 30 books. To people who like books about poetry, famous people, and books about civil rights activist, I recommend this book. I would give this book a solid rating of 4 stars..
December 11, 2023
"Who Was Maya Angelou?" by Ellen Labrecque turned out to be an amazing book. While the book doesn't boast about awards, its true worth lies in its ability to make Angelou's journey relatable for young minds. I appreciated how Labrecque captured Angelou's resilience and the profound impact of her words. "Who Was Maya Angelou?" seamlessly blends education with inspiration, making it a cherished addition to our home library. Labrecque's narrative, complemented by illustrations, will spark meaningful conversations about history, literature, and the enduring power of an individual's journey. It's more than a biography; it's a story that leaves a lasting impression.
April 8, 2025
This book is included in PEN America's Index of Banned and Challenged Books and was generously donated by a friend as part of an initiative to distribute banned books to Little Free Libraries in my community.
This was one of the better installments from the WhoHQ series I've picked up so far, and that's saying something since they've all been great. Maya Angelou was a fascinating individual and this book captured her essence very well. I also enjoyed the illustrations and the sidebar pieces about civil rights and other important figures who lived alongside her. I look forward to passing this book along for someone else to enjoy.
This was one of the better installments from the WhoHQ series I've picked up so far, and that's saying something since they've all been great. Maya Angelou was a fascinating individual and this book captured her essence very well. I also enjoyed the illustrations and the sidebar pieces about civil rights and other important figures who lived alongside her. I look forward to passing this book along for someone else to enjoy.
June 8, 2018
A great biography of Maya Angelou which gives tribute to her perseverance, courage and spirit of hope. This African American woman had great firsts, but also endured realities that put to test her strength, her faith in life and in herself. Maya learned to make the best of what she had, even when she made decisions that she questioned later on, and didn't let her pain nor life's hardship stop her from being the great human being, poet and fighter of human rights that she was.
May many youngsters find hope and strength to carry on, like she did, in the face of adversity.
May many youngsters find hope and strength to carry on, like she did, in the face of adversity.
September 5, 2017
I thought it was a great introduction to Maya's life in a way that can inspire young readers. I'd want my daughter to get to know her when she grows up and would be giving this to her. Having read her autobiographies - I realized I had not been aware of some facts of her life as they were described so succinctly in this book. I loved the illustrations as well. Maya is an inspiration for generations to come.
February 17, 2018
Think about all that you know about Maya Angelou and them throw that out the window. Maya Angelou was a remarkable singer, songwriter, dancer, poet and author.
This incredible book discusses how and why Maya Angelou became who she was; how life basically molded her into the the incredible person that she was. And to think that this was in the children's reading section of the library. What an incredible gem of a book!
This incredible book discusses how and why Maya Angelou became who she was; how life basically molded her into the the incredible person that she was. And to think that this was in the children's reading section of the library. What an incredible gem of a book!
January 27, 2026
Who Was Maya Angelou? (Paperback)
by Ellen Labrecque
This is a detailed history. Showing the moments and aspects that developed her. Expanding for what is the typical known of her personal history. It explains her loves, her family and her aspects of history that changes the concept of Black History.
The is some black and white images to highlight the history.
The brief historical references add to the story.
June 17, 2017
106 pages. Well-written information on a historical figure who was named Poet Laureate by President Clinton. Author explains her life in enough detail that an elementary student could do a great report. Illustrations and other added information like a timeline at the end is very helpful. Highly recommended for Grades 5 and up.
who-hq
May 2, 2020Author, performer and civil rights activist. Read poem at Bill Clinton’s inauguration. Worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, but both were assassinated before she was going to start working with them. Wrote a series of autobiographies about her life, including the acclaimed I Know Why the Caged Birds Sing.
June 24, 2020
This was informative, but I didn’t like the pacing. It felt very rushed and like it was just shoving information at me. I would have liked more substance. This is a very popular series and I was expecting more. This series is written by different authors, so I am hoping that maybe other books are better.
March 12, 2021
Who was Maya Angelou you ask? A beautiful soul who didn’t give up on her ambitions. After reading this creative biography, I have a greater appreciation for Angelou and her work in the Civil Rights movement. This book gives insight into Maya Angelou’s life; from a tough childhood to admirable adulthood. I would love to read even more about her and her poems thanks to this biography.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews